In Step with Your Stepchildren: Building a Strong One-on-One Relationship

by Karen O'Connor

People don’t line up to be stepparents. Yet millions take on this role every year. The husbands and wives don’t necessarily think about what’s ahead or what will be required of them-or perhaps they don’t want to think about it. Stepparents are adjusting to life with their new spouse, but the stepchildren are making equally difficult adjustments. The kids wonder where they’ll fit into the picture in the new family. They are often unsure about their place in the lives of their parents and in the new family arrangement. In Step with your Stepchildren explores unique ways that stepparents can build honest, deep, lasting relationships with their stepchildren. It’s not about blended families but about the one-on-one relationship between a stepparent and a stepchild, teaching stepparents how to relate to each stepchild as an individual. Stepparents have unique challenges and opportunities to influence the lives of their stepchildren. The goal is to equip stepparents with the emotional and spiritual tools they need to build a loving relationship regardless of the circumstances, to equip and empower them to be an influence for good in the life of that child-not simply to endure the months or years until he or she grows up and moves out. Focuses on the individual relationship between the stepparent and the stepchild.Teaches stepparents how to relate to each stepchild as an individual.Stepparents will learn how to be a means of grace, mercy, and love to their stepchildren.Each chapter includes a section called ’Making Connections,’ a list of practical help, wisdom, and information to enhance stepparents’ relationship with their stepchildren.

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2003

About the author

To see politcs Karen O'Connor

I’ve been writing, teaching and speaking for 40+ years and have authored books, magazine articles, blogs, educational texts, and digital books.
I got hooked on writing when my third grade teacher assigned students to write and illustrate a book for a class project. I knew then I wanted to be a ‘real’ writer some day and see a book of mine in a bookstore and in a library.
Every day I look forward to going to my desk. In recent years I’ve focused on writing humor for seniors, including the best-sellers, Help, Lord! I’m Having a Senior Moment and Gettin’ Old Ain’t For Wimps. Some of my books are now on CD, as well. And many titles are available for the Kindle. Please check out my Books page.
I also take great pleasure in helping others with their writing. Over the past 30 years I’ve taught for a variety of schools and conferences, including the University of California Adult Education, the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and currently for Bravewriter.com where I teach Write for Fun online for kids ten to fourteen.
I was honored to be named Writer of the Year for 1997 by the San Diego Christian Writers Guild, in 2002 I received the Special Recognition Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference for writing and mentoring, and in 2004 I accepted the International Reading Association Award for my article for children on Kurdish refugees published in Highlights for Children magazine.
If you’d like to explore what’s involved in writing professionally, I invite you to look into one of the many conferences available.
In addition to writing, teaching, and occasional speaking I am also a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and now a widow. My husband, Charles Flowers, passed away in 2015. Currently I live along the Central Coast of California, rich with farmland, foothills, forests and the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Reviews

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some good points about how to relate to stepchildren as individuals and build the relationship with them. I felt that many of the suggestions were common sense for people who have good people skills--ways to make memories and such. I did like the fact that they addressed some reoccurring themes seens with blended families and how to factor God's love into working with stepchildren.
Favorite quote: "Charles suggested we select as many treasure as our bookcase could artfully hold...but our heirlooms, many of them priceless to us, should be set out for our friends and family to enjoy..."