I would like to be married again. I don’t often say that because I don’t want people to look at me with that pitying look. No, I’m not miserable and lonely but I would like someone to share my life with, someone to hold my hand and talk about the day. I’m sure I look at remarriage through rose colored glasses, the same way I looked at marriage once upon a time when I didn’t know how very wrong things could go. Now that I’m older, I wonder what exactly it means to be married now. When you are young … Continue reading →

Managing the dynamics of a blended family can be rather challenging. This is new territory for everyone involved. For the first little while everyone may feel as if they are on an emotional rollercoaster. Some days may work out better than others; the important thing is that you keep at it and communicate often with your partner throughout the process. In the meantime, here are some important things to remember as you are embarking on this new journey as a step-parent. In the beginning it is best to let the child’s biological parent be the primary parent in charge of … Continue reading →

Ok, let’s face it, blending two families is never easy. There’s a reason second marriages fail more often than firsts. Adjusting to the new dynamics is hard on everyone, children and parents alike. There are so many different facets that have to be worked out. When should you discipline your partner’s children? What will they call you? What is expected of them? What is expected of you? It is important to discuss all of these issues with your partner and also as a family to alleviate some of the confusion that naturally comes with combining what once was two separate … Continue reading →

I grew up in a blended family. Maybe that is why I’m a little leery about ever having another one. My mom was a single mother for several years. She had three children and remarried a man who had three children of his own, who happened to be the same ages. Some of us were happy about the marriage, some of us weren’t at the time, and others just didn’t have a clue what was going on. Those first couple of years were pure chaos. All four of us girls had to share a room, while the two boys shared … Continue reading →

After my divorce I swore off men. I was never going to get married again. In my mind they were all the same. My ex husband wasn’t the first run in with trouble. There have been very few good men in my life and a handful of pretty nasty ones. After a while I just started to expect it. In my mind men were emotionless. They were insensitive. They were manipulative. They were selfish. They were heartless. Not just some of them…all of them. Any time a good guy would walk into my life I’d start to prepare myself for … Continue reading →

I have been thinking a lot about the future lately. Thinking about how different the family structure will be if Logan is the only one of my children going to his dad’s every other weekend. This was one of my greatest fears when I first got divorced. I still remember calling my mother and crying to her that I could never get married again for this very reason. At the time I seemed to think that would be easier on him. I dated a guy a few months ago who was also divorced and had a three year old little … Continue reading →

Remarrying when there are children involved is complicated. There are so many things to take into consideration. It can be a time of great happiness, but it can also be a time of chaos and misunderstanding. Communication is key. Discuss things with your new spouse and the children before the marriage has taken place. It is important that everybody is on the same page. Lots of changes are happening all at once and the more you communicate with your children the easier that transition will be for them. It gives them a chance to prepare themselves for the changes that … Continue reading →