This Much Work
Clearly this stepfather has tried to connect with his stepchildren, but the door is closed. Actually what's "natural" for new blended family relationships is for them to be awkward and strained from time to time. It should take some intentional effort to forge through that. This stepdad's expectation for quick family harmony has set him up for frustration and a critical attitude. Family stress is not an indication you shouldn't have married. It's natural. Connect where you can and persevere.
Show Notes
About the Host
About the Guest
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Clearly this stepfather has tried to connect with his stepchildren, but the door is closed. Actually what's "natural" for new blended family relationships is for them to be awkward and strained from time to time. It should take some intentional effort to forge through that. This stepdad's expectation for quick family harmony has set him up for frustration and a critical attitude. Family stress is not an indication you shouldn't have married. It's natural. Connect where you can and persevere.
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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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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 ...more
Hey, if your kids and I can’t naturally get along then maybe we shouldn’t have gotten together in the first place. It shouldn’t have to be this much work.
Ron: Hey, if your kids and I can’t naturally get along then maybe we shouldn’t have gotten together in the first place. It shouldn’t have to be this much work.
Announcer: For FamilyLife Blended®, here’s Ron Deal.
Ron: Clearly this stepfather is frustrated: he’s tried to connect with his stepchildren, but the door is closed. He’s discouraged. Actually what’s “natural” for new blended family relationships is for them to be awkward and strained from time to time. It should take some work, some intentional effort to forge through that.
This stepdad’s expectation for quick family harmony has set him up for frustration and a critical attitude towards others. Family stress is not an indication that you shouldn’t have married. It’s natural. Connect where you can and stay the course. For FamilyLife Blended I’m Ron Deal.
Announcer: To find out more visit familylifeblended.com.
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