Download or read book Stepcoupling written by Susan Wisdom and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2007-12-18 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Love may be sweeter the second time around, but once the bliss of a newfound relationship wears off a little, the reality of being part of a stepfamily sets in. If you are one of the millions of remarried Americans facing the challenge of blending two existing families into one cohesive whole, you are part of a stepcouple—and you know all too well how hard it can be to make your marriage work in sometimes tough terrain. Different parenting styles, finances, relationships with ex-spouses, legal matters, and even seemingly simple issues such as the kinds of chores assigned to children can chisel away at your union if you don’t always make your marriage a priority. Stepcoupling offers advice for stepcouples on how to do just that—all the while strengthening their blended family with a healthy marriage. Susan Wisdom and Jennifer Green provide tips and strategies on dealing with the issues remarried couples face, with a wealth of advice from real-life stepcouples, such as: * Learning to tailor your expectations of your spouse or children and remembering that no family is perfect * Knowing where your boundaries are, whether involving a hostile ex-spouse or a stepchild who demands too much attention * Realizing that traits like flexibility, tolerance, forgiveness, and openness are especially essential in a stepfamily situation * Making “us” time for talking, problem-solving, weekends away, and enjoying your marriage to constantly renew and strengthen your bond as a couple Let this invaluable remarriage manual help you make your stepcouple the foundation of a strong, happy, and successful stepfamily.

Download or read book Wonderful Ways to Be a Stepparent written by Judy Ford and published by Mango Media. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In their practical and supportive book, Judy Ford and Anna Chase offer a helping hand and show how to transform a seemingly impossible situation into a relationship filled with love. "In the end," write the authors,"the labels mother, father, stepmother, stepfather matter less than the quality of our interactions with the young ones entrusted to our care."

Download or read book The Smart Stepdad written by Ron L. Deal and published by Bethany House. This book was released on 2011-04-01 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While resources abound for stepmothers, stepfathers are often left to travel a difficult road without clear directions. Ron Deal offers advice for men navigating the stepfamily minefield, including how to connect with stepchildren, being a godly role model, how to discipline, dealing with the biological dad, and keeping the bond strong with one's new spouse. He gives perspective on what the kids are going through and why things don't work the same as in a biological family. The Smart Stepdad provides essential guidelines to help stepfathers not only survive but succeed as both dad and husband.

Download or read book The Happy Stepmother written by Rachelle Katz and published by Harlequin. This book was released on 2010-05-01 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You found the love of your life, and you vowed to have, to hold and to stepmother. You always thought that in time you'd grow to be the perfect, loving family. So why does it seem that the harder you try, the more unappreciated you feel? As a stepmother, therapist and founder of the popular Web site stepsforstepmothers.com, Dr. Rachelle Katz knows all too well how challenging stepmotherhood can be. Based on thousands of in-depth interviews and the latest research, she's created a powerful program to help you: * Alleviate stress and take care of yourself * Bond with your new family * Set and enforce clear boundaries * Get the respect you deserve * Strengthen your relationship

Download or read book Stepmonster written by Wednesday Martin and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2011-01-21 with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An honest and groundbreaking guide to understanding the complicated emotions that develop between stepmothers and children. When faced with often overwhelming challenges, what woman with stepchildren is unfamiliar with that “stepmonster” feeling? Half of all women in the United States will live with or marry a man with children. To guide women new to this role—and empower those who are struggling with it—Wednesday Martin draws upon her own experience as a stepmother. She's frank about the harrowing process of becoming a stepmother, she considers the myths and realities of being married to a man with children, and she counteracts the cultural notion that stepmothers are solely responsible for the problems that often develop. Along the way, she interviews other stepmothers and stepchildren and offers up fascinating insights from literature, anthropology, psychology, and evolutionary biology that explain the little-understood realities of this unique parent-child relationship and—in an unexpected twist—shows why the myth of the Wicked Stepmother is the single best tool for understanding who real stepmothers are and how they feel.

Download or read book Becoming A Stepfamily written by Patricia L. Papernow and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2015-07-17 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What determines whether stepfamilies remain together? What helps stepfamilies overcomes the difficulties of remarriage and become mutually supportive family units? How can mental health professionals better support this development? This book brings both clarity and depth to the unique and complex dynamics of remarried families. Patricia Papernow draws on interviews with over 100 stepfamily members, up-to-date research, a solid theoretical framework, and an empathic clinical sensibility to present an insightful model of stepfamily development, the Stepfamily Cycle. This details account of the sages of forming a lasting, cohesive group is richly illustrated by stepfamily members' own stories. Becoming a Stepfamily describes the developmental challenges involved in building nourishing, reliable relationships between stepparents and stepchildren, in the newly married couple, and between different family groups who must learn to live together in a remarried family. Papernow discusses the factors that influence the pace and ease of development, and she provides four full length case studies illustrating the varied paths through the stepfamily cycle to the successful remarried life. The author offers therapists, clergy, school personnel, and others involved with stepfamilies a range of effective interventions, including preventive, educational, and clinical approaches. She provides practical guidance for helping family members deal constructively with the differing attachments of children to their biological parents and stepparents, assisting stepparents as they cope with feeling excluded from the powerful biological parent-child bond, and guiding biological parents torn between their spouse's need for intimacy and privacy and their children's needs for support and attention.

