Turning Points–Affirming Words
Looking back is one way you know what made the difference.
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: Looking back is one way you know what made the difference.
Announcer: For FamilyLife Blended®, here’s Ron Deal.
Ron: Research has identified a variety of turning points in healthy stepparent-stepchild relationships. When adult stepchildren looked back—here’s one of the things that improved the direction of their relationship. When the stepparent affirmed the value of the child. Like when they went to bat for them in a social situation—or stood by the child during a challenging time in their life. And for some kids it helped to hear the stepparent claim the child as their own: “Let me introduce you to my son, David.”
Now, there’s a catch: stepparents shouldn’t expect the child to claim them as dad or mom, but knowing you’re committed to them can be a turning point. For FamilyLife Blended I’m Ron Deal.
Announcer: To find out more visit familylifeblended.com.
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