The hardest task in my life at the moment is trying to figure out how to make my blended family work. Mark and I have been together for four years now. Our children have been together for two. We kept…
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I am here to tell you it is possible to have a happy blended family. When my husband and I married, we both had a previous marriage that ended in divorce. After a divorce, you have a tendency to withdraw…
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A step-father… one who takes a step before giving his opinion, placing the blame, disciplining, scolding, even advising children that do not share his blood. He may have all the good intention of making relationships work with the children of…
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It is absolutely possible to have a happy blended family. It takes work, but then, so does a “normal” family. Hopefully knowing about my experiences can help you, and give you some ideas to continue to form healthy relationships. My…
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When you meet to-be relatives for the first time; not someone you grew up with, the relationship will be a bit different than what you have with those you shared chicken pox with. Maybe you meet a stepsister; ten/fifteen/twenty years…
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The challenges of living with an extended family can be frightening to say the slightest, but it can be incredibly rewarding as well. There are numerous types of family living arrangements in existence, and our extended family living arrangement is…
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Stepparents rights will always be situational and legally based. No matter how long term the step parents affiliation is to the child there always seems to be this nonsensical idea that being a step parent offers no real connection to…
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When I was in my mid twenties, I became, voluntarily, part of a blended family. I had one young daughter, my husband had three girls – and, along with that, I became an instant grandmother. I loved it; but that…
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As a sibling to three younger brothers and one older sister, being raised by my single mother truly presented unique challenges for us five. Although my mother did an excellent job providing for our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing,…
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When someone enters into a relationship where children are already involved, there are many issues that stand in the way. Most of the time when the children are old enough to understand what is happening, they may feel hurt and…
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Having an extended family is overwhelming and financially draining in the sense that you cannot afford to give them even the minimal comforts of a normal life. Unfortunately, you stand for them as the sole breadwinner with meager income. Supporting…
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Should stepparents have parental rights? That is a very touchy question but one that is very personal for me. I am a step parent of a 13 year old girl. My husband and I were married when she was two…
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So often single parents introduce their children to their dates or “love interests” prematurely. Sometimes even after only one date, or even at the beginning of a first date. In doing this, they make the mistake of bringing their children…
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“Nature or nurture?” is a question considered whenever trying to decide if parents are responsible for the actions of their adult children. The answer is a simple but resounding “no”. Parents are given the care of a child until adulthood….
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Falling in love is what every little girl dreams of. From the most tender age we hear fairy-tales of the beautiful princess who is saved by the handsome prince and they live happily ever after. What those sweet tales don’t…
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The role a father plays in a child’s life is one that is all too often underestimated. So much emphasis is put on a mother’s love that society as a whole forgets that children need a (good) dad in their…
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There is no way a mother should have to mediate a disagreement between her adult children. By the time they are adults, hopefully they will have developed the communication skills to engage in constructive dialogue, be willing to listen to…
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There comes a time in life when we all have to let go. The kids have to allow the apron strings to be cut, but the parents (moms especially) have to actually cut the strings. When two adult siblings have…
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Many men step into a marriage with the idea that they are marring only the woman and not their offspring’s. Many men acknowledge the children and realize what they are getting into, but lack the restraint and patience to become…
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Contrary to popular belief, the gradual deterioration of your relationship with your parents is not just a natural phenomenon. Most people would describe this relationship as “awkward at best” and there are reasons for it. There are years and years…
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This is the question on the lips of many teenage boys today and many much more matured boys also in some cases. The question, when will my dad treat me like a grown up? At one part of my life,…
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It started with the Civil Rights Movement and moved into the days of burning bras. It still goes on today, with women struggling against the ever-present glass ceiling. However, while most women fight for recognition and respect in the male-dominated…
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One of the most daunting task to succeed at is being the individual who has to replace the footsteps of a parent in the eyes of a child. I grew up with a single mother who tried to replace my…
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Do stay-at-home (SAH) moms get the recognition they deserve? My answer is a big NO. Been there, done that. This is my story… I graduated from college eleven years ago with a degree in Computer Science, and landed my first…
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At any age, a child may disagree with their parents. People of different generations see things differently, although there are ways that you can overcome problems and improve the relationship you have with your parents by being aware of how…
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Learning to forgive my mother is harder than I thought it would be. I have been trying for four years now. Some days i can and some days I can’t. I learned to hate my mother when she made my…
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Absolutely not. I was once a step-parent (the relationship has since ended) and my children now have a step-father and I have to admit that being a step is really difficult. I think it’s really hard to put yourself in…
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Stepparents are often special people. The ability to raise a child or children that are not your own and to love them as if they were is often a very difficult task. It often goes un-rewarded and many people do…
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Adult children taking in a parent Mothers will always be mothers, or are they? When you have raised children to the time that they become adults, you always have that motherly instinct. You will always want to be there when…
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Up until 50 or 60 years ago, staying at home was expected of a woman with children.Factories provided jobs everywhere for men who were expected to work and provide for their families. When a woman did not have a husband,…
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