Stepparent Tip #3: Give the Gift of Time
Staying away doesn't make sense unless you know that one of the things kids of stepfamilies commonly miss is time alone with their biological parent. Think about it. Since you came along they have to share their mom or dad with you and perhaps your kids if you have them. So every once in a while give them some time with their parent. They need that and when they see you are not always competing with them for the parent's time they might just view you as a friend instead of a competitor.
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About the Guest
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Staying away doesn't make sense unless you know that one of the things kids of stepfamilies commonly miss is time alone with their biological parent. Think about it. Since you came along they have to share their mom or dad with you and perhaps your kids if you have them. So every once in a while give them some time with their parent. They need that and when they see you are not always competing with them for the parent's time they might just view you as a friend instead of a competitor.
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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 ...more
Sometimes you build a bridge to your stepchild’s heart by staying away.
