Parenting Step-Families

Everyone knows that parenting is not easy. Step-parenting adds another dimension, particularly when your blended family includes biological and stepchildren. Here are some tips for successful step-parenting.

• Start with yourself. Your own emotional, physical and spiritual health and well-being are important. If you feel good about yourself, you'll be better able to give the care, attention and kindness your step-family needs from you.

• Accept your family as it is. Like many, you don't have a traditional family. Your children and step-children may have several sets of care-givers. Treating your step-family as a biological family may stress everyone.

• Focus on the big goals. Build a solid foundation of trust. Help your family to make their safety, health and emotional well-being the number one priorities.

• Learn from others. Talk to your friends or others you trust who have blended families. Find out how they have handled different situations, what works and what doesn't. Check out websites that are geared to parenting.

• Try to involve the "ex." If possible, try to see your partner's "ex" as a co-partner in parenting, rather than an enemy. Smooth relations among the caregivers (parents and stepparents) can only benefit the children involved.