Relationships in blended families are often like that box of chocolates Tom Hanks references in the Oscar-winning film Forrest Gump: “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” Suppose I could speak freely and honestly; blended family relationships, well…you never know what you’ll get. When Scott and I look […]
When people ask us to name one of the biggest problems that we see in blended families, we talk about misplaced priorities—when a husband or wife puts their children ahead of their spouse. It is one of the most common reasons for divorce in remarried couples. We’ve counseled many blended couples, and we have seen […]
Many couples enter a blended marriage thinking the children will quickly adjust to all the new changes, but there may be so many. Your family’s situation may change rapidly, but for children, transition is seldom quick. That’s okay. You are in this marriage for the long haul, and you’ve plenty of time to make this […]
We learned a thing or two from that season (and subsequent ones), and that experience has helped us navigate the holidays better. Scott & Vanessa Martindale The holiday season is such an exciting time for many of us as we gather with family and friends, sit at the table, share meals together, and reflect on […]
Dysfunctional blended family! Blending our families is an adventure. And any great adventure is equal parts fantastic and scary! When the honeymoon phase of remarriage and co-parenting wears off, you’re left wondering what to do with the sudden dysfunction. Or, maybe you skipped the honeymoon phase altogether and went straight to dysfunction; which has left […]
Loving Your Step kids – How do I learn to love my step kids It may be the biggest taboo topic or question in any blended family: how do I learn to love my step-kids? This co-parenting thing is not for the faint of heart, is it? Blended family issues are real. And the questions […]
Over the years, step family resources ministry and biblically-based resources for stepfamilies have been few and far in between. The need is tremendous, and our society is growing in what now seems like the new traditional family, blended families. As a ministry, it is our mission to break the cycle of divorce, equip marriages, and […]
