Building a Family With Yours, Mine, and Ours

Most little girls grow up dreaming of being a mom, but hardly any of them dream of becoming a stepmom. Nevertheless, approximately one million new stepfamilies are created every year.

It’s no secret, being a stepmother can be a living nightmare. But it can also be an enriching and rewarding experience―one that God can use to strengthen you, helping you survive and even thrive in the toughest job you never asked for.

Offers FREE articles and online support for stepparents and the blended family marriage, guidance for blended family problems or planning a blended family wedding. Become a smart stepfamily with practical book and video resources.

When Ray and I were dating, our four children got along great. Our lives were filled with adventure and excitement. Then came the day when Ray and I said, “I do.” Once the ink was dry on the marriage certificate, our children began drawing boundary lines: “My room.” “My toys.” “We always do it this way.” Our families did not blend together as much as they bashed into one another.

We have a great relationship, but ever since his father remarried, his stepmom has started putting these thoughts in his head about me.

"I've got the love to give. Now how can I get my stepchild to accept it?" Does that question sound familiar? Whether you are presently a stepparent, a dating single parent, or in the courtship stage before marriage, the challenge of blending families is one of the most difficulty you will ever face. Winning the Heart of Your Stepchild is a hands-on guidebook for today's men and women who face the special challenge of blending families.

Leading stepfamily expert Ron L. Deal reveals the seven fundamental steps to blended family success and provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues you face as a stepfamily. Whether married or soon-to-be-married, you'll discover how to

· Solve the everyday puzzles of stepparenting and stepchildren relationships
· Communicate effectively with an ex-spouse
· Handle stepfamily finances confidently
· "Cook" your stepfamily slowly rather than expect an instant blend

For those times when you need an uplifting word from God himself to get through the day, this quick view of verses will encourage you to keep up the good work. Hang it in your closet or keep a copy in your purse for that next discouraging moment.

DivorceCare is a divorce recovery support group where you can find help and healing for the hurt of separation and divorce.

What if your child’s “life-after-divorce” could be better than you’ve hoped for? As the post-divorce dust settles, your child’s chances of leading a healthy, successful life are directly linked to how you and your former spouse relate. So instead of listening to statistics, read this book to discover real world co-parenting strategies from author, counselor, and co-parent Tammy Daughtry.

FamilyLife Blended provides resources that help prevent re-divorce, strengthen stepfamilies, and help break the generational cycle of divorce.

Blending A Family Ministry exists to help people blend their families after a second marriage. You'll find help information for step-mom, step-dad, and step-children; and how to better relate within the new blended family environment.

Coparenting International is an organization committed to bringing HOPE to divorced and remarried parents, to educators and gatekeepers, as well as to counselors, coaches and churches.

Author Ron Deal explains how a couple in a stepmarriage with children can evaluate and improve their relationship so that it thrives.

Sometimes you have to start by doing what’s right and good by your stepkids (even when you don’t initially like them).

At HomeWord, we believe in STRONG MARRIAGES, CONFIDENT PARENTS, and EMPOWERED KIDS.We exist to strengthen and equip parents, couples and families.

Bringing two families together in matrimony can be joyful, and yet chaotic, too. In The Blended Marriage, find out how keeping Christ at the center of your relationship will help you navigate the unexpected twists and turns of remarriage. You will learn to rely on God's strength and wisdom to recognize God's role in bringing you and your spouse together and his plan for your marriage, and discover the importance of making faith in God's grace key in your life.

As a recently remarried stepparent, what can I do to make the transition to blended family life as smooth as possible for my children, my spouse's kids, and everyone else concerned?

Co-parenting, jealousy, and stepsibling conflict can chip away at a family’s future. But five changes can create a lasting impact on stepfamily dynamics.

This group provides information and programs to educate the public about divorce, and they also offer direct support to families going through separation or divorce.

Jealousy in blended families may cause competition between a stepparent and stepchild, but a jealous spouse may be embarrassed to address it.

Dr. Gary Chapman and Ron Deal explore the challenges blended families face and offer advice for cultivating healthy, loving relationships.

Looking back, over the past 14 years of being a stepmother, here are 5 tips I've learned to ease the journey of becoming a blended family.

Boundaries are not about what is right or wrong—it’s about honoring the mind, heart, body, and soul of a person.

Practical strategies for effective blended family management: how to set rules, prioritize activities, and coordinate shared schedules.

In most cases, stepparenting is the most difficult hurdle you'll face in creating a successful stepfamily. Stepparents too often begin with expectations based on fantasy, and a title with a negative connotation.
There are no easy shortcuts to effective stepparenting. Here are some important principles to consider: