By Rachel Eddins, M.Ed., LPC-S
I was recently interviewed by Sugarland Magazine on how to get off on the right foot in a new blended family. Here are the top tips I shared:
1. As a stepparent, be sure to take the time to bond with your new children. Your stepchild may be resistant, but it’s important for you to lead the way and demonstrate that you are interested and care.
2. Children thrive with schedules and consistency. The transition will be much smoother if everyone knows what’s expected of them. Have a conversation early on that outlines the expectations and groundrules.
3. Communication is vital. Ask how you can make the children more comfortable and let them know what you need, too. Honor requests and communicate boundaries as appropriate. Most children just want to know that you’ll still be there for them. Reassure them.
4. Make a special space for the children in their new home. They need a place that’s all their own, so they feel comfortable. This doesn’t have to be their own room necessarily, but at least a space that is specifically designated as their own with all their belongings.
5. As a newly married couple, you’re leading the way, so your love for each other should shine. Enjoy date nights and keep your bond strong. Your children will naturally fall in place behind your lead.
Read the article here: http://www.sugarlandmagazine.com/articles/2010/fall/sugar-land-texas-fort-bend’s-brady-bunches-sugarland-tx.pdf
Recommended Reading:
Stepcoupling: Creating and Sustaining a Strong Marriage in Today’s Blended Family
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