The Name Game
The terms people use to refer to one another really matter. A stepparent would love to be called "Mom" or "Dad," but children may feel uncomfortable calling them that. On the other hand, kids don't want to hurt the feelings of their biological parents so they may use one term in public and another in private. So, parents, here's what you do. Give children your permission to use the labels that are most comfortable to them. Don't force them to use your label. Be okay with theirs.
Show Notes
About the Guest
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The terms people use to refer to one another really matter. A stepparent would love to be called "Mom" or "Dad," but children may feel uncomfortable calling them that. On the other hand, kids don't want to hurt the feelings of their biological parents so they may use one term in public and another in private. So, parents, here's what you do. Give children your permission to use the labels that are most comfortable to them. Don't force them to use your label. Be okay with theirs.
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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
Ron, Ron, bo Bon, Bonana fanna fo Fon…Okay, you know what I’m doing. I’m playing the name game. Well, stepfamilies play a different name game.