Download or read book The Smart Stepfamily written by Ron L. Deal and published by Bethany House. This book was released on 2006 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Each member has their own unique place in a family. Ron Deal explores the myth of the "blended" family offering practical, realistic solutions for stepfamilies.

Download or read book The Smart Stepmom written by Ron L. Deal and published by Bethany House. This book was released on 2009-10-01 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The stepmother's role often is ambiguous and underappreciated, and frequently it carries unrealistic expectations. The book answers women's concerns and questions, including: How can I be a caretaker and a key emotional connector in the family if the children don't accept my influence? How shoud I cope with children who are confused about their family and torn between loyalty to their biological mother and me? When should I step back in conflicts and when should I insist that my husband stand up for me? In addition it addresses the spiritual and emotional climate of the home, providing perspective and guidelines to help stepmothers and their families thrive.

Download or read book Stepparenting written by Randall Hicks and published by Wordslinger Press. This book was released on 2016 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Step parenting advice for stepparents featuring fifty "DOs" and "DON'Ts" with matching photographs.

Download or read book A Career Girl s Guide to Becoming a Stepmom written by Jacquelyn B. Fletcher and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2009-10-13 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You have an exciting, fulfilling job. You've fallen in love with the man of your dreams—and met his three kids! Now what? Jacquelyn B. Fletcher shows how any professional woman turned wife and instant stepmother can build on the skills she employs at work—organization, team-building, goal-setting, and planning—to succeed at home in her new role as stepmom. Drawing on the latest research, her own experiences, and those of other real-life stepmothers, Fletcher offers advice, hope, encouragement, and much-needed answers to common conundrums, including: Why don't I have control over my own schedule? What kind of relationship do I want with my stepkids? What if I want to have a baby of my own? How do we create a budget that feels fair if I make more money than my husband does? A Career Girl's Guide to Becoming a Stepmom is essential reading for the professional woman who has it all—and then suddenly has more than she expected.

Download or read book Stepliving for Teens written by Joel D. Block and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although there are books that may help teens cope with divorce, what about life after divorce? "Stepliving for Teens" explores real questions from real teens living in stepfamilies. In question-and-answer format, the book covers a wide range of actual stepfamily concerns.

Download or read book Childless by Marriage written by Sue Fagalde Lick and published by . This book was released on 2021-06 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First you marry a man who does not want children. He cheats and you divorce him. Then you marry the love of your life and find out he does not want to have children with you either. The three he has are more than enough. Although you always wanted to be a mother, you decide he is worth the sacrifice, expecting to have a long happy life together. But that's not what happens. This is the story of how a woman becomes childless by marriage and how it affects every aspect of her life. This is the book of my heart, the one I had to write. Ever since I realized I was not going to have children, I have felt recurring grief and an emptiness in my heart. I am different from most women, but I have found that I am not alone. There are many of us childless women, and I think it's important to share our stories about what it's like when you don't have children in a world where most girls grow up to become mothers. I hope this book offers comfort to those who are childless and understanding to those who are not. If it makes you smile here and there, even better.

Download or read book Blended Family Advice written by Shirley Cress Dudley MA LPC and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2009-10-26 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Blended Family Advice is step-by-step guide to help blended and stepfamilies navigate the rough areas in their marriage and family. The book focuses on three main areas: marriage, kids, and the outside world. Learn how to communicate with your ex-spouse successfully, create a sense of unity in your newly blended family, how to treat stepparents and stepsiblings, and how to create house rules and expectations in your new blended household. Shirley Cress Dudley uses her skills as a licensed professional counselor, and as a stepmom to help blended and step families learn how to become strong and successful. Blended Family Advice contains the keys to a successful blended family along with several bonus reports: a financial planner, creating successful blended family holidays, house hunting for the blended family, and a guide for grandparents. Blended families and stepfamilies will find this book to be a comprehensive resource and one that every stepfamily and blended family will need in their home. Visit The Blended and Step Family Resource Center http://www.TheBlendedandStepFamilyResourceCenter.com and http://www.BlendedFamilyAdvice.com for more information. Shirley Cress Dudley, MA LPC [email protected]

