20 Best Books On Blended Families (2023 Update)

Create a loving and safe environment for your blended family – blended families face unique challenges, and sadly, good intentions aren't always enough. with so many complex relationships involved, all the normal rules for family life change, even how you apply something as simple as the five love languages. that's why gary chapman, the bestselling author of the 5 love languages andnational expert on stepfamilies, ron deal, join together in this book to teach you how the five love languages can help your blended family. they'll teach you: about the unique dynamics of stepfamilies – how to overcome fear and trust issues in marriage – how to develop healthy parenting and step-parenting practices – how the love languages should–and should not–be applied – you're going to face many challenges, but with the right strategies and smart work, your family can be stronger and healthier together.

A digital solution for your classroom with features created with teachers and students in mind: – perpetual license – 24 hour, 7 days a week access – no limit to the number of students accessing one title at a time – provides a school to home connection wherever internet is available – easy to use – ability to turn audio on and off – words highlighted to match audio students explore and understand the meaning of family relationships. great books from prompting value-oriented discussions on caring, sharing, and loving.

What do families look like? who's in your family? and how can families change? with delightful illustrations, this glorious celebration of family diversity talks about lone-parent families, adoptive, foster, divorced, remarried, and mixed race families, and lots, lots more, showing little children that families come in all shapes and sizes.

Growing up with a step-parent or step-siblings is very common these days, but it isn't always easy. this honest book delivers the scoop on what it's like to learn to be part of a whole new family unit. covering a range of scenarios, it provides advice for readers who may be moving away from a beloved parent, dealing with jealousy over a new sibling, coping with custody battles, or being abused by a step-parent. while every family's situation is different, this book teaches teens concrete strategies for improving communications with family members and working through their emotions.

When re-married couples bring their families together, they face unique challenges. somehow, they must bring unity out of diversity. maxine marsolini points to biblical solutions to the conflict commonly found in divorce and remarriage situations. 'growth and application' questions make this an excellent resource for small groups or christian counseling.

When re-married couples bring their families together, they face unique challenges. somehow, they must bring unity out of diversity. maxine marsolini points to biblical solutions to the conflict commonly found in divorce and remarriage situations. 'growth and application' questions make this an excellent resource for small groups or christian counseling.

Build a beautiful blended family with this activity book for kids ages 6 to 9adjusting to changes in your family dynamic can be challenging, especially for young children. this compassionate activity book teaches kids critical tools for exploring and addressing their feelings as they learn to adapt to their blended family. – what sets this blended family book apart from other step parenting books: engaging activities–from neighborhood scavenger hunts to making their own superhero shield, this workbook is packed with 50 exciting activities that help kids connect with their emotions and create space for family bonding. – easy read–whimsical illustrations, a fun layout, and an approachable tone make this book a pleasure to read and work through, for kids and parents alike. – parenting tips–each activity includes a brief explainer for parents, step parents, and caregivers, underlining the intention behind the chosen activity and highlighting how to make the most of the moment. – help children embrace their growing tribe with the blended family activity book for kids.

