Reply; Blended Families (PACO603)
Post one reply of 250 words, you must incorporate two scholarly citation(s) in Turabian format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last ten years. Acceptable sources include journals, books, our textbook, and the Bible.
Discussion assignments are research-based threads and replies. This means that each one need to have a research citation that supports what you are saying. Without the research, it is your opinion only.
Student 1 Merlynn
Impactful Challenges
There are several challenges when looking at a couple who one or both are marrying for a second time and when one or more of them have children. I know that having an ex-spouse in the mix can be a challenge depending on how amenable their parting was and how well they get along. Having a good relationship with your ex-spouse is one of the most difficult areas for a couple to work through. When the ex-spouse says negative things to the children or causes disruption in plans for the couple, it can be more than a little challenging. Another challenge is that one person has children and the other does not. Not discussing “parenting styles, knowledge of child development, and discipline preferences” (Deal, 2012) will be a major issue as expectations will not be met. Finally, how long the couple are willing to work to blend the step-family even after they have done all the pre-marital work. “Blending a step-family is no quick mix, it can take years and many times the rewards come in the journey” (Deal, 2013).
Counseling in Remarriage: Areas to Address
As in most pre-marital counseling, communication is key. In working with blended families to be, it may not just be the couple that will need to learn the importance of communication. If there will be step children, grandparents, other relatives and ex- spouses, it is important to teach the couple how communication with all those involved can help the new relationship and family. The children should be involved, once the couple decide marriage is on the table. The children should have a chance to express themselves to their biological parent as well as their would-be step parent (Deal, 2012). Communication is important also if one of half of the couple finds that they cannot get married for whatever reason. They must be sure to communicate both to one another, the children and other members of the family. As Deal (2012) said, it is better to find out there are incompatibilities before the nuptials, as there are more lives involved in many remarriages than first marriages. Couples need to know that blending families is not as easy as the “Brady bunch” made it look and there will be challenges ahead for years to come and with proper pre-marital counseling those challenges can be faced head on and conquered.
