The Bonus Family Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Co-Parenting and Creating Stronger Families

by Jann Blackstone

The definitive guidebook for today’s integrated families Imagine you’re in a heated argument. Your kids have decided that they don’t want to go back to your ex’s home, and your ex isn’t having it. Meanwhile, your new partner is squirming uncomfortably in the other room. What do you do? How do you stop the madness and come together to find the best solution for everyone? The Bonus Family Handbook introduces readers to a completely new approach to co-parenting and blending families. Until now, parents have been told that once there’s been a break-up, they become autonomous, single parents, and can make decisions for their children on their own. But that’s not true. That’s not real life. That “old school” break-up attitude offers no direction for co-parenting. The Bonus Family Handbook changes all that. It helps even the most contentious parents learn how to work together in the name of their children, teaching them how to apply practical co-parenting techniques so that they will be able to form a supportive, loving family. The Bonus Family Handbook also recognizes the importance of incorporating new partners into the mix—of bringing in Bonus Moms and Bonus Dads—and empowering them to make decisions for the safety and well-being of the children. With its emphasis on positive, collaborative co-parenting, this book is an essential resource for today’s integrated families.

384 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight into a goal for all stepparents /co-parents /new partners. The advice is consistent with the message put the child(ren) first. The acronym CARE is applied throughout the book, standing for Communication, Acceptance, Respect, and Empathy.

This approach gets applied to a variety of situations and hones in on how parents, co-parents, and step-parents can all show up to be the best for their kids, and the repercussions of not doing so. The goal to go beyond stepfamilies and become bonus families.

I wish it had dug deeper into when one side of a child's biological parents are resistant to changing their behavior, as the presumption of the book focuses on when all the parents are trying to be on the same page, or at least the same book.

[Jordyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a bonus mom this book gave me so many new insights and reflection points to apply to my life.