Article by: Trisha and Rachel, Stepping Through
Photo Credit: Stepping Through
Want your stepfamily to succeed? Then, make sure you suck at blending.
‘To blend’