APPROACHING STEPFAMILY LIVING WITH EYES WIDE OPEN

Welcome to our podcast on stepfamily living.  If you are listening to this podcast you are either in a stepfamily, planning to enter a stepfamily or you know of a stepfamily.  So, it’s important to understand that stepfamilies have unique challenges and complications that are not part of the culture of nuclear families.  My husband and I have found that new stepparents seem to be totally unprepared and surprised when they begin to encounter these complexities.

Stepfamilies are built on brokenness and loss – either through death or divorce. Every couple has their own unique story.

STEPFAMILIES ARE BUILT ON BROKENNESS AND LOSS

Stepfamilies are built on brokenness and loss – either through death or divorce.  Every couple has their own unique story.  Once biological parents remarry, it’s a secondary loss for the children and sometimes they can become resistant.  Resistant children can sabotage the new relationship.

So, if you are in a dating relationship that will blend families, just a word of caution – SLOW DOWN.  It’s easier on the children if you stay single while they are young.

Sadly, statistics show that secondary marriages have a much higher risk of divorce than first marriages.  One way to minimise that risk is to be informed and invest time and energy to learn how to make your stepfamily a success story.

In the next few podcasts, we will look at some of the complexities and how you can navigate them.

I want to acknowledge the resources from Ron Deal who is a worldwide leader in stepfamilies.  He conducts extensive research and has counselled stepfamilies for almost 30 years.  He is the author, and co-author, of many books, and he regularly hosts seminars with stepfamilies and other experts in the field.  For more resources you can check out FamilyLife Blended.