Need a Parenting Tip on Blending Families?

The best parenting tip that I can offer is don’t lose hope and trust God to smooth out the edges in His own time; however, it might be beneficial to you to hear from other step parents about challenges and strategies for making things better in the meantime or by reading Christian parenting books designed for blended families.

Does harmony sound good to you?

Maxine Marsolini is a Life Coach who has authored a book in relation to blending families with “harmony”. She and her husband have been married for over 30 years and they parented seven children in a blended family. The children were young when they got married so her advice and parenting tips might be good for step parents in a similar situation.

Blended Families: Creating Harmony As You Build a New Home Life By Maxine Marsolini / Moody Publishers Remarriage brings together people who are not blood relatives, and statistics warn that most of these unions do not survive. Find out in Blended Families how you can keep your family together, alive and thriving through the inevitable challenges ahead.

Want to hear from a mother who has been there?

Natalie Nichols Gillespie has written books relating to step parenting. Her children range from infants to early-twenties. She may have a parenting tip or more that will help you out.

Stepfamily Success By Natalie Nichols Gillespie / Spire Blending families is tricky in even the best situations, but it can be done with a little help and encouragement from someone who's been there. Discover ways to smooth conflict, discipline effectively and navigate the court system as Natalie Gillespie offers proven advice for parents trying to blend individuals into a solid family unit.

Want insight from a couple who specializes in helping step parents?

Gordon and Carri Taylor have co-written a book about bringing peace to a blended family - a parenting tip that any step family can use. Gordon is a marriage and family therapist and Carri is a personal coach. They also offer an eight-part course on their website that may be appropriate if you are interested in starting a small group Bible study for stepparents.

Designing Dynamic Christian Stepfamilies: Bringing the Pieces to Peace By Gordon and Carri Taylor / Pleasant Word (winepress Pub) Are you divorced with children, remarried with children, considering remarriage, grandparents with stepgrandchildren, a professional working with stepfamilies? Then this is for you! In this one-of-a-kind series, you will laugh, cry, and relate as Gordon and Carri Taylor, seasoned stepfamily professionals since 1986, take you on an educational and inspirational journey, culminating in a process for designing a successful stepfamily. Includes interviews with stepcouples and stepkids.

What does the doctor say?

Dr. Leman is a Christian author as well as a psychologist. He has written a book especially for step parents that use real life examples that you likely can relate to.

Step-Parenting 101 By Dr. Kevin Leman / Thomas Nelson Is it possible to bring two families together without breaking down? Yes, says Leman! Using real life examples, he reveals the imapct birth order has on the dynamics of blended families, helps you love each child as an individual and eases you through the process of shaping a new family unit.

Want to get a parenting tip from an education expert?

Ron and Nan Deal have a ministry that specializes in providing stepfamilies and churches with education relating to the special needs of blended families. Ron has authored a book about stepfamilies. It is quite original because it also addresses communication with ex-spouses.

The Smart Stepfamily By Ron L. Deal / Bethany Ron Deal understands the inner workings of the step-family and provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues they face. With a biblical perspective, he helps remarried and soon-to-be-married couples solve the everyday puzzles of step-parenting, learn communication skills with ex-spouses, deal with the common pitfalls and so much more.

What do the kids think?

Joann Webster managed to write a book about merging families with input from her stepson, Seth. I think that it is interesting that they wrote a book together, and might provide some insight that will be helpful.

Step Families Done Right By Joann Webster / Strang Communications You want the truth, not a sitcom illusion. You want authenticity not just perception. You want to know...Can stepfamilies be done right? Can God really bring beauty from ashes for your "blended" family? "Yes!" say stepmother and stepson Joann and Seth Webster. In spite of past experience you can walk with divine confidence, past failures and mixed expectations, to find hope for your future together. Joann and Seth Webster take you where few would ever tread, back into their painful years as a newly blended family when life revolved around "The Divorce," the "Other Parents" and the codependat behavior of teenaged brothers who reenacted destructive roles that felt familiar. You will discover what every stepfamily must survive in order to thrive.

Step parenting is really not part of God’s design for families, but it happens. It is unnatural to serve a parenting role in the life of a kid who is not your own and it can be a struggle. I know from experience, you can benefit from a parenting tip or two from people who have been in your position, from Christian parenting books, Christian counselors and therapists, and life coaches who specialize in helping blended families.

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