Books, Parenting & Families, Family Relationships, Stepparenting & Blended Families

Page 1 of 20 | next

Susan Wisdom, Jennifer Green
Stepcoupling: Creating and Sustaining a Strong Marriage in Today's Blended Family
by Three Rivers Press (Paperback) (Release Date: 2002-02-26)

Love may be sweeter the second time around, but once the bliss of a newfound relationship wears off a little, the reality of being part of a stepfamily sets in. If you are one of the millions of remarried Americans facing the challenge of blending two existing families into one cohesive whole, you are part of a stepcouple—and you know all too well how hard it can be to make your marriage work in sometimes tough terrain. Different parenting styles, finances, relationships with ex-spouses, legal matters, and even seemingly simple issues such as the kinds of chores assigned to children can chisel away at your union if you don’t always make your marriage a priority. Stepcoupling offers advice for stepcouples on how to do just that—all the while strengthening their blended family with a healthy marriage. Susan Wisdom and Jennifer Green provide tips and strategies on dealing with the issues remarried couples face, with a wealth of advice from real-life stepcouples, such as:* ...

Elizabeth Gaskell
Wives and Daughters (Unabridged)
by audible.com (Audio Download)

The heroine of Elizabeth Gaskell's last novel passes from childhood to maturity in a process that, though often painful for her, is sharply and humorously observed. Set in the early 19th century, this novel is a subtle representation of historical change explored in human terms.

Daniel A. Hughes
Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Troubled Children
by Jason Aronson (Paperback)

Katie, an abused, neglected, and poorly attached child, spent the first years of her life with parents who cared little about her. As a result she is an angry, unhappy, and manipulative kid. Is there any hope for her to grow up and become a healthy and happy adult? In BUILDING THE BONDS OF ATTACHMENT Dr. Daniel Hughes follows Katie through her life with abusive birth parents and many foster homes, showing how therapeutic parenting combined with specialized therapy can heal negative effects of reactive attachment disorder and transform children like Katie into happy, content, and caring people. BUILDING THE BONDS OF ATTACHMENT is the second edition of a bestselling book for parents of children with reactive attachment disorder as well as for social workers and therapists. Masterfully-written and engaging, BUILDING THE BONDS OF ATTACHMENT, blends attachment theory and research, and trauma theory with general principles of both parenting and child and family therapy in ...

Sally Bjornsen
The Single Girl's Guide to Marrying a Man, His Kids, and His Ex-Wife: Becoming A Stepmother With Humor And Grace
by NAL Trade (Paperback)

A funny, honest, and empathetic resource for the novice stepmother, which includes advice on The kids: Adjusting to suspicion, resentment, and biological-parent loyalties; The ex-wife: Living calmly alongside her, whether she's a psycho or the perfect mother; The holidays: Accommodating old family traditions and developing new ones; The sex: Keeping love alive through the kids' bed-wetting and nightmares. Plus an invaluable list of resources, websites, publications, and organizations specifically for the new stepmother.

Suzen J. Ziegahn
7 Steps to Bonding with Your Stepchild
by St. Martin's Griffin (Paperback)

Practical, realistic, and upbeat advice--from sharing a bathroom to initiating conversations--for people who "inherit" children along with a new spouse. The success or failure of a stepparent to bond with stepchildren can make or break a new marriage. But this book has a refreshing message--it is possible to achieve longlasting, rewarding relationships with your new children. Most stepparents feel caught in a bind because in order to connect with their stepchild, they have to reach out--but not too much, too little, or too deliberately. And relationships with stepchildren are inherently different from those with biological children who love their parent unconditionally. But these 7 basic steps will give you the essentials, from deciding what kind of stepparent you want to be to realizing that love comes later.

Cherie Burns
Stepmotherhood: How to Survive Without Feeling Frustrated, Left Out, or Wicked, Revised Edition
by Three Rivers Press (Paperback) (Release Date: 2001-09-25)

Ruth Rendell
The Water's Lovely (Unabridged)
by audible.com (Audio Download)

The award-winning author of The Babes in the Wood and The Rottweiler brings us another terrifically paced, richly drawn novel of suspense and psychological intrigue.Weeks went by when Ismay never thought of it at all. Then something would bring it back or it would return in a dream. The dream always began in the same way.She and her mother would be climbing the stairs, following Heather’s lead through the bedroom to what was on the other side, not a bathroom in the dream but a chamber floored and walled in marble. In the middle of it was a glassy lake. The white thing in the water floated towards her, its face submerged, and her mother said, absurdly, “Don’t look!”The dead man was Ismay’s stepfather, Guy. Now, nine years on, she and her sister, Heather, still live in the same house in Clapham. But it has been divided into two self-contained flats. Their mother had lived upstairs with her sister, Pamela. And the bathroom, where Guy had drowned, had disappeared.Ismay ...

Perdita K. Norwood, Teri Wingender
The Enlightened Stepmother: Revolutionizing the Role
by Harper Paperbacks (Paperback) (Release Date: 1999-03-01)

Becoming a stepmother is a life-altering event in any woman's life. The issues are extraordinarily complex and women are overwhelmingly unprepared. Yet concerns usually focus on the effect remarriage has on the children. The Enlightened Stepmother approaches the subject from a totally new perspective -- that of the stepmother. Based on information -- sometimes controversial -- from stepmoms of all ages, occupations and lifestyles, who know from experience what works, what doesn't and why -- What you need to know about your new family before you become part of it.How to get off to the right start. (It's hard to change a relationship once you've taken the path of least resistance.)How to prevent, rather than cure, the stepmom's classic pitfalls.What you need to recognize about your relationship with your husband's children.How to handle relationships between your kids and his.Why you need to give your marriage top priority.How to make sure others are aware that this is your life ...

Ron L., Deal
Smart Stepfamily, The: Seven Steps to a Healthy Family
by Bethany House (Paperback)

Ron Deal provides seven effective, achievable steps toward building a healthy marriage and a workable and peaceful stepfamily. Exploding the myth of achieving a "blended family" he helps parents recognize the unique personality and place of each family member, honor the families of origin while establishing new traditions, and much more. Developed from Deal’s nationwide seminars on the topic, this material is equally useful for individuals, families, small groups, pastors, and counselors.

Carl E. Pickhardt Ph.D.
Keys to Successful Stepfathering (Barron's Parenting Keys)
by Barron's Educational Series (Paperback)

Becoming a stepfather means new relationships, new struggles, and new joys. Here's a commonsense, practical guide tht helps stepfathers ease into their new role. Psychologist Carl E. Pickhardt emphasizes how stepfathers must replace wishful thinking with realistic expectations. Suggestions for getting along with stepchildren and building lasting relationships, managing conflict, establishing authority, and communicating in a positive way are all included to help men fully enjoy the rewards of being a stepfather. The author maintains that it is possible to be an effective stepfather and maintain a healthy marriage at the same time.

Page 1 of 20 | next