Stepfamilies: Dispelling some common myths

Did you know that 50% of new marriages include at least one partner who has been married before?

And that 65% of remarriages include children from a prior marriage or relationship?

Are you part of such a couple (stepcouple), wondering why the wonderful family and married life you eagerly anticipated is not materializing? Most early stepfamilies do not resemble The Brady Bunch!

It may be helpful for you to know that the development of stepcouple and stepfamily relationships is very different from that of first time marriages. Many of these differences stem from the presence of (step)children. If these differences, and the unique challenges they pose, are not understood and addressed, it could spell trouble for the couple.

Accepting and Managing Perpetual Problems

Are you worried that you and your partner never seem to resolve your conflicts?

Do you seem to argue about the same things most of the time?

Guess what? According to research by The Gottman Institute, 69% of couples experience conflict about an unresolvable “perpetual” problem! In fact, conflict is a given in marriage and partnered relationships. Conflicts in and of themsevles aren’t problematic. Anger isn’t even a problem (provided it isn’t expressed destructively). Rather, problems stem from way in which couples conflict with each other over perpetual problems.