| Take this first bit of step parenting advice and | | | | #3 The best step parenting advice is to give your |
| appreciate the power of the birth family. Recognize | | | | stepchildren the gift of limits. Children need limits.If they |
| that your spouse is probably always going to be closer | | | | don't learn in the home that there are limits on their |
| to his children than yours. If you are constantly | | | | behavior; they'll have a harder time functioning in the |
| criticizing your spouse's children, you are creating the | | | | outside world. If they resist limits it will be easier for you |
| beginning of the end. Someday, you may up feeling as | | | | to deal with it if you remind yourself that children do |
| close to your step children as you do to your own. | | | | the same thing with their biological parents. |
| The process takes time and only occurs when a | | | | The next piece of step parenting advice is expecting |
| supportive, loving environment has been created. | | | | your step children to hate you. You must understand |
| The next important bit of step parenting advice is to | | | | that children of divorce usually want nothing more than |
| respect your spouse's family dynamics. If you try to | | | | their birth parents to get back together. Regardless of |
| impose your rules on your step children, especially | | | | how you met your spouse, on some level, your step |
| when they are rules they did not grow up with, they | | | | children may hate you and blame you for her parents |
| will rebel. Never underestimate the power of a child. | | | | being apart. |
| Where possible, try to compromise and work together | | | | Another bit of step parenting advice is that adults |
| as a team to raise each other's children. | | | | often struggle with is how to discipline their step |
| #1-The Best step Parenting Advice Ever is to Accept | | | | children. Kids may reject your attempts to discipline |
| and love the kids as your own. When you think about | | | | them. This is because discipline is not about telling |
| them think of them as your children. When you talk to | | | | children what to do; it is about teaching them to make |
| your partner about the kids, call them "our" kids.. When | | | | healthy choices on their own. If you understand this |
| you live with or are married to someone with kids from | | | | concept, you will not have problems with issues related |
| a previous relationship, you need accept those kids as | | | | to discipline. |
| if they were your own. | | | | Follow the step parenting advice of the American |
| #2 The best step parenting advice is to treat your | | | | physician and author, Benjamin McLane Spock. He |
| step-children and biological children the same.it is | | | | wrote, "The more people have studied different |
| important for step-parents to treat all children in the | | | | methods of bringing up children, the more they have |
| family the same. Do not treat your biological children | | | | come to the conclusion that what good mothers and |
| better than you treat your step-children. While all | | | | fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is |
| children have their own needs, you need to treat them | | | | usually best after all. |
| equal. | | | | |