How to build a healthy stepfamily 
You are in love and getting married. One or both of you are bringing children into this marriage and one or both of you may have been married once before. It is a time of great hope, excitement and promise for both of you. You may never have expected this wonderful person to come into your life. They have and now you are anticipating a lifetime of happiness together. It looks so simple. It is not.
You are entering into a "new" or "step" family situation. It creates a new household that has biological and non-biological connections among the inhabitants of the home. It often will include contact with another biologically connected parent to children. It certainly will have children who are not sure they have a voice in this new family formation and may be resistant to coming together.
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This site provides Christian resources for pre-remarital couples, stepfamilies, and the
churches who serve them.
Is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to successful stepfamily living. Their site provides educational information and resources for anyone interested in stepfamilies and their issues.
1-800-735-0329
Gordon and Carri Taylor are leading experts on stepfamilies, having helped start several Stepfamily Support Groups. You can learn from their wisdom by working through their video series called
Designing Dynamic Stepfamilies. This is good for groups or for individual couples/families to watch. Both Christian and secular versions are available. For more information, visit their website at www.designingdynamicstepfamilies.com.
With good
support and some helpful, experienced guidance, you can more than survive -- you can
succeed in your remarriage! From divorce recovery; to stepchild woes; to working with ex-spouses,
that's what STEP-Carefully! Inc. is all about! For more information, (479) 522-7490 or e-mail step@stepcarefully.com
Recommended Readings
How to Win as a Stepfamily by Emily and John Visher
A best-selling clearly-written, optimistic handbook for prospective and current stepfamilies providing solid information, practical suggestions, and comforting support. Relationships, old and new, are explored with telling examples and sensible advice.
"Ron Deal has given the church and stepfamilies a real gem. Ron compassionately and competently describes the spiritual and relational challenges facing stepfamilies. He provides practical and wise instruction for successfully navigating the stepfamily journey. The Smart Stepfamily is the best book available for stepfamilies that I've seen. I'm convinced it will prove to be a valuable resource for stepfamilies. Buy it, read it, and share it with a friend."
- from the review by Dennis Rainey, Family Life Executive Director
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