Parenting In Stepfamilies

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Stepfamilies

Author : James H. Bray
Publisher : Crown
ISBN 13 : 0307803635
Total Pages : 289 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (78 download)

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Book Synopsis Stepfamilies by : James H. Bray

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.

Stepcoupling

Author : Susan Wisdom
Publisher : Harmony
ISBN 13 : 0307421686
Total Pages : 274 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (74 download)

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Book Synopsis Stepcoupling by : Susan Wisdom

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.

Active Parenting for Stepfamilies

Author : Michael H. Popkin
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781597232012
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (32 download)

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Book Synopsis Active Parenting for Stepfamilies by : Michael H. Popkin

Download or read book Active Parenting for Stepfamilies written by Michael H. Popkin and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For stepfamilies, getting married is the easy part! This encouraging guide will help couples work together to raise children in the challenging stepfamily environment. They will also learn how to use powerful communication and negotiation skills to strengthen marriage and family. Written for parents and stepparents to use together, this book combines the knowledge of Active Parenting author Michael Popkin and stepfamily expert Elizabeth Einstein.

The Smart Stepfamily

Author : Ron L. Deal
Publisher : Bethany House
ISBN 13 : 076420159X
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (642 download)

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Book Synopsis The Smart Stepfamily by : Ron L. Deal

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.

Becoming A Stepfamily

Author : Patricia L. Papernow
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1317758153
Total Pages : 448 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (177 download)

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Book Synopsis Becoming A Stepfamily by : Patricia L. Papernow

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.

Queer Stepfamilies

Author : Katie L. Acosta
Publisher : NYU Press
ISBN 13 : 1479800953
Total Pages : 268 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (798 download)

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Book Synopsis Queer Stepfamilies by : Katie L. Acosta

Download or read book Queer Stepfamilies written by Katie L. Acosta and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2021-07-27 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A compelling examination of the social and legal experiences of lesbian, bisexual, and queer stepparent families Lesbian, bisexual, and queer families formed after the dissolution of a marriage face a range of obstacles. In Queer Stepfamilies, Katie L. Acosta offers a wealth of insight into their complex experiences as they negotiate parenting among multiple parents and family-building in a world not designed to meet their needs. Drawing on in-depth interviews, Acosta follows the journeys of more than forty families as they navigate a legal and social landscape that fails to recognize their existence. Acosta contextualizes the legal realities of LGBTQ stepparent families and considers the actions these parents take to protect their families in the absence of comprehensive policies or laws geared to meet their needs. Queer Stepfamilies reveals the obstacles these families face in family courts during divorce proceedings and custody cases, and highlights their distrust of courts when it comes to acting in their children’s best interests, especially in the event of an origin parent’s death. As LGBTQ families continue to make social and legal strides in acceptance and recognition, this important book shows how queer stepparents find ways to make their unconventional families work, despite the many social and legal obstacles they encounter. Acosta provides a fresh perspective, broadening our understanding about families in the twenty-first century.

Stepparenting

Author : Marilyn Ihinger-Tallman
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 : 0313390932
Total Pages : 305 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (133 download)

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Book Synopsis Stepparenting by : Marilyn Ihinger-Tallman

Download or read book Stepparenting written by Marilyn Ihinger-Tallman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 1995-07-30 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pasley and Ihinger-Tallman provide a critical analysis of the current literature on stepparenting and summarize the progress made in research, theory, and practice related to stepfamilies. The chapters are written by contributors with expertise in various fields related to stepparenting. The contributors discuss a range of concerns and issues: theoretical concerns and present models useful to the study of stepparenting; research related to relationships within stepfamilies and the development of new roles within stepfamilies; and practical considerations related to family therapy, stepfamilies and schools, and stepparenting and the law.

