by Reginald Williams The blended family now serves as America's norm. This is especially true in the larger segment of the African-American population when one factors in the sky-scraping out-of-wedlock birthrate complemented by an equally dismal divorce pace. Even within the larger society 65 percent of the people who remarry will do so bringing children into the new … [Read more...]
Blended Families
Blended Families Week: Fakers, Haters and Deal Breakers – Keeping Outside Influences Outside of Your Blended Family
As Blended Families Week rolls along I hope that you've been getting some great information that will help you deal with the difficulty of a blended family. I also hope that you've realized that you are not alone when it comes to the difficulty of marriage and parenting in a blended family situation. If you are not in a blended family and just would like to learn more about … [Read more...]
Discipline in a Blended Family
By Ronnie Tyler Discipline can be a point of contention in a blended family. Differences in parenting styles can literally make a couple split if you don't take measures to build strong relationships and to ensure that your marriage bond is strong. When Lamar and I were engaged, I got my first glimpse of this step-family dynamic. We had an argument about how I … [Read more...]
Stepfamilies: The Washington Post Examines The Wording
The Washington Post recently ran an article about how the word "stepfamily" is falling out of favor in the U.S. A new poll announced that 4 out of 10 American consider themselves as part of a stepfamily but a growing number is rejecting the label altogether. Excerpt: Call them blended families, bonus families or para-kin. Just don't call them stepfamilies. The term - seared … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Playing 2nd Fiddle To Another Man’s (or Woman’s) Child
By Eric Payne Those who follow my blog, MakesMeWannaHoller.com, know that I've got a 14 year old and a 4 year old and most days I'm up to my eyeballs with the two of them. Some days, my 4 year old girl shows me myself when I was a little boy growing up. Sometimes she does so with such accuracy, it's as if I'm looking into a mirror of my past. My son is a different story. I … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: You’re Not My Daddy!
by Aja Dorsey Jackson It all started with broccoli. One night a few years ago, when my now 10-year-old was about seven my husband, who is not my daughter's father, noticed at dinner that she was trying to avoid eating her broccoli by pushing it around on her plate (that "trick" never seems to die). "Eat your broccoli." He told her. She proceeded to nibble on the top … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: I May Not Be Your Mama, But…
by Harriet Hairston Blended families have become quite the norm in modern day times. The Brady Bunch is no longer an exception to be gawked at during prime time television. These days, children are being raised with step-parents, half-siblings and if the parents play their cards right, one big, happy family! It is in light of that kind of dynamic that I dedicate this … [Read more...]
Confessions From a Blended Family: A Biological Mom’s Perspective
Divorce rates in America are about 49% for the 1st marriage, but goes up to 67% for the 2nd marriage and jumps up again for 3rd marriages. And I can image that the issues/complexities of dealing with a blended family contributes to the divorce rates of many remarriages. Blending families is not easy! You are bringing together two families that have different customs and … [Read more...]