Don’t Be Defensive
To be a good team, when you make an observation that could be helpful, share it. Not in a condemning fashion but in a constructive way. This might be delicate but healthy parents give each other permission to speak gently into one another’s lives so they can raise godly kids. Here’s the trap for stepfamily couples to avoid: to the biological parent advice can feel like criticism of their child and to the stepparent it can feel like rejection or distrust. Don’t get defensive. Help each other.
About the Guest
Ron Deal
Ron Deal is Director of FamilyLife Blended®️ for FamilyLife®️ and President of Smart Stepfamilies™️. He is a family ministry consultant and conducts marriage and family seminars around the country; he specializes in marriage education and stepfamily enrichment. He is one of the most widely read authors on stepfamily living in the country.
About the Host
Ron Deal
Ron Deal is Director of FamilyLife Blended®️ for FamilyLife®️ and President of Smart Stepfamilies™️. He is a family ministry consultant and conducts marriage and family seminars around the country; he specializes in marriage education and stepfamily enrichment. He is one of the most widely read authors on stepfamily living in the country.
Episode Transcript
Ron: Really good parents—give each other advice.
Announcer: For FamilyLife Blended®, here’s Ron Deal.
Ron: Yeah, to be a good team, when one of you makes an observation that could help the other parent, share it. Not in a condemning fashion but in a constructive way. Sometimes this can be delicate but healthy parents give each other permission to speak gently into one another’s lives. Why? So, they can raise godly kids.
Now here’s the trap for stepfamily couples to avoid: to the biological parent advice can feel like criticism of their child and to the stepparent it can feel like rejection or distrust. Hey, both of you—don’t get defensive. Help each other. That’s what great parents do. For FamilyLife Blended®, I’m Ron Deal.
Announcer: To find out more visit familylifeblended.com.
FamilyLife Blended with Ron Deal is a production of FamilyLife.
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