Getting married and blending families can be an exciting journey full of ups and downs and twists and turns. Unfortunately, there are hazards and roadblocks, too, and sometimes those can come from our extended family. Our parents, grandparents, siblings, and others may reject our new spouse and any children they bring into the marriage. Unfortunately, […]
In my role as a therapist, I have worked with people who are dealing with various mental health issues, pain of unresolved and processed trauma, and dysfunctional relationships. As someone who specializes in marriage crises and issues, I’ve noticed an increasingly prevalent issue in marriage—narcissism. While society uses that label for anyone with a lack […]
Discussing ex-spouses can be a sensitive topic for blending couples. Divorce can be a gut-wrenching and traumatic season. Even under the best of circumstances, bringing up an ex-spouse in conversation can set your spouse on edge, tinkering on the brink of defensiveness. However, these discussions may be necessary. If one or both of you bring […]
Physical intimacy is an essential aspect of any marriage, but it can be particularly challenging for couples in blended families. When either spouse has been intimate with a previous partner or has experienced sexual trauma, those issues can create walls between husband and wife. If you are remarried and experiencing hardship in your physical intimacy, you […]
You prayed for a partner and waited for God to answer. Eventually, He brings someone into your life, and you develop that special relationship. Now, you want to walk down the aisle again. But there’s a big problem: your adult children don’t want you to remarry. If that describes your situation, you are not alone. […]
Disciplining children can be challenging in any family, but blended families face unique obstacles. Children may be uncertain about how to relate to a new stepparent, and the biological parents may worry about how their ex’s new spouse might discipline their kids. Maintaining consistency across households adds an extra layer of complexity. To help navigate […]
The holiday season sparks joy and excitement for many families. But for blended families, the season can feel anything but picture-perfect. Between complicated schedules, balancing traditions, and tensions between biological parents, the holidays can present unique challenges. Having navigated blended family life for over ten years, we (Scott and Vanessa) have experienced firsthand the ups […]
Bringing children into a new marriage is like making s’mores. The graham crackers, gooey marshmallows, and chocolate get squished together, and it can get a little messy. Blending a family can get muddled up, too, with multiple people and their unique histories thrown together to create a unified whole. It can be challenging for a new […]
Scripture makes clear that we have an enemy, the devil. From the beginning account of his work in Genesis to the last references of him in Revelation, the Bible records his ongoing mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He hates God and hates anything God loves, including human beings and their families. […]
When it comes to the topic of divorce, there is no shortage of confusion, frustration, misunderstanding and judgment. Both believers and non-believers have learned explicitly and implicitly that divorce is a sin, and anyone who gets remarried is committing adultery. But what does the Bible actually say? Let’s find out together. The Assumption Some churches teach that […]
