Parenting Children in Stepfamilies

Parenting Children in Stepfamilies When children are teenagers, who? And, probably more time to form stepfamilies, says Susan Wisdom, co-author of the book? Stepcoupling. What? S, because the boys are trying to leave the family, not become part of a new stepfamily, says Dr. Margorie Engel, president and CEO of the Stepfamily Association of America, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska "in the our society, adolescence is the time to begin the separation of the family so that children are prepared for independence after high school, "says Engel. "When parents are married with young people and create a stepfamily, since unknowingly this process of development ... forcing combined activities, meals, rooms and, at the expense of privacy, one-on-one time with children, and time with their friends and their activities outside the home event. "The actor and writer William Seymour, said that when his mother remarried, her new stepfather, who call him Seymour asked? Dad. Seymour refused, saying that he saw no reason to call this strange that his father.Rather? Forcing the family? adolescents, parents in stepfamilies need to give their children the opportunity to be with friends and pursue their interests, which may be particularly difficult when you want to see more. They also need patience and to embrace a go-slow approach.Lisa Daniel of Bethesda, Md., said that when her stepson, Mara, was a teenager, in general, spent six weeks every summer with the lady and her husband Daniel, Timothy. When he was 15, Mara was offered the chance to dance with American Ballet Theater's summer program in New York, thereby reducing their visit to two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel decided the teen should continue, even if not missing. 'It is a very difficult balance to try to ensure sufficient time to allow the family some sort of cohesion, with a child not much to see and respond to the fact that most of their lives, "says Daniel. In addition to giving children the time and space to be with friends and continue their lives, parents of teenagers need to plan before taking stepfamily life in marriage, said Elizabeth Einstein, co-author of? Strengthening your Stepfamily. Preparing for marriage is absolutely essential. Marriage is more difficult than the first marriage? she says.By CohnLisa Lisa Cohn is co-host of Stepfamily Talk Radio. To listen to audio on this topic, click and listen to "teenage angst after divorce."