Lovemaybesweeterthesecondtimearound,butoncetheblissofanewfoundrelationshipwearsoffalittle,therealityofbeingpartofastepfamilysetsin.IfyouareoneofthemillionsofremarriedAmericansfacingthechallengeofblendingtwoexistingfamiliesintoonecohesivewhole,youarepartofastepcouple—andyouknowalltoowellhowharditcanbetomakeyourmarriageworkinsometimestoughterrain.
Differentparentingstyles,finances,relationshipswithex-spouses,legalmatters,andevenseeminglysimpleissuessuchasthekindsofchoresassignedtochildrencanchiselawayatyourunionifyoudon’talwaysmakeyourmarriageapriority.
Stepcouplingoffersadviceforstepcouplesonhowtodojustthat—allthewhilestrengtheningtheirblendedfamilywithahealthymarriage.SusanWisdomandJenniferGreenprovidetipsandstrategiesondealingwiththeissuesremarriedcouplesface,withawealthofadvicefromreal-lifestepcouples,suchas:
*Learningtotailoryourexpectationsofyourspouseorchildrenandrememberingthatnofamilyisperfect
*Knowingwhereyourboundariesare,whetherinvolvingahostileex-spouseorastepchildwhodemandstoomuchattention
*Realizingthattraitslikeflexibility,tolerance,forgiveness,andopennessareespeciallyessentialinastepfamilysituation
*Making“us”timefortalking,problem-solving,weekendsaway,andenjoyingyourmarriagetoconstantlyrenewandstrengthenyourbondasacouple
Letthisinvaluableremarriagemanualhelpyoumakeyourstepcouplethefoundationofastrong,happy,andsuccessfulstepfamily.