Make this marriage last a lifetime – leading blended family authority ron deal and marriage and family expert david olson show you how to build on your relationship strengths and improve your weaknesses. whether you're dating, engaged, a young stepfamily, or an empty-nest couple, the smart stepfamily marriage gives you the tools you need at any stage to create a remarriage that will last. – each chapter of this book explores one of the key qualities of happy remarriages as identified by research. like a gps for your relationship, this book has built-in discussion questions that can help you and your partner discover where you are, where you'd like to be, and how to get there. the online survey gives you a report with personalized results for your relationship." the smart stepfamily marriage is the road map to a healthy marriage."–gary d. chapman, ph – d, author, the five love languages and when sorry isn't enough"remarried or marrying again? this book is loaded with specific, useful ideas for helping your marriage reach its full potential."–scott stanley, ph – d, author, a lasting promise; research professor, university of denver"this book is a must-read for any remarried couple. it includes the tools needed to create and maintain a wonderful remarriage."–from the foreword by evelyn husband thompson, widow of space shuttle columbia commander rick husband, now remarried to bill thompson"the smart stepfamily marriage is the most up-to-date, relevant, complete guide for remarried couples–i know of no other resource like it."–francesca adler-baeder, ph – d, professor and director, center for children, youth, and families, auburn university; director, national stepfamily resource center"this book will help you thrive in your marriage and beat the odds of divorce. the preventative information is the best i have ever seen, and the practical application covers it all. i have put the smart stepfamily marriage at the top of my resource library for couples who find themselves in this beautiful and yet challenging world of remarriage."–jim burns, ph – d, president, home – word, author of creating an intimate marriage, confident parenting, and the purity code"remarriages have unique challenges and different relational needs than first marriages. based on a national study of 50,000 couples, this book is a wonderful resource for remarriage couples. take the online couple checkup and get a report about your relationship, read the book, and build a relationship that lasts!"–dr. gary smalley, author of the dna of relationships"you want a marriage that lasts forever, right? blended family couples can beat the odds–this book will tell you how."–dr. dennis rainey, president of family – life, author of stepping up

The divorce rate for blended families is 70%. but when you do it god's way, you have a 100% chance of success! couples in blended-or "step"-families often feel misunderstood, even in the church. they struggle with complicated child behavioral issues, battle-pitched custody fights, and difficulty finding unity in co-parenting. emotions such as guilt, shame, fear, or isolation threaten to overwhelm them. now is the time for these families to feel heard, helped, and healed. in blended and redeemed, blended family experts, coaches, and therapists scott and vanessa martindale go where few dare to venture-into the minefield of today's blended families. you will learn how to: – defend your new marriage from old wounds and the enemy's schemes- turn strangers into siblings through intentional and intelligent blending- work and communicate effectively with your ex-spouse as co-parents- navigate the fiery furnace of custody litigation- bring glory to god and inform the church about your messy and beautifully unique blended family designed for pastors, church leaders, individuals or group studies, blended and redeemed will become your new go-to field guide for the modern stepfamily! companion study guide sold separately.

Covey presents a practical and philosophical guide to solving the problems–large and small, mundane and extraordinary—that confront all families and strong communities. by offering revealing anecdotes about ordinary people as well as helpful suggestions about changing everyday behavior, the 7 habits of highly effective families shows how and why to have family meetings, the importance of keeping promises, how to balance individual and family needs, and how to move from dependence to interdependence. the 7 habits of highly effective families is an invaluable guidebook to the welfare of families everywhere.

A wise and inspiring guide to creating a happy and healthy blended family by mashonda tifrere with contributions from her co-parents–swizz beatz and his wife, grammy-award winning singer and songwriter alicia keys.in january 2010, founder of artleadher mashonda tifrere andlegendary record producer swizz beatz finalized their divorce. when swizz married award-winning singer/songwriter alicia keys, a new dynamic was born–three adults who loved and were deeply committed to raising mashonda and swizz's four-year old son kasseem. in blend, tifrere draws on the insights they gained from their journey as well as advice from family therapists, parenting experts, and other blending families, to provide an invaluable resource for blended families.statistics show that one in three americans is now a step-parent, stepchild, step-sibling or other member of a blended family. the number of first time marriages or romantic relationships that end in divorce or breakups and the high percentage of remarriages and new relationships that involve children demand a unique, life-affirming approach to processing the end of one relationship and the rebirth of a new familial dynamic with the well-being of children at its center. in this book, tifrere shares intimate details on how she and her co-parents used communication, patience and love to create an environment where they were able to work as a team and all the children involved could thrive.blend will inspire a generation of families.

