Hi Dr. Buckingham, I have been married for six years. My husband and I met while on vacation, and it was as if we knew each other for a very long time. Two years into the marriage, I found out he had a daughter, whom he fathered while we were engaged. Mind you, it was a long distance relationship for two years. Since I found out, he has seen his daughter maybe 10 times in … [Read more...]
Blended Family Week: 10 Tips to Make Your Blended Family Work For You
Remember the Brady Bunch? When the show came on it played that much too familiar song that went something like... "Here's a story of a lovely lady... and a man named Brady ... and that's the way they ALL became the Brady Bunch... " In that perfect square with that perfect house and all six kids coming together in harmony. Every episode ended in a resolution to whatever … [Read more...]
My Co-Parenting Journey; Raising a Son When Dad Isn’t There
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...]
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...]
5 Things I Wish I Had Known Prior to Blending My Family
In today's age, there are a lot of divorcees finding love again and people are choosing to place their desires for a successful career before marriage. Naturally, the prevalence of blended families is becoming increasingly popular. If you are considering blending your family, ask yourself if you have taken the necessary steps to ensure that everyone in the family … [Read more...]