A blended family, also known as a step-family, is a family formed when two people in a relationship come together and bring a child or children from previous relationships.
Establishing a blended family may be both challenging and fulfilling as both parents and children may find it difficult to adjust to new formed relationships and new environment settings.
Step-parents may experience problems parenting unfamiliar children while step-children may find it hard to accept a new parent.
According to HelpGuide.org, blended families have the highest success rate if the parents wait two years or more after a divorce to remarry, instead of piling one drastic family change onto another.
Some of the common blended family issues include a kid’s need for attention, sibling rivalry, lack of family bonds, differences in parenting styles and step-parent discipline.
While some children might be excited about gaining step-siblings, some might not.
The UK Calmery shares the following tips to a healthy blended family life:
- Decide on parenting style – Prior to moving in together, it is important to have conversations about how to manage emotions, behaviour, schoolwork, independence, screen time, financial allowance and your kid’s social lives, as blended families need a unified parent style in order to succeed.
- Set family rules – After a parenting style have been set, it is ideal to set boundaries with all the children in the family. This may also be a good time to involve the children in setting these new rules and, once decided upon, they may be placed in a visible place where everyone will be able to see them.
- Focus on loving unconditionally – The UK Calmery adds, “To feel safe and secure, children need to know them no matter what. Regardless of what is going on in your new relationship or the co-parenting relationship you may have with an ex-partner.”
- Build positive relations – developing relationships is important when in a blended family, these can be done by showing interest in the things a children likes. If they are into sports, it might be nice to take them to watch a game, play a game together or even watch one with them at home.
- Be patient – Developing relationships needs patience. It is important to practice this patience when dealing with your partner’s kids as they may express anger and frustration at the new family dynamics.
Also see: Things to know before adopting a child
