How to Create A Happily Blended Family

“The challenges of blending a new family is not unlike baking a soufflé it cannot be rushed it is complex, and requires a significant amount of patience or it will fall flat.”

 

Five Mistakes step Parents make and how to handle them more effectively

• Do This
• Be yourself don’t push
• Make some time to make your step children feel special to you.
• Listen carefully with patience
• Try to understand how hard it is for them to go through a divorce.
• Work to stay on the same page with your spouse while setting clear limits and consequences for the kids.
• Not That
• Underestimating the Effect of tone of voice.
• Not being clear about expectations
• Forcing new Rules.
• Getting jealous of the children’s relationship with their bio parent
• Forgetting that the kids did not ask for this new arrangement and resenting your step children’s feelings.

Common mistakes for blending new families

• Assuming everyone will be on the same page
• New parent taking on role of disciplinarian.
• Yelling or belittling step children out of frustration.
• Using sarcasm to get your point across.

The Bio Parent Role

• You are the parent that should correct your children’s poor behavior
• You are the parent with the last word in major decisions for your children
• You are the parent that asks for your spouse’s support in discipline.