The Remarriage Manual

Author : Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW
Publisher : Sounds True
ISBN 13 : 1683644085
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (836 download)

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Book Synopsis The Remarriage Manual by : Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW

Download or read book The Remarriage Manual written by Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW and published by Sounds True. This book was released on 2020-02-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 10 Keys to a Successful Remarriage Winner of the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Award in Gold for Self Help Winner of American Book Fest’s 2020 Best Book Award in “Self-Help: Relationships” Based on the author’s personal experience, over 30 years of clinical practice, knowledge from leading marriage and remarriage researchers, and 100 in-depth interviews of remarried people, The Remarriage Manual offers 10 essential keys to a successful remarriage: Build a Culture of Appreciation, Respect, and Tolerance. Negativity is toxic. Personal growth and love are possible when you can express appreciation through positive words and actions. Make Your Remarriage a Top Priority. Never underestimate the power of intentional time with your partner to increase physical and emotional intimacy. Ditch the Baggage from Your First Marriage. Learn ways to be more reflective and less reactive to triggers that hit raw spots or vulnerabilities stemming from prior relationships. Don’t Keep Secrets about Money. Remarried couples face complicated financial issues such as unequal assets, child support, alimony, and education costs for children and stepchildren. Honesty and full disclosure about finances are essential. Don’t Let Mistrust Stop You from Being Vulnerable and Emotionally Intimate. Learn that vulnerability and trust go hand in hand and the steps you can take to be authentic and intimate with your partner so you can achieve long-lasting love. Get Sexy and Fall in Love All Over Again. Given the stressors of a second marriage, it can be particularly challenging to stay sexually intimate. Yet moments of connection, such as touching, talking, or making love, are all part of the glue that holds a second marriage together. Don’t Make a Big Deal about Nothing . . . but Do Deal with Important Issues. Differences in beliefs, expectations, and conversational styles can cause you to blow things out of proportion and tune each other out. Effective communication will help you overcome these types of misunderstandings. Manage the Flames of Conflict. You can’t avoid disagreements entirely. What you can do, however, is learn how to manage them successfully to avoid the “blame game” so that they can nourish rather than drain your remarriage. Embrace Your Role as a Stepparent and Create Positive Stepfamily Memories. There is no such thing as instant love in a stepfamily. When biological parents are involved, the relationships can get even trickier. Learn to adjust to your role as a stepparent—the chances of a second marriage succeeding go way up when both partners adopt an attitude of “we’re in this together.” Say You’re Sorry and Mean It. Studies show that apologizing to your partner for hurting their feelings and granting forgiveness are crucial to the success of a second marriage. It’s essential that remarried couples learn the value of sincere apologies and forgiveness. Drawing on the experiences of dozens of couples and remarriage scenarios, Terry Gaspard shows you how to bring each key home and set up your relationship for lasting success. Whether you are thinking of remarrying and concerned about going the distance or are already remarried and struggling, The Remarriage Manual provides the expert advice, practical tools, hope, and inspiration you need to prevent challenges from becoming deal breakers. The 10 keys provided here will help put you and your spouse on solid footing; keep the flame between you burning bright; and build a deeply trusting, loving, and sustainable connection for the long haul.

Positive Discipline for Teenagers, Revised 3rd Edition

Author : Jane Nelsen
Publisher : Harmony
ISBN 13 : 0770436560
Total Pages : 274 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (74 download)

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Book Synopsis Positive Discipline for Teenagers, Revised 3rd Edition by : Jane Nelsen

Download or read book Positive Discipline for Teenagers, Revised 3rd Edition written by Jane Nelsen and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2012-08-14 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Positive Approach To Raising Happy, Healthy and Mature Teenagers Adolescence can be a time of great stress and turmoil—not only for kids going through it, but for their parents as well. It’s normal for teens to explore a new sense of freedom and to redefine the ways in which they relate to their parents, and that process can sometimes leave parents feeling powerless, alienated, or excluded from their children’s lives. These effects can be magnified even further in this modern age of social networks, cell phones, and constant digital distraction. This newly revised and updated edition of Positive Discipline for Teenagers shows parents how to build stronger bridges of communication with their children, break the destructive cycles of guilt and blame that occur in parent-teen power struggles, and work toward greater mutual respect with their adolescents. At the core of the Positive Discipline approach is the understanding that teens still need their parents, just in different ways—and by better understanding who their teens really are, parents can learn to encourage both their teens and themselves, and instill good judgment without being judgmental. The methods in this book work to build vital social and life skills through encouragement and empowerment—not punishment. Truly effective parenting is about connection before correction. Over the years, millions of parents have come to trust Jane Nelsen’s classic Positive Discipline series for its consistent, commonsense approach to raising happy, responsible kids. This new edition is filled with proven, effective methods for coping with such parenting challenges as: -Fostering truly honest discussions with your teen -Helping your teen handle the online world -Turning mistakes into opportunities -Keeping your sanity while raising your teen—and making sure your own teenage issues aren’t weighing you down -Teaching your teen how to pursue the goal that make them happy…and a few that make you happy too (like chores) -Making sure you’re on your teen’s side, and that they know that -Avoiding the pitfalls of excessive control and excessive permissiveness

Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships

Author : Patricia L. Papernow
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1136701559
Total Pages : 247 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (367 download)

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Book Synopsis Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships by : Patricia L. Papernow

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 draws on current research, a wide variety of clinical modalities, and thirty years of clinical work with stepfamily members to describe the special challenges stepfamilies face. The book presents the concept of "stepfamily architecture" and the five challenges it creates, and delineates three different levels of strategies—psychoeducation, building interpersonal skills, and intrapsychic work—for meeting those challenges in dozens of different settings. The model is designed to be useful both to stepfamily members themselves and to a wide variety of practitioners, from a highly trained clinician who needs to know how and when to work on all three levels, to a school counselor or clergy person who may work on the first two levels but refer out for level three. It will also be useful to educators, judges, mediators, lawyers and medical personnel who will practice on the first level, but need to understand the other two to guide their work.

Blended Family Advice

Author : Shirley Cress Dudley MA LPC
Publisher : Xlibris Corporation
ISBN 13 : 1450001904
Total Pages : 157 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (5 download)

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Book Synopsis Blended Family Advice by : Shirley Cress Dudley MA LPC

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]

The Smart Stepdad

Author : Ron L. Deal
Publisher : Bethany House
ISBN 13 : 144121464X
Total Pages : 192 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (412 download)

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Book Synopsis The Smart Stepdad by : Ron L. Deal

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.

Building Love Together in Blended Families

Author : Gary Chapman
Publisher : Moody Publishers
ISBN 13 : 080249773X
Total Pages : 192 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (24 download)

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Book Synopsis Building Love Together in Blended Families by : Gary Chapman

Download or read book Building Love Together in Blended Families written by Gary Chapman and published by Moody Publishers. This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Create a Loving and Safe Environment for Your Blended Family Blended families face unique challenges, and sadly, good intentions aren’t always enough. With so many complex relationships involved, all the normal rules for family life change, even how you apply something as simple as the five love languages. That’s why Gary Chapman, the bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages® andnational expert on stepfamilies, Ron Deal, join together in this book to teach you how the five love languages can help your blended family. They’ll teach you: About the unique dynamics of stepfamilies How to overcome fear and trust issues in marriage How to develop healthy parenting and step-parenting practices How the love languages should—and should not—be applied You’re going to face many challenges, but with the right strategies and smart work, your family can be stronger and healthier together.

