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
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...]
Blended Families Week: 3 Ways to Help Step-Children Get Along
Growing up with a blended family had its share of challenges as well as blessings. Outside of the typical questions you have as the outside child, if you put your focus in the right place, you really can have the best of both worlds. I didn't appreciate as a child having these different sets of families who loved me and were available when I needed them. Instead of that … [Read more...]
3 Things You Need To Know About Blended Family Problems
Believe it or not, life is real and not a fairytale. All over the world blended families are living happily and co-existing harmoniously. Ideally, we’d love to hear that everyone just “clicked’ immediately but I’m sure we all know or have been involved in some incidents that didn’t go so smoothly. Change can sometimes be a challenge but its possible. How can we make the … [Read more...]
Singles with Kids: Things to Think about Before Blending Your Family
One of the challenges we have as singles is how to deal with children in a relationship, whether those children are ours or those of our mates. It’s a delicate, sensitive issue for lots of parents, but one we have to address because our children deserve to see what healthy relationships look like. We have to be sensitive to our children’s needs and cautious about whom they are … [Read more...]
Accidental Friends – Our Blended Family Story
I have this friend and I want to tell you about her. She is so super cool. I've known her for about 15 years. We met in my home town in Indiana. She is very kind and always helpful. She is a hardworking, God fearing Christian woman with her own catering business in Indianapolis. She refers to my son as "our son" and I love her daughter. In fact her daughter has spent the … [Read more...]
Jada Pinkett-Smith Shares Her Thoughts On Women in Blended Families
From her Red Table Talks to defending her daughter's hair choices, Jada Pinkett-Smith has shown how important family is to her. In a recent Facebook post, she shared her thoughts on blended families. Pinkett-Smith draws from her own experience building a blended family with husband, Will Smith, who had a son, Trey, from his previous marriage to ex-wife, Sheree. The two now … [Read more...]
3 Ingredients for a Peaceful Blended Family
Have children from previous relationships? Wondering how to blend into one happy family? Here are some tips I found useful when I got married. I had a two year old son and my husband had no children, so he stepped into the role like a pro to help me raise my son. Excuse me, our son. Below are the three main requirements I’ve learned in the past 16 years that are essential for a … [Read more...]
The Thankless Job of Being a Step-Parent
Step-parents! I salute you....I know first-hand that it's not easy being a parent. So, imagine how difficult it must feel being a step parent in a lot of blended families. I'm not one, but I'm understanding more and more that most of these step-parenting roles take courage, understanding, and definitely love. I can never question my husband's love for me, because the way I see … [Read more...]
Being in a Blended Family: From a Child’s Perspective
If you're a biological parent in a blended family, you often wonder exactly what its like from the step-child's perspective. My son and I have a very close relationship and I'm always inquiring about his feelings on just about anything, especially when it comes to our family structure. If you recall, I wrote an article talking about my feelings and how I felt when it was … [Read more...]