Download or read book The 312 Best Things about Being a Stepmom written by Cynthia L. Copeland and published by Workman Publishing. This book was released on 2006-01-01 with total page 436 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forget Cinderella and the hundreds of other fairy tales about wicked stepmothers. Here is the truth-- a warm, bright, positive, yet frankly honest and realistic celebration of the most challenging role any woman will face. Think of it as the joy of stepmomming, and the perfect Mother's Day gift of encouragement and support. Written and illustrated by Cynthia L. Copeland, a stepmother to three boys and author of the bestselling "Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me and other books with 585,000 copies in print, THE 317 BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING A STEPMOM is packed with humor, wisdom, empathy, quotes, and testimonials from dozens of stepmothers who have shared their experiences with the author. So, if being a stepmother seems so often to be a storm cloud, this is the silver lining. For example: "People can't figure out how old you are by the ages of your stepchildren. Or, When they hug you, you know it's genuine, not out of habit. You didn't have to agonize over whether to name your stepson after his grandfather, his rich uncle, or your favorite poet. If you ever go ahead and have kids of your own, you've had practice. And if you are already a parent: "The trip to the warehouse club is finally worth the gas money. Your step-teens will see to it that your younger kids are up on the latest cool music, video games, and cargo pants. Family counsel now has enough people for a house and a senate. And, "With so many more participants, there's a chance that you won't always get creamed at Scrabble!

Download or read book Stepfamilies written by James H. Bray and published by Crown. This book was released on 2011-08-17 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on a landmark longitudinal study, the nation's leading expert on stepfamilies reveals his breakthrough findings and offers the first detailed guide to easing the conflicts of stepfamily life and healing the scars of divorce. There are more than twenty million stepfamilies in America. For most of them, the simple, daily issues that challenge every family are even more anxiety-provoking. After conducting a comprehensive nine-year-long study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. James H. Bray has written an invaluable book that explains why over half of all stepfamilies fail and reveals the strategies that help the others succeed. A stepfamily is assaulted on all sides by difficult and often divisive questions. How much control should a stepparent have over a stepchild? How much authority should a nonresidential parent exert over a child? How should a difficult former spouse be handled? How does an "ours" baby change the emotional dynamic in a stepfamily? Why is there a lack of "honeymoon effect" during the first years of stepfamily life? The purpose of Stepfamilies is to answer all the important questions of stepfamily life--to fill in the knowledge gaps that undermine so many stepfamilies today and, crucially, to learn the effect of stepfamily life on children. Based on one of the largest and longest studies of stepfamily life ever conducted, Stepfamilies interweaves the stories of real families to illustrate such study findings as how: a stepfamily has its own natural life cycle a stepfamily takes several years to develop into a family unit a stepfamily is at greatest risk during the first two years a stepfamily ultimately coalesces into one of three forms a stepfamily must solve four basic tasks in order to succeed a stepfamily can help heal the scars of divorce Filled with emotional, gripping stories, Bray's findings pinpoint the three major transitions in stepfamily life and identify the riskiest issues that can throw a family into crisis. Bray is the first to identify the several distinct forms that stepfamilies take and to explore which types of stepfamilies are more vulnerable than others and why. He also describes the natural life cycle of stepfamilies and basic tasks all stepfamilies must undertake to succeed. With a wealth of insight into the positive effects of remarriage, Bray shows how a loving, well-functioning stepfamily can lessen the trauma of divorce and restore a child's and family's sense of security. Most stepparents remarry with the highest hopes and new resolutions for a better life. Never before have their unique needs been addressed in depth. Through insightful case studies and practical advice, Stepfamilies reveals how a strong, stable stepfamily is as capable as a nuclear family of nurturing healthy development, of imbuing values, of setting limits and boundaries, and of providing a structure in which rules for living a moral and productive life are transmitted, tested, rebelled against, and ultimately affirmed. Bray's positive message and fascinating findings--many of which defy intuition--will put stepfamilies on the road to lifelong harmony.

Download or read book Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships written by Patricia L. Papernow and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-06-07 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships is designed to be useful both to stepfamily members themselves and to a wide variety of practitioners, as well as to educators, judges, mediators, lawyers and medical personnel.

Download or read book Wonderful Ways to Be a Family written by Judy Ford and published by Mango Media Inc.. This book was released on 2006-08-24 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Family therapist, parenting expert, and author of Wonderful Ways to Love a Child shares insight and advice on developing strong family relationships. It’s a never-ending journey that is certainly rewarding in the end. Wonderful Ways to Be a Family gives you Ford’s tried and true approach to what it means to be a family. Inspirational messages coupled with expert advice creates the ultimate parenting guide. From raising kids to marriage, it isn’t a smooth task, yet Ford’s accessible and friendly style offers practical suggestions and helpful advice for every situation imaginable. Gain support and knowledge with:Real-life examples of how to handle conflictInspirational stories filled with encouraging messages and lessonsProfessional advice on a variety of scenarios Whether you’re a new parent or a veteran, Wonderful Ways to Be a Family offers a combination of professional and practical guidance that any parent can apply to their family dynamic. Featuring a foreword by Susan Isaacs Kohl, author of The Best Things Parents Do