A Book By Its Cover
A teacher asked a student about her family. The girl mentioned she had a stepmom, but, then was quick to clarify they didn't say "stepmom or stepchild" in their family. It's interesting. Family rules about what we call each other can create a lot of pressure especially on kids. But terms don't necessarily represent the heart. What you say to others about your family is not necessarily indicative of how you feel. So give kids in complex families the freedom to use terms that make sense to them.
Show Notes
About the Host
About the Guest
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A teacher asked a student about her family. The girl mentioned she had a stepmom, but, then was quick to clarify they didn't say "stepmom or stepchild" in their family. It's interesting. Family rules about what we call each other can create a lot of pressure especially on kids. But terms don't necessarily represent the heart. What you say to others about your family is not necessarily indicative of how you feel. So give kids in complex families the freedom to use terms that make sense to them.
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Ron Deal
Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is Director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and Consulting Editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart (with Dr. Gary Chapman), The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, and Preparing to Blend. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular conference speaker, and host of the FamilyLife Blended podcast. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at FamilyLife.com/blended.
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No, you don’t judge a book by its cover. Or a family for that matter.
