Step-By Step-Parenting: A Guide to Successful Living With a Blended Family

by James D. Eckler

Being a successful stepparent - helping to nurture and sustain a stepfamily - can be a challenge. In cases where husband and wife are of different races and religion, the adjustments can be even more difficult, more complex. Children often prove to be one of the most complicating factors in a stepfamily. As a minister and marriage counselor, James Eckler has been helping step-parents raise successful families for years. In this book he examines every aspect of the power struggles between the natural parents and stepparents, the manipulative games children play, the rights of the stepparent, name changes, the pros and con of adoption, the role of grandparents and much more. Anyone involved in a stepfamily or contemplating forming on through a second marriage will benefit from his far-ranging counsel.

Genres: Parenting

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1993

Reviews

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review is only low because the book wasn't right for my situation. I raised 2 step kids from when they were very young and they always called me Mommy. I have no other children. We didn't have the classic step/blended family issues that the book addressed. I was searching for answers that had more to do with my daughter being ADHD & manic than with my being her step-mother.

I gave up on the book after about 2/3 the way through. I think it would be pretty helpful for someone dealing with the "you're not my mom", "I'm not sharing a room with HER", and other issues that seem to pop up when a family is blended with older children.

[Angela]

I purchased this book in the early 2000's...I recommend it for anyone dealing with perfectly flawed families! ;) My stepdaughter told me I didn't need it. LOL!