Stepfamilies

Common Struggles For Adults

• Discussing Finances
• Adjusting to the stepparent role
• Feeling torn between spouse and children
• Dealing with a former spouse
• Disciplining children
• Handling parenting-time (visitation) issues
• Finding time to bond as a couple
• Grieving past losses

Common Struggles For Children

• Being unable to see their other parent
• Hearing biological parents argue
• Adjusting to new rules set by a stepparent
• Feeling unloved or unwanted
• Wishing it could all go back to the way it was before
• Having to share a room with new siblings
• Feeling like a stranger in the house
• Watching parent and stepparent argue
• Being blamed when things go wrong
• Seeing their parent do more for a stepchild than for them
• Feeling "caught in the middle" between their two birth parents

Characteristics

Myths

Tips

Struggles

Tasks

Success