Podcast Summary: The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: My Stepdaughter is a Trouble Maker

Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Dr. Laura Podcast centers around a call from Rosangela, a stepmother confronting ongoing conflict with her adult stepdaughter. Dr. Laura guides Rosangela through her dilemma, offering pragmatic advice on navigating challenging blended family dynamics, the importance of letting go of minor conflicts, and focusing on harmony rather than confrontation. The discussion provides insight for listeners facing similar stepfamily tensions, emphasizing emotional maturity and the value of choosing peace over being “right.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caller Background and Family Tensions

• [02:42–03:19] Rosangela shares her situation:
  • 59 years old, married for 10 years to a 72-year-old husband; both have adult children.
  • At their first family Christmas party, her husband’s daughter confronted Rosangela about his behavior around Rosangela’s single friends.
• Dr. Laura’s reaction: Surprised the daughter addressed Rosangela instead of her father and called this behavior "bizarre."

“Your husband’s adult daughter came to you, who’s only known him a handful of years at that point to ask you about her dad’s behavior towards her single friends. That’s bizarre. Why didn’t she talk to her dad? What were you supposed to do? You’re not a puppeteer.”
— Dr. Laura, [03:19]

2. Stepdaughter’s Motives and Control Issues

• Rosangela speculates the daughter is jealous but too controlling to admit it.
• Dr. Laura validates Rosangela’s feeling that the confrontation was inappropriate.
• Rosangela explains she was caught off guard and only responded, “Well, I know my story.”

3. The Necessity of a Response

• [04:24–04:37] Dr. Laura discusses a larger philosophy:
  • Not every statement or accusation must be met with a response.
  • Sometimes, silence or a noncommittal “hmm” is adequate.

“Do you think that everything that is said to you must be responded to?... I don’t think so. I don’t think that everything that is said to me, to you, to anybody, that you’re obligated for a comeback.”
— Dr. Laura, [04:24]

• Encourages listeners to recognize when engaging isn’t required, especially when no resolution is likely.

4. How the Situation Escalated and Ongoing Estrangement

• [07:55–08:29] Rosangela relates that the conflict has grown; she avoids her stepdaughter at family events.
• The family once intervened, encouraging the daughter to apologize:
  • Stepdaughter refused, “I’m not ready”—interpreted by Rosangela as arrogance.

5. Husband’s Advice and Dr. Laura’s Perspective

• Rosangela asks what to do since her husband now wants her to “leave it alone” and “pretend nothing happened.”
• Dr. Laura strongly agrees with this approach:
  • Blended families often contain unresolved tensions, especially following remarriage, divorce, or parental death.
  • It’s unrealistic to expect resolution or affection from stepchildren.
  • Advocates for polite, minimal interaction to maintain family peace.

"You married into a family and there are difficulties in the family with divorces, deaths, a remarriage to you. People have all kinds of feelings about it, especially the kids. Kids, and they’re complicated and often we can’t make much headway. But if you want to stay married to a happy man, I suggest you just be polite, smile and say hi just like you’ve been asked. Too many people want to win a skirmish rather than move on to more important things. You can’t win this skirmish.”
— Dr. Laura, [08:34]

6. Wisdom for Stepfamilies – Focus on Peace, Not Victory

• Dr. Laura closes with sage advice for all stepparents:
  • Don’t expect to “win” every family disagreement or to change deeply rooted feelings.
  • Strive for harmony over confrontation; behaving with kindness is often the wiser path.
  • “Older woman wisdom: Smile. Be nice.” — Dr. Laura, [09:34]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On not feeling obligated to respond:
  “Do you think that everything that is said to you must be responded to?... I don’t think so.” — Dr. Laura, [04:24]

• On stepfamily complexity:
  “People have all kinds of feelings about it, especially the kids... You can't win this skirmish. Your husband is not going to deep six his daughter. You're not going to get her to love you. You're not going to solve all the emotional problems in the family. But what you can do is not add to them.” — Dr. Laura, [08:34]

• On wisdom and maturity:
  “Older woman wisdom: Smile. Be nice.” — Dr. Laura, [09:34]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:42–03:19] — Caller describes her family situation and the stepdaughter’s initial confrontation.
• [03:19–03:47] — Dr. Laura voices surprise and comments on the inappropriateness of the confrontation.
• [04:24–04:37] — Dr. Laura on the optionality of responding to every statement.
• [07:55–08:29] — Caller discusses how the conflict escalated and ongoing avoidance.
• [08:34–09:34] — Dr. Laura gives her closing wisdom: stay polite, prioritize peace, and maintain harmony.

Key Takeaways for Listeners

• In stepfamilies, unresolved emotions are normal and might not be fixable.
• Not every confrontation requires a response; sometimes silence or polite disengagement is best.
• Preserving marital harmony and long-term family peace often means taking the high road, even if it means swallowing your pride.
• Being “nice” may not win your stepchild’s love, but it prevents additional drama and serves the greater good.

This episode offers practical encouragement and reassurance to anyone navigating the delicate waters of blended families, reminding listeners that emotional maturity, politeness, and focusing on what truly matters can ease even the most fraught relationships.