Dr. Patricia Papernow discusses how critical it is to validate a child’s feelings within a stepfamily and how to effectively do so. Dr. Papernow is a psychologist in private practice in Hudson, MA, where she divides her time between clinical
Validating Children in Stepfamilies
Blending Family Cultures
Avoiding wrong turns in step-families
In some ways, a stepfamily looks like any other family. However, it is critical for therapists to understand that stepfamily structure creates a fundamentally different foundation upon which to build a family. The good news is that several decades of research and
Blended Family Issues
Blended families, or stepfamilies, are becoming increasingly common in the United States. Studies show that nearly half of the marriages in the United States end in divorce and that at least half of the nation’s children live with a biological parent and
Blended Family and Step-Parenting Tips
Since many remarriages include children from previous relationships, blended families or stepfamilies are more common than ever. When families “blend”, though, things rarely progress smoothly. Some children may resist changes, while you as a parent can become frustrated when your
Making Stepfamilies Work
The so-called “blended family” is no longer an aberration in American society: It’s a norm. Planning for remarriage A marriage that brings with it children from a previous marriage presents many challenges. Such families should consider three key issues as