A Difference Experience
In a nuclear family all have the same family story but stepfamilies are made up of people with different family stories, DNA, and traditions. A different culture. Merging those cultures can be difficult but you can do it. Talk about holiday traditions and the meaning behind them. What it’s like to be the oldest child in one home and a middle child in another. And how past hurts have changed who you are. To cross the gaps in your family stories, you’ve got to build bridges of communication.
About the Guest
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.
About the Host
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.
Episode Transcript
Ron: Everyone in the blended family living room traveled a different journey to get there.
Announcer: For FamilyLife Blended®, here’s Ron Deal.
Ron: There’s something about stepfamily living that most people underestimate. In a nuclear family everyone has the same family story, but stepfamilies are made up of people with different family stories, different histories, DNA, and traditions. A different culture if you will. Merging those cultures and family narratives can be difficult. So here’s what you do: communicate.
You’ve got to talk about holiday traditions and the meaning behind them. What it’s like to be the oldest child in one home and a middle child in another. And how past hurts have changed who you are. Hey, to cross the gaps in your family stories, you’ve got to build bridges of communication. 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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