How to Survive in a Blended Family?

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Family – The foundation of love

A family is an institute which caters to an individual’s needs and determines the levels of their growth, responsibility, and accountability. The beauty of a family is the unconditional love, kindness, unity, and strength you get from them.

Like all other families, blended families can face certain issues, conflicts, and concerns, but it is important to remember that such families are not bonded by blood, instead, they are glued together by other things like acceptance, trust, and authenticity.

Blended families are woven together by choice, strengthened together by love, tested by everything and each uniquely ours!

Role of a blended family in overcoming the past

Some unfortunate events in life can break relationships apart, but they serve to teach us some important lessons. Some things come to an end, some relationships conclude rather terribly, some memories are a beautiful reminder of our past.

But a blended family tends to fix all these troubles as people involved in them are have undergone similar situations themselves. Therefore, they put in their maximum efforts to build a family that is always there for you despite differences.

Family is family whether it’s one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the family you gain along the way.

Blended family problems

Adapting to the new family structure seems complicated. The most affected from the blended family arrangement are children. Oftentimes they feel overwhelmed, confused or fearful to share their parents or accept their step/half siblings.

People in a blended family may also experience an identity crisis, undergo loneliness, engage in legal issues, and observe financial or verbal disputes.

Similar problems can be experienced by couples, except on a much higher level i.e. they feel difficulty in putting their marriage first and attending their children’s concerns.

Survival tips in a blended family

1. Be realistic

Limiting the expectations is the key to flourish the family as it helps to embrace the individual differences and prepares you for the challenges that lie ahead. This may be accomplished slowly as all relationships take time to heal and grow.

2. Ensure proper communication

Voicing all your worries and concerns gets you enough of attention to fully express yourself while engaging in meaningful conversations where you not only speak but also listen to your fellow family members while respecting their point of view or difference of opinion.

3. Set loyalty as a benchmark

Sincerity and loyalty bloom valuable relationships and build trust among all the family members.

Blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family.

4. Celebrate little things

Find reasons to be happy and appreciate little things because happiness brings a deep sense of unity, comfort, and solace. Furthermore, it helps to ensure maximum involvement of children.

5. Schedule the conflicts wisely

Listen to your spouse, children or stepchildren and discuss with them important areas of their concerns and how they would like you to help them in maximum possible ways.  

6. Effective co-parenting strategies

Formulate a parenting plan which addresses important aspects of children’s life i.e. time management, dating life, extracurricular activities, skill education and setting their study and play schedules.

7. Equal treatment

As certain events can prove to be unsettling for children, therefore it is advised to treat all of the family members equally, without any favoritism or prejudice to

8. Time management

Time management is an essential skill to allow families to spend quality time together while reserving time to deal with your other personal or professional goals.  

9. Get to know each other

Getting to know each other is a key to grow and anchor your relationships. This can be achieved by spending time together, working on activities of mutual interests and exploring each other’s passions.  

10. Embrace the differences

Embracing the variety of differences within a family can help you set realistic expectations and help you understand one another while enjoying the diversity.

11. Get over your past

Your past is your history. No matter how withered it was, it serves no good use to you expect for some important lessons. Furthermore, it is wise to not judge people by the same old eye-lens because time passes and people evolve.    

12. Build a support network

A supportive family breeds emotionally healthy individuals who uplift each other treat one another with respect.