It’s almost Blended Family Week, a time dedicated to the celebration of blended families everywhere. It’s a necessary recognition because merging families isn’t always easy. Add to that this current climate of COVID and it could become even more of a challenge. It's comforting to know there are resources and tips for successful blended families. If you are looking for blended … [Read more...]
Search Results for: blended families
Why Living in Blended Families was a Gift and a Curse for Me
My father has always had a tumultuous time with women. Being such, my brother and I have had the experience of being raised in a few blended families. As is true with most experiences, it was both a gift and a curse. My parents divorced after 15 years of marriage while I was six and my brother was twelve. My father retained custody of both my brother and I. After … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Why Good Intentions are Not Good Enough
Lamar and I just celebrated 9 years of marriage. And while I can’t say that the last nine years have gone by without any drama or trials, I can say that marrying Lamar has been one of the best decisions that I’ve made in my life. He’s not only been a blessing to me, but he has also been a blessing to my children ….our children. We were recently asked what has been one of … [Read more...]
5 Ways the Church Can Be a Blessing to Blended Families
by Janice R. Love, The church has been the foundation in the African American community for decades. Individuals and families seek membership for many reasons including: Christian growth and development, opportunities to serve God and others, friendships, assistance with accountability, having a sense of community, friendships, and having a healthy environment to raise … [Read more...]
Video: Short Film Captures the Challenges and Love of Blended Families
When you bring together a blended family, everyone (and I mean everyone) will experience growing pains....from the step-parent, to the biological parent, to the kids. They all have to go through a period of adjusting to their new reality. And this period can be easy for some and it can be very difficult for others. I know this reality all too well as Lamar and I have a … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: When Love Trumps DNA…an Awesome Love Story
Recently I shared Bible verses intended to encourage couples in their marriage. Many of the verses focused on love with one of them identifying the various things that define love. It is my belief that all of these qualities are present in us as children. We love without limits. No matter what our parents do in our eyes they are sheer perfection and our desire is to have … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Stepdads are Great Too!
My parents met when they were both in the Air Force. They married when I was four and my older sister was seven. Looking at the wedding pictures, I remember being there, but for the longest time, I thought my dad was mine biologically. It wasn’t until I was older that I was told he was not. You see my dad adopted me and my sister after he married my mom, so I didn’t get a … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: A Stepmom Speaks Out
My mom was a stepmother to 3 of my stepbrothers. In the house it was my mom (their stepmom), their dad (my stepdad), and me (the only girl and the baby.) Two of them lived at the house the majority of the time and my oldest stepbrother stayed for a couple of years; none of them shared the same mom but would visit or stay with their moms for periods at a time. I asked my mom a … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: 5 Tips I Learned from My Grandparents
The term blended family is fairly new in its popularity; however, blended families have been around since the Bible days. My grandparents are not quite as old as the people in the Bible but they serve as a wonderful example of successfully parenting in blended family. My grandfather married my widowed grandmother somewhere around 1944. She already had a whopping six children, … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Peeling Back the Layers of Co-Parenting
When we blend families in this generation, there is an expectation of one parent to accept the other parent’s children and vice-versa. I don’t think that’s wrong in any way, but I believe we need to look deeper than a level of acceptance. There needs to be a mutual respect and preferably a bond between a child and the other parent. As a single father, I know how important it … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Introducing…The Co-Parenting Contract
Sometimes divorce, separation or break ups can be down right bitter. We are often times so focused on the hurt and pain that our significant other has caused, that we lose sight of the children and what's best for them. When cooler heads prevail and you can think more clearly, at some point, the two of you need to focus on the child(ren), their fragile state and how you can … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Why a Step Parent is a Bonus Parent
When I met my step son he was 10 years old, and my step daughter was 6 months old. I have to be honest, I was a bit nervous about dating a man with children. I didn't have any children of my own and in my own life I was not too fond of my mom’s husband. I wasn't coming from a total deficit though, as a teacher I had excellent training in child development and I never have any … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: 8 StepFamily Resources that We Love
This week is Blended Families week on the site. Although we talk about blend families (or step-families) all year long, this is the week that we set aside to really focus on discussing blended families and providing tools and resources that will strengthen those families. According to the Pew Research Center, over 40% of adults are now in some type of step-relationship ( … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: 5 Tips for Blended Family Vacations
It’s ‘Blended Family’ week here on BlackandMarriedwithKids.com and with that in mind we have a few tips that will make each and every blended family vacation a happy one packed with memories. Here are our tips to help you plan for a blended family vacation. Family meeting time…. Before booking any ‘blended family’ (especially if your kids are pre-teens/teens) vacation, … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: 7 Things I Liked about Growing up in a Blended Family
I've had a blended family since I was a toddler. All I've known is having 4 parents. I like to think that I was lucky enough to have two sets of parents growing up, as it definitely made my upbringing better. This is more than having two Christmases (although that was definitely a perk). I had 4 adults who were proud to call me their daughter. I lived with my mom and my … [Read more...]