Leading stepfamily expert ron l. deal reveals the seven fundamental steps to blended family success and provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues you face as a stepfamily. whether married or soon-to-be-married, you'll discover how to· solve the everyday puzzles of stepparenting and stepchildren relationships· communicate effectively with an ex-spouse· handle stepfamily finances confidently· "cook" your stepfamily slowly rather than expect an instant blend – this revised and expanded edition has updated research and two new chapters with even more real-world advice on topics such as stepsibling relationships and later-life stepfamilies. "i highly recommended the first edition, and i am even more excited about this new edition."–from the foreword by gary chapman, ph – d, author of the five love languages"the smart stepfamily is the best book available for stepfamilies that i've seen. . . . and this revised and updated edition is better than ever!"–drs. les and leslie parrott, founders of marriage the insights and suggestions he shares work. every stepfamily will benefit from reading this book."–h. norman wright, licensed marriage, family, and child therapist, founder of christian marriage enrichment, author"i love this book! it adds an important dimension to the understanding of stepfamilies and reads as if sitting down with wise friends. written on the 'information is power' premise, the smart stepfamily weaves together a review of biblical materials, current psychological and sociological research, best practices, practical insights, and anecdotal stories to educate and support stepfamilies and the clergy who serve them."–dr. margorie engel, president and ceo, stepfamily association of america"i have long recommended ron deal's work as the very best for stepfamilies. stanley, research professor, university of denver, and coauthor of a lasting promise

Daily inspiration and wisdom for blended familiesgot a minute? then you have time for a daily dose of encouragement and wisdom for your stepfamily journey. these 365 short and sweet thoughts will keep your family blending and bonding throughout the year. topics include parenting and stepparenting, strengthening your marriage, grief in the stepfamily, bonding with children, co-parenting with exes, practical wisdom for bringing family members together, and inspirational stories to lift your spirits and keep you stepping in the right direction. this book also addresses special days like mother's day and holidays.each daily dose of encouragement includes a prayer for your home. sharing these readings with your spouse and, when appropriate, kids will spark valuable conversations that strengthen family understanding and closeness.

This is a print on demand title. this book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc.

"if you are a member of a blended family, this is the handbook to enable your estate plan to assure that your financial wealth will lead to your family's future well-being. read it, follow its wisdom and practices, and smile." -james (jay) e. hughes jr, author of complete family wealth and family: the compact among generations parents neglect to handle their estates and affairs during their lifetime and leave their grieving children drowning in paperwork and tough decisions. it is even more demanding and grueling for stepchildren and members of blending families to sort through these estates. as a member of a blended family himself, tax attorney paul hood has pooled his personal and professional knowledge to create this comprehensive guide to estate planning for blended families. in yours, mine & ours, hood offers real-world advice while cover crucial topics such as: property ownership – documents for planning – important payers in planning – challenges one will face – words of wisdom – when nearly 70% of estate plans yield unfavorable results for the family, the need for a meticulous estate plan cannot be overstated. hood's guide to estate planning will allow individuals to rest assured that their families are provided for thoroughly.

95 million adults have a step relationship, according to a 2011 report. that's 95 million unexpected experiences; 95 million unique perspectives; 95 million laughs, 95 million tears, and 95 million new families. blended explores stepfamilies from the inside out through the perspectives of thirty writers who know what it's like first hand. sometimes funny, often poignant, and always deeply personal, the stories in blended capture the essence of stepfamilies in all of their weird and wonderful varieties. the journeys range from the first encounters between new step-relatives, to marriages, honeymoons, daily experiences, and divorces. the diverse voices in blended reflect the realities of today's world, in which yesterday's ideas of family structures and types just don't cut it anymore. parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins: all of these relationships change when families are melded into one, and the writers of blended help explore the truth of what these new relationships look like, and, especially, feel like. blended offers something for everyone: laughter, wisdom, empathy, and guidance, and, above all, the knowledge that you are not alone.

