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More Stepfamily Facts
© 2001 Dr. Bill Nodrick Ph.D. and Bev Nodrick RSW
Stepfamilies can be healthy,
loving and exceptionally stable living environments.
Early stepfamily life tends to be stressful
for everyone. This is particularly
true a) for the first two years a stepfamily is together, and b) for women in the stepmother role if they have never had children of their
own.
Most of the difficulties that
stepfamilies face are a product of the stepfamily situation, not the people
involved.
Unlike the biological family, stepfamilies are built upon loss. [Disagree with this? If you do, Dr. Bray might see you as a member of a "Romantic" stepfamily. Click here to learn more about Dr. Bray's research on stepfamily types.]
Stepfamilies are much more complex
than biological families, and have very different dynamics than biological
families.
Stepfamilies follow a predictable
developmental course that differs importantly from the developmental course
followed by biological families.
Stepfamilies must accomplish four
critical developmental tasks:
1) building a strong couple bond,
2)
incorporating the stepparent into
the lives and management of the stepchildren,
3) effectively managing
relationships with the former spouse(s), nonresidential parent(s), and
extended family members, and
4) acquiring the skills necessary to address problems and manage change.
All of the strategies, tools and techniques necessary to accomplish these essential tasks are detailed here.
Stepfamily success
can be yours:
a) if you and your partner commit to working as a team,
b) the two of you learn about stepfamily dynamics, and
c) as a couple, you put what you learn into action.
These topics are addressed in detail in Building Stepfamilies That Work.
All rights reserved. The reproduction, use,
distribution or storage or of this work, in whole or in part, by any and
all means, without the express written permission of the author, is
strictly prohibited.
The
Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta