07.21.09
Seven Years to Blend? Yup!
Reports about it taking seven years to blend a stepfamily are shockingly accurate. Stepmom Paula Bisacre writes in the Washington Times:
In our earlier years, stepparents with whom we spoke were in one of two camps. In the first camp were people just like us who were married for less than seven years and who wondered sometimes how they ever would get through stepfamily challenges successfully. The second camp was comprised of couples who had been happily remarried for more than 15 years with children that had all grown up and moved out. Campers from this second group calmly and knowingly said, “Just give it time. Be patient. And, keep your sense of humor.” There were a couple of days when more than a few of us in the first camp, including me, heard this and just wanted to roll up their tent and go home. Wasn’t there anyone in between?
For many stepfamilies, it’s a long road to feeling settled.
SaraLime said,
August 14, 2009 at 11:20 am
Your writings have saved me!! I found your “Stepmom friends” 2 nights ago when I was up thinking about how hard all this is…
I am a childless stepmom to 2 boys from 2 different mothers, double the headache and double the trouble!
I am about 8 years younger than all the parents and get the shit (sorry for language) end of the stick ALL the time. Im running low on energy…
3 years of this now and Im pretty sure I will NEVER be okay with the “extended family”
However, your writings are a blessing and calming source of relief for me…
Thank you…
Diana Keough said,
December 21, 2009 at 3:51 pm
This is such an encouraging blog for blended families, and families going through the strains of finding out how to get along with each other! I have added a Blended Families community on my website, shareWIK (share What I Know) and would love your input! ShareWIK is an online community bringing together people of all areas of expertise so that they can share what they know. Keep up the great work, and we would love to hear from you!