Blending Families

Wow...where do I begin? I got remarried in March 2004 to a man with 3 children and I had 4. We started out just disciplining our "own" children to avoid conflict, which is what all the books tell you to do.

This didn't last long. What do you do when the opposite parent is gone and there is parenting to do? My husband had a much easier time disciplining mine (and still does) than I do with his. I think it has to do with where they live. His 3 do not live with us and I think that's why I have a harder time parenting when they are only here one evening a week and every other weekend.

Try to parent the same to all children when they are in your home (I'm still working on this one after 4 years). We went to a counselor and he said the best thing we could do for our blended family is parent the same, get mad at your step kids the same way you would your own and love them all the same too.

• share tip
• 
• 0 comments
• 
• who approved it?
• 
• Q&A
• 
• more tips like this