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Sara McGrath: I’m not the evil stepmother

She raised the ire of the nation when she married cricketing hero Glenn McGrath two years after his beloved wife Jane died from breast cancer. Now, nearly five years later, Sara Leonardi McGrath has hit out against the "evil stepmother" stereotype.
Sara Leonardi McGrath and her stepdaughter Holly. Photography by Damian Bennett. Styling by Judith Cook.

Sara and her stepdaughter Holly. Photography by Damian Bennett. Styling by Judith Cook.

Sara – who is helping Glenn raise his two kids James, 14, and Holly, 13 – has contributed a chapter to a new book called Stepmother Love: Ten Inspiring Stories About The Toughest Gig In The World.

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“The reason I wanted to be involved in this book is because stepmothers need to be given a chance,” Sara tells the April issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.

“We are not evil people. In fact, I don’t even know why that stereotype exists. I blame Disney.

“There are great step-parents and there are horrible step-parents, just as there are great parents and horrible parents. Nobody hands you a book when you have kids, just as nobody gives you a manual when you become a stepmum. You have to feel your way.”

Sara says she never tried to replace Jane, and is solely focused on being the best stepmum she can be to James and Holly, a job which has, at times, been extremely challenging.

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“All I did was fall in love with a man,” she says. “The fact he had two kids was never a factor for me. I never felt any pressure because I didn’t feel like I was replacing Jane because you don’t replace people. You can’t.

“I am me. I make a really good Sara. I don’t make a really good anyone else. And I think Glenn liked me for the person that I was. And I was always just going to be the best stepmum I could be. I didn’t come here to be James and Holly’s replacement mum. I’m here to be their stepmum.

“Has it been easy? No. Any mother will tell you raising children is hard work. I was just very, very lucky I had a pair of really good kids, whose arms were open to give me a hug the first time I met them.”

Stepmother Love: Ten Inspiring Stories About The Toughest Gig In The World, by Sally Collins, published by Simon & Schuster) from April 1.

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