When children do not get emotional permission from their biological parents to like and develop a relationship with their stepparents, they often feel confused, frustrated and torn. The more likeable the stepparent, the more conflicted the stepchildren feel. The children end up feeling guilty for liking the stepparent, hide it from their biological parent, and […]
Stepmom wrote to Parenting Magazine,
The man I am marrying has two young children from a previous marriage. I will become “stepmom” soon. What suggestions do you have for a smooth transition? I want to nurture a healthy relationship with my soon-to-be husband’s children, but I also want to respect their relationship with their mother, too.
Many people are embarrassed to admit that they are clueless about how to make their step-families connect and work well. The following tips will help make that easier…
Slowly transition from the unstructured recreation of summer back into the disciplined routine that the coming school year will demand of you and your children. Stepfamilies may find this adjustment especially challenging because of differing rules and expectations between the households.
The following tips will help you and your children prepare for the new school year.
When people with children divorce, they have the illusion that their exes are out of their lives, never to influence them again. They soon find themselves mistaken. Some are mystified by how much influence their ex spouses have over their lives. After all, they got a divorce to remove the other person from their lives. […]
Have you ever wondered how could you possibly co-parent with your ex? After all, you didn’t share a parenting style even when you were married… Co-parenting provides an opportunity to prove to your children that you are still actively involved in parenting them, and that the divorce was indeed only between the adults. It is […]
Are you frustrated that your step-family still feels divided, after another year zoomed by? You are not alone. Many step-families share your pain. You can make a difference, in this coming year. By implementing these 6 easy tips, you will experience a difference in how you connect with your step-family.
Siblings, whether they are biological, step-siblings, half-siblings or adopted have relationships that are characterized by love, frustrations, and rivalry. In step families, relationships among siblings often change because of shifts in birth order and fluctuations in time spent together and apart. The following tips will help you guide your children in improving their relationships with […]
As you and your children are settling into the routine of the new school year, you might begin to experience some frustrations. Deadlines need to be met academically and recreationally, and adjustments in visitation schedules necessitate increased communications between exes. Here are some tips to help you and your family maximize your joy and harmony […]
Sexuality is a major preoccupation of thoughts and feelings for most, if not all, teens. In some stepfamilies, the adolescent sexuality may raise much concern due to the lack of biological relationship with the stepparent and inappropriate behaviors by the adolescents.
Here are some tips to help your adolescent and your family cope with his/her unfolding sexuality…
Stepfamilies face the emotional and physical adjustments in the transition from one household to another. Custody changes are more frequent during the summer months. The better the relationship between the households, the more flexible they are with scheduling visitations. In many cases, children visit the non-custodial parent for 2-8 weeks, while in others, there is […]
