Elizabeth Einstein now has a new website! Visit it at http://www.stepfamilyliving.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stepfamily Is A Different Kind of Family!

Because one or both partners in a remarriage have children from a former relationship, the stepfamily is a different kind of family from the very start!

This basic reality must be accepted by everyone -- inside and outside the new stepfamily. By not understanding some basic differences AND the fact that stepfamilies experience a normal developmental process which takes time, many remarried couples create unnecessary and painful problems in their stepfamilies. When ignored, such stress can bring a stepfamily swiftly to crisis; when addressed consciously, along with making a wise decision to create a positive outcome, The Stepfamily Journey can be a delightful one.

Understanding and accepting these basic structural differences
can become the basis for creating a joyful and successful stepfamily!

Biological Family

  • Marriage created without serious loss and with great expectations.
  • Shared history and traditions.

  • Couple relationship predates parent-child relationship.
  • Family roles and rules evolve.

  • Biological parents have legal rights regarding children.
  • Both biological parents live in household.
  • Children live in one household.

  • Children arrive one at a time, over time.

The Stepfamily

  • Family born of loss with death or divorce of parent.
  • Two fully developed, and often diverse, sets of traditions.
  • Biological parent-child bond predates remarried couple relationship.
  • Family roles and rules confused and unclear.
  • Stepparents of stepchildren lack legal relationship.
  • Children's biological parent may live elsewhere.
  • Children move between two households.
  • Instant parenthood.

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