I am a divorcee and my son lives with me. Thankfully, Dad has been very involved in raising him over the years. I shared some of our marital journey and ultimately the end of our marriage my first book "It's My Life and I Live Here: One Woman's Story". Our son is now a pre-teen, and so the challenges have become more interesting. What has reassured me is the fact that I know … [Read more...]
7 Steps to a Well Blended Family
I come from a family that was so well blended I wasn't even aware that our family dynamic wasn't the norm until I was at least in high school. The term blended family was new to me. Even though my parents each came into their union with children from previous marriages, my sisters were just my sisters and mommy and daddy were just that. I distinctly remember my mother saying … [Read more...]
Single Parents: 4 Things Your Kids Are Learning from Your Relationships
As a single father, I’m always careful about who I date, who I bring around my children and deciding the right time to bring that special someone around my children. Those are important concerns to think about when raising a child. Your children deserve to see you happy and in a productive relationship. Not only is it good for you, but it’s good for the child to see what a … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Rapper/Actor Tray Chaney Releases “Dedicated Fatherhood” Video
An author, rapper and celebrated actor who appeared on all five seasons of HBO’s The Wire, Tray Chaney has just released a new video for his latest song, “Dedicated Father.” Showcasing four generations of Chaney men, “Dedicated Father” features Tray’s 78-year-old grandfather, Samuel Chaney Sr., his 53-year-old father, Samuel Chaney, Jr. and his 7-year old son, … [Read more...]
Single Fathers: Don’t Step Up to be a Parent, Never Step Down
The unfortunate reality is there are a lot of single men with children, especially in the African American community. It’s unfortunate because every child could benefit from being in the house with the two parents who cared enough to bring them into this world. Regardless, the society we live in has many single men who are a part of raising a child either in their home, in … [Read more...]
10 Things Parents Do to Make Their Kids ‘Forever Dependents’
Is it just me, or does it seem that modern parents spoil the crap out of their kids? I'm sorry but if I see one more mom CARRYING a child that is bigger than she is, I'm gonna scream. If the child can walk, why isn't he/she walking? I've seen children that appear to be 6 or 7 years old being pushed in strollers. The child is so big that the feet are dragging the ground. … [Read more...]
Co-Parenting Through the Holidays: How to Cope When Your Kids are Away
This year, I'm celebrating the season solo. Oh, the joys of co-parenting! My ex is picking up our daughter mid-month. Although Thanksgiving somewhat prepared me for her time away from "mommy's house" as she calls it, her absence will still be felt. I'll miss her making mashed potatoes on her kid kitchen and pretending to fix a feast. I'll miss seeing her face light up like the … [Read more...]
Stepfamily Survival Tips: 10 Ways to Ensure a Happy Holiday Season
by Janice R. Love, The holidays are exciting for most families; however without planning, holidays for stepfamilies can be disastrous. My husband and I are a blended family of eight children and have been married for over ten years. Here are our ten tips for ensuring a happy holiday season. Plan, Plan, Plan – It has been said if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. … [Read more...]
Interview: 4 Ingredients Every Marriage Should Have When Raising a Child with Autism
It was a pleasure to interview Chris Superville and Shanté Nicole Harris-Superville to discuss autism and marriage. We rarely get to hear about the marriages that are working for autism families. I know some married couples raising children on the spectrum and I know single parents doing the same. It can have its challenges either way. Yet, all of these families are doing their … [Read more...]
Another Blended Family Love Story: How My Husband Became “Daddy”
Recently, I wrote an article about my Father before he became my Daddy, where I shared my experience growing up in a blended family home. Now, I am going to share my experience as a parent allowing my spouse to raise my child. My family knew my husband’s family from church many years before we got together. My sister teased me about my him becoming my husband even before we … [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...]
7 Reasons Not to Hate Your Child’s Stepmom
When I found out my daughter’s dad moved on, I was devastated. It felt like someone stabbed me in the back and the heart at the same time. I yearned to pick up the phone and call her—the other woman who later became the wife. I wasn’t sure what I would say, but I was sure that the sentences would be filled with four-letter words. I didn’t dial a single digit. Although 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...]