| Parenting your own children is challenging enough but | | | | parent you are still an adult who is worthy of respect. |
| when you are parenting someone else's children, the | | | | Children have plenty of friends; what they need is adult |
| demands are intensified. When a new marriage thrusts | | | | involvement and healthy parenting. |
| you into the role of step parent, you may find the | | | | Conversely, while you may not your step children's |
| journey to be fraught with obstacles; but with a little | | | | friend, you are also not their biological parent. Just as |
| sensitivity and a lot of communication you can find the | | | | you are asking them to afford you a certain amount |
| role of step parenting an enormously rewarding one. | | | | of respect, make it clear that you will respect their |
| Step parenting can mean that you are faced with | | | | boundaries as well. Assure them that you understand |
| marriage and parenthood in one fell swoop. Adjusting | | | | that you are not their parent and you are not trying to |
| to married life can be challenging enough but when you | | | | take the place of that parent. Many times this will be |
| compound the issues with children who are often bitter | | | | just what the children need to hear. Rather than having |
| and confused, you're not always off to a great start. | | | | to protect themselves from someone who they are |
| And if you don't have children of your own, you are | | | | concerned is trying to usurp their parent, they can relax |
| now having your first experience with parenting. It can | | | | and think of you as who you are - the person who is |
| be extremely stressful for all involved. | | | | married to their mom or dad. |
| Begin by remembering that step parenting is an | | | | Step parenting can be a really rewarding role. |
| evolution. This is a situation that will require quite a bit of | | | | Sometimes these relationships wind up being some of |
| adjustment; and as things settle down and the dust | | | | the most special to come from such a union. Begin |
| clears you will find that you have settled in to a rhythm. | | | | your own unique journey by getting to know the |
| Remember first and foremost that the job of step | | | | children to whom you will be step parenting. You may |
| parenting does not require you to be your step | | | | find that they are amazing people to know. |
| children's friend. While you may not be their biological | | | | |