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Let the Child Set the Pace

October 6, 2016

The cardinal rule for building a strong relationship with a stepchild is this; let the child set the pace.

 

So how do you do that? Gauge their level of openness to you and match it. If they jump into your lap or want to give you a hug don’t leave them hanging. But if they bristle when you try to hug them, back up a bit and find something less intimidating. If they call you daddy or mommy by all means let them. But if they would prefer to call you by your first name, that’s okay, too. Remember, letting the child set the pace is just how you start. It will grow well beyond that over time.

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Preparing to Blend

If you want to enter a blended family marriage well, this is the book for you. Aimed at engaged or pre-engaged couples who have at least one child from a previous relationship, Preparing to Blend offers wise counsel on parenting, finances, establishing family identity, and daily routines for your new life together. Within these pages you will learn how to: - predict common issues - define expectations - create solutions

About FamilyLife Blended®

FamilyLife Blended® provides  biblically-based resources that help prevent re-divorce, strengthen stepfamilies, and help break the generational cycle of divorce.

About Ron L. Deal

Ron L. Deal is the Director of blended family ministries at FamilyLife®, and is the author/coauthor of the books The Smart StepfamilyThe Smart Stepdad, The Smart Stepmom, Dating and the Single Parent, and The Remarriage Checkup. Ron voices the FamilyLife Blended short feature and is one of the most widely read authors on stepfamily living in the country. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist who frequently appears in the national media, including FamilyLife Today® and Focus on the Family, and he conducts marriage and family seminars around the countryRon and his wife, Nan, have been married since 1986 and have three boys.

Contact FamilyLife Blended® with Ron L. Deal

Mailing Address 
FamilyLife ®
100 Lake Hart Drive
Orlando FL 32832
 
Telephone Number
1-800-FL-TODAY
(1-800-358-6329)