Blended Families: How Step-Parents Can Bond with Step-Children

In our Blended Families series, we’ve taken a look at how blended families are a team sport, the unique challenges and opportunities blended families face, how children are affected by divorce and what it means for your new family, and how you can work together as a couple to make a real difference in your blended family.  Now we take a look at the step-parent, step-children relationship and how you can, as the new parent figure in the family, create a lasting bond with your step-child.

How to Step-Parent

Welcome to Step-Parenting

Welcome to the world of step-parenting.  Step-parenting is a world that confounds many and leaves them feeling completely incompetent, at times.  Fret not, you are NOT alone.  Yes, step-parenting can be one of the most challenging aspects of your new family–you’re not sure what to do, what to say, how to begin–but its also the most potentially rewarding and beneficial journey you’ll embark on.

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Blended Families: Work Together, Make a Differecne

We’ve talked about blended families, as a team sport, how children are affected by divorce and the unique challenges blended families face as they try and bring two families together. One of the most important considerations when bringing your blended family together is this: the only way a blended family can and will work, happens when the adults involved work together for the good of all children and all relationships involved.

Blended Families : Working Together

Working together means dealing with any issues that the children will have, the individual adults will have and the issues that arise from divorced parents.  There is no way around it.  When you, as a couple, make the conscious decision to work together on all issues that arise–you dramatically increase your chances of success, not only as a couple but also as a blended family.  In doing so, you also give all the children involved a real chance to grow as individuals in a healthy way.

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Blended Families: How Children Are Affected by Divorce

We’ve talked about blended families, as a team sport and the unique challenges blended families face as they try and bring two families together.  One consideration that needs to be made, is how all children in a blended family are affected by the divorce of their parents.   These affects can linger years, even decades, after a child’s parents divorce–blended families often feel the rippling affects.

How Divorce Affects Children

Adults in a blended family, must understand the issues that arise when children are affected by divorce and then, in turn, affected by re-marriage and a new family structure.  Knowledge is power for parents and can help you spot opportunities to be proactive in dealing with issues that will arise.

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