Step Parenting Course Bathurst 25th March 2009
This course looks at stages of becoming a step family and the difficulties that can be expected. It aims to normalise the process and to help people move forward as well as giving participants a chance to share their experiences.
Read more…New South Wales — Relationships Australia
STEP FAMILIES – Considering the Children
Re-partnering and creating a step family represents a new start for the partners. However, this new start presents many challenges, particularly for children that are not encounter in a first partnership family. Facing these challenges can be tough and requires resilience and flexibility in all your roles as partner, parent and step-parent. In these changed circumstances what are to be the rules of the house, who should discipline when the rules are ignored or broken? And guilt, if you don’t feel the same about “the other children” as you do about your own.
Remember the children are adjusting too and may consider they are in competition with the new partner. New brothers and sisters may not always be welcomed.
These difficulties can be influenced by a series of myths that stepfamilies adopt. These myths can get in the way of making the adjustments that need to be made to create a happy and harmonious family. Don’t be downcast step families can and do work. A range of research has found that attention to parenting practices can promote adjustment to the new situation.
Read more…Sue Wilson – Step Families
