The Unwanted Guest
Initially, stepparents are often treated like an outsider. Eventually most get invited in but not always. Even after a decade one stepparent asked, "How do I continue giving myself to an adult stepchild whose only goal is to treat me like an unwanted guest?" It requires a delicate balance of self-care. Pull back occasionally to refuel and remain available should their heart open. Both are challenging and the process exhausting. So, pray...a merciful heart, and for God to change what you can't.
Show Notes
About the Host
About the Guest
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Initially, stepparents are often treated like an outsider. Eventually most get invited in but not always. Even after a decade one stepparent asked, "How do I continue giving myself to an adult stepchild whose only goal is to treat me like an unwanted guest?" It requires a delicate balance of self-care. Pull back occasionally to refuel and remain available should their heart open. Both are challenging and the process exhausting. So, pray...a merciful heart, and for God to change what you can't.
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Ron Deal
Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is Director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and Consulting Editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart (with Dr. Gary Chapman), The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, and Preparing to Blend. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular conference speaker, and host of the FamilyLife Blended podcast. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at FamilyLife.com/blended.
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When the door won’t open, what do you do?
