Cyndi Kay Green

In recent years society has moved away from the term step-family and has started using blended family to describe the dynamics of a family created by spouses who have children from a previous relationship/marriage. Step-family challenges come from creating a family from two pre-existing families. The kids involved can be overwhelmed with conflicting emotions while parents try to navigate the new dynamics in the home. This blending of a stepfamily takes patience and effort. It can be painful to build new relationships because there are so many new interactions that must be navigated. But it can also be a beautiful thing when the parents choose to keep God in the midst. Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. – Psalm 127:3, NIV Step-family Challenges and Managing Them Well Building a healthy family is challenging without the dynamic of being a step-family. When the addition of other family members gets thrown into the mix, there are complex situations that must be navigated to create a healthy family with healthy bonds. Creating a healthy and well-balanced home is attainable when the family, especially the parents, is intentional with untangling the fine threads of emotions, expectations, and experiences. New family roles As a couple with children comes together there will be new roles that will be established. Children and parents will each be subjected to a different dynamic when it comes to what their role in this new family becomes. Managing the challenge: The boundaries of these roles are important and should be respected. Parents must remember to be gentle in developing new relationships with their stepchildren. Different cultures Each family comes with its own culture and traditions. These differences can create tension if it seems as though only one set of cultures is being incorporated into [...]