Parenting by the Book

Author : John Rosemond
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1416568441
Total Pages : 300 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (165 download)

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Book Synopsis Parenting by the Book by : John Rosemond

Download or read book Parenting by the Book written by John Rosemond and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2007-09-25 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Picture respectful, responsible, obedient children who entertain themselves without television or video games, do their own homework, and have impeccable manners. A pie-in-the-sky fantasy? Not so, says family psychologist and bestselling author John Rosemond. Any parent who so desires can grow children who fit that description -- happy, emotionally healthy children who honor their parents and their families with good behavior and do their best in school. In the 1960s, American parents stopped listening to their elders when it came to child rearing and began listening instead to professional experts. Since then, raising children has become fraught with anxiety, stress, and frustration. The solution, says John, lies in raising children according to biblical principles, the same principles that guided parents successfully for hundreds of years. They worked then, and they still work now! Through his nationally syndicated newspaper column and eleven books, John has been helping families raise happy, well-behaved children for more than thirty years. In Parenting by The Book, which John describes as both a "mission and a ministry," he brings parents back to the uncomplicated basics. Herein fi nd practical, Bible-based advice that will help you be the parent you want to be, with children who will be, as the Bible promises, "a delight to your soul" (Pro. 29-17). As a bonus, John also promises to make you laugh along the way.

Step Parenting with Purpose: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Too Afraid to Ask

Author : Karalee Katsambanis
Publisher : Vivid Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781925952803
Total Pages : 194 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (528 download)

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Book Synopsis Step Parenting with Purpose: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Too Afraid to Ask by : Karalee Katsambanis

Download or read book Step Parenting with Purpose: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Too Afraid to Ask written by Karalee Katsambanis and published by Vivid Publishing. This book was released on 2020-03-06 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You don't have to navigate step parenting on your own. Step Parenting with Purpose is the ultimate 'go to' companion and might well be the book that saves your sanity, relationships and family. It's the book Karalee wished she had 15 years ago when she started her step parenting journey. Step Parenting with Purpose tackles many of the questions you have but are too afraid to ask; helps you navigate your own, sometimes conflicting, emotions; gives you insights into some of the more challenging step parenting events; and tips on how to engage and manage the ex. "A roadmap every blended family should have...filled with sensible advice and incredible wisdom to help us find the highest ground on an often rocky trail." - Susan Kurz Snyder, Founder & Principal at Greene-Levin-Snyder Legal Search Group, New York.

Stepparenting

Author : Randall Hicks
Publisher : Wordslinger Press
ISBN 13 : 9780979443039
Total Pages : 102 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (43 download)

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Book Synopsis Stepparenting by : Randall Hicks

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.

Secrets to Stepfamily Success

Author : Gloria Lintermans
Publisher : Gloria Lintermans
ISBN 13 : 1605944181
Total Pages : 314 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (59 download)

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Book Synopsis Secrets to Stepfamily Success by : Gloria Lintermans

Download or read book Secrets to Stepfamily Success written by Gloria Lintermans and published by Gloria Lintermans. This book was released on 2010-06 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE SECRETS TO STEPFAMILY SUCCESS offers tools that can significantly lower the alarming 70% rate of step and blended family divorce, helping families evolve into highly nurturing, reliable refuges of warmth, safety, encouragement, strength, caring, and joy. Step and blended families have a unique dynamic with which couples must cope, along with all the other normal challenges of life and marriage. See how these families differ in up to sixty structural and dynamic ways from typical intact biological families--including consisting of two co-parenting homes and ex-spouses--and learn how to successfully recognize and manage these challenges. For most couples, trying to build a successful remarriage can mysteriously bring out their deepest personal fears, longings, shames, and hopes. The key to not only survival, but living this journey well, begins with discovering opportunities to heal and to succeed; it is not about blame or badness. With the right preparation and resources, a multi-home step or blended family can be a stable and solid foundation for co-parents and children. Gloria Lintermans is the author of THE HEALING POWER OF GRIEF: The Journey Through Loss to Life and Laughter, THE HEALING POWER OF LOVE: Transcending the Loss of a Spouse to New Love, THE NEWLY DIVORCED BOOK OF PROTOCOL: How to Be Civil When You Hate Their Guts, and RETCO CHIC: A Guide to Fabulous Vintage and Designer Resale Shopping in North America & Online. Her articles have appeared in local and national magazines, and she is a retired newspaper columnist whose column has been syndicated in English and Spanish language newspapers worldwide.