Blended - Navigating The Blended Family Experience

The blended family can provide the perfect soil for the seed of offense to not just grow, but flourish. This makes hesitating to ask the question 'am I offended' especially dangerous. 

The divide between what culture values and healthy relationships, is only growing! Believe me, it's worth going against the grain for the sake of our relationship and the ripple effects that our bond will produce within our homes. 

Whether we like it or not, culture has had a say in our idea of what relationships are, and the way that we should operate within them. Its influence has reaped division in our relationships and unfortunate outcomes. It's time to replace these unfulfilling beliefs with truth, along with the things that will ensure the success of our relationships.  

Describing our relational outcomes as either a success or a failure is almost impossible apart from the emotional consequences. That same difficulty can be applied to the relationships that are present in our lives today. However, assessing what was and what is, has to be part of our process if we have any desire to be better, and/or expect better for ourselves.  

The power of two individuals that come together on a mutual front can be powerful. However, this outcome is only possible as these individuals get past emotional/hormonal inspiration and function in a way that's consistent with their commitment. The impact that we have within our relationship and in our families is often times determined by whether we can continue to choose intimacy with our partner, or settle for something less. 

Whether we are told something over and over, or we are simply exposed to a specific phrase over time; we can adopt these sayings as our own personal beliefs and end up suffering as a result. It's important for us to acknowledge and challenge these beliefs for our sake personally, and for the sake of our family. 

The blended family and its quirks provide plenty of opportunity to grow and improve within our respective role, and as a person. This is especially the case for step-parents, and I can say that from experience! We tend to need a pep-talk and to be reminded about the things that really make the difference, so listen in on a couple of things that I've learned that continue to prove themselves useful. 

Creating a blended family is a process that requires great intention. This attention to detail should exist well before dating, during a relationship that's gaining momentum, and even 10 years into a marriage relationship! Listen in as Margo recounts her experience as a single parent that wasn't going to settle for anything less than what was right for herself and her young daughter. 

A step parent has the incredible opportunity to make lasting change in lives of those that they impact directly! This is achieved by operating with focus and intention on a daily basis, but just as importantly, staying on course to bring about the long term outcomes that fuel our efforts. The issues of today pale in comparison to the rewards that lie ahead of a step parent that operates with both grace and authority! 

Battling the idea of being "the other" isn't a foreign experience to the step-parent. Feeling like an outsider looking in, and confusion concerning our roles, are just a couple of the obstacles we face that only affirm this very challenging narrative. However, as challenging as this mental foothold may be, it is possible to fulfill our role as a partner and parent with excellence despite any circumstance that may attempt to suggest otherwise!