Helping Blended Families

"Professional expertise and practical knowledge"

What this site is about

If you’re part of a blended family, then you’re going to feel right at home at Helpingblendedfamilies.com, which may, or may not, reflect your experience within the blended family unit. Why blended family and not step-family? Partially, because not all blended families are traditional stepfamilies and partially because the word blended better describes my person journey.

Latest Post

New Year. Same Problems.

Feelings come and go like the waves in the ocean.  Sometime big and stormy and sometimes flat and boring.  The years tick by and the same relationship problems keep cropping up for couples.  Working on these issues with a therapist … Continue reading →

Definition of Blended Families

What is a blended family versus a step family? Is there a difference? Is one term better than the other? Is it just a preference? For me, I feel the word blended, rather than step, defines my personal journey toward my family goals. Also, I feel by definition, blended has a more inclusive meaning, rather than limiting a family image to a Brady Bunch remarriage. Webster’s dictionary defines the two words as follows:

Realities of Blended Families

The reality is that life inside a blended family is different and that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Just different and usually, never simple. So first and foremost:
Friends from nuclear families don’t understand the nuances of blended family life – best not to ask them for advice.
Yes, it is normal not to love your step-kids right away – the feeling is probably mutual – you can all learn to move out of this.
One of the most helpful things to do is learn to have compassion for and understanding about your emotions, the children’s emotions and your partners emotions.

Julee Peterson