Challenges Blended Families Face

 Posted on June 25, 2015 in Child Custody

When two individuals who have children of their own marry, they become what is known as a blended family. Over the past few decades, blended families have become more and more common in the United States. Today, in approximately 40 percent of married couples, at least one spouse has a child from a previous relationship.

Blended families often face challenges that traditional families do not. These challenges come from clashing parenting styles, scheduling around each partner’s custody agreement with his or her former spouse, and the emotions toward the divorce and new partner from the children.

Adjusting to a newly-formed household and its routine is challenging for all members of the family. How each child copes with this change can depend greatly on all of the following factors:

• The child’s relationship with his or her remarried parent;
• The child’s relationship with his or her parent’s new spouse;
• The child’s age and maturity level; and
• The child’s custody agreement and amount of parenting time he or she spends with the remarried parent.

As you and your family work through this adjustment, consider seeking help from online forums for divorced and remarried parents or a licensed counselor.

Handling The Challenges of a Blended Family

How you handle the issues that arise from your child’s adjustment to blended family life can set the tone for the relationship for years to come. Always remember to communicate, not just with your child, but with your spouse and his or her child as well.

Scheduling is Key

Have a plan in place with your partner before you combine households. If you have a custody agreement in place for your child, discuss its schedule and how you can effectively mesh it with your schedule and any others that may be in place, such as the custody agreement for his or her child. Use this schedule to plan the time you have together to maximize quality time as a family.

Rules and Expectations

Having expectations in place for rules, discipline, household roles, and finances before you combine households can make the transition much easier. Discuss your expectations with each child and your partner. One of the biggest challenges that comes with co-parenting is a clash in parenting styles, which can create feelings of resentment and favoritism among your children. Develop a parenting plan with your partner beforehand and do not undermine him or her in parenting decisions.

Meeting Each Family Member’s Needs

Every member of the family has a unique set of needs. As a parent, your role is to ensure these needs are met. Older children and adolescents can find it difficult to integrate into a household with younger children and need their own space within the home. Give them the personal space they need and find ways to connect with each child individually, such as through shared hobbies or dedicated quality time together.

Divorce Attorneys in Kane County

If you are considering filing for divorce, thinking about remarrying, or need legal representation as you work out your child custody arrangement, call Goostree Law Group at 630-584-4800 today to schedule your free consultation with a skilled Kane County divorce attorney from our firm. firm. We are a family-focused law firm that handles all aspects of divorce and family law. Let us provide you with legal advice and representation for your case.