You've met someone!!! and they have a kiddo (or a few) and you're wondering what that's going to mean for your relationship. or perhaps, you're the one with a kiddo (or a few), and you want to be sure you get this part right for both your dating partner and your child. "the stepfamily handbook: from dating to getting serious to forming a 'blended family'" provides essential guidance to parents who are dating and to those who are dating a parent. from those very first dates to including the kids to progressing to that big, important step of living together – this book is for you! here's what you'll learn: when and how to introduce children to a dating partner – and some critical do's and don'ts when you meet the kids. how to increase the amount of time spent all together with children – without turning the fun into a stress-mess. (what? that's tricky? read on…you'll discover why kiddos don't always jump on a parent's dating train – and what to do about it.) these challenges will likely start surfacing long before you're thinking about living together. they'll grow in intensity as your relationship gets more serious. (trust us: you'll want these practical, proven tips to meet each challenge as they show up.) developmentally specific pointers for ushering children through the struggles of sharing a parent's attention with another adult (and perhaps other children). research-based information on best practices for parenting, stepparenting and discipline as time together increases and you find you have really different ideas about what to do when the children act … like children.valuable tips for maintaining a cordial relationship with a permanent player in your relationship – the co-parent (ex-spouse) – the children's other parent. (like it or not, this important person will have an impact on your dating relationship pretty much from the start. you'll definitely want to get this part right.) a solid set of tried-and-true communication skills to help you constructively navigate the inevitable bumps and glitches once kids are involved in your dating relationship. (key: you'll find that as you enter this new relationship phase – adding the kids – you'll likely face a surprising amount of complexity and conflict!)

Pauly is a vibrant kid filled with energy. bryon is a basketball player and avid gamer. bryon's dad met pauly's mom and fell in love. pauly and bryon are now brothers in a blended family. together they navigate the joys and wins of being a blended family. share in their excitement as they tell you all about how happy being in a blended family makes them.

Even under the best of circumstances, marriage in a blended family is challenging. from parenting to ex-spouses to past hurts, couples face many obstacles. in blending families, eighteen successful stepfamilies will show you how they've learned to overcome their everyday challenges. whether you ve been married for years or just preparing for the journey, blending families is the essential resource to help you breakthrough and have a successful family that will thrive for years to come. about the authorjimmy evans is founder and president of xo marriage, a ministry that is devoted to helping couples thrive in strong and fulfilling marriages and families. jimmy and his wife karen co-host marriagetoday with jimmy and karen, a nationally syndicated television program which is broadcast daily into over 110 million homes in america and more than 200 countries worldwide.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★this book is a must read!!! the luckiest child: becoming a blended family little bear has just been told that he is going to be part of a blended family, and he is so worried. lucky, a magical four-leaf clover, is sent on a mission to help little bear overcome those worries and better understand his new family dynamic. – what if papa bear doesn't want to spend time with me? what if my stepmom tries to make new rules? these are just a few of the "what if" questions troubling little bear in this story. – is he doomed, or will he overcome his worries? being part of a blended family can be hard, especially at first. the luckiest child: becoming a blended family can help you generate a conversation with your child about being more accepting and understanding of change, as well as discuss the importance of respect and rules, inside and outside the home. – when single parents inform their children that they are going to start a life with someone new, it can be an overwhelming emotional adjustment. and without the proper tools and/or resources to communicate, children may have a difficult time adapting. – the objective of the luckiest child series is to create a platform for children to open up to their parents about their worries and questions. these books address some of the typical difficulties children face, but in a relatable and comfortable setting. by utilizing these tools to bridge the gap between you and your child, it should help them come to terms and feel more comfortable talking to you about what they might be feeling. – learning objectives addressed: understanding change the importance of respect the purpose of rules this book is suitable for children of all ages and adults can definitely benefit from it too! perfect gift for the holidays! about the author zoie seay is coming to you with her first of several books about blended families. her devoted passion to understand, develop, and care for children stems from her deeply rooted family values. these values have also given her the strength and confidence to be a loving stepmom and an author of books about blended families. with her enthusiastic and adventurous outlook on life, she has created a way to use these passions and experiences to help others.