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 […]
Sure, I can be a stepdad; how hard can it be? If I only knew what I needed to know, my first question would be drastically different. Over ten years as a stepparent, I’ve experienced many seasons with my stepson. Some seasons, where he wanted me more involved and closer to the vest, so to […]
If you’ve experienced the pain and tragedy of divorce or have watched a loved one endure that process, you understand how it hurts the people you love most. Divorce can come with emotional, mental, spiritual, and sometimes physical trauma. Depending on how we process that trauma, we can develop healthy or unhealthy coping mechanisms. The […]
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 […]
Marrying someone who has been before is a lot like opening a novel in the middle and trying to read it. You don’t know the characters, the setting, the plot line, or the events that led to the mid-way point. And in some cases, you find out you’re the villain! Being a second spouse can […]
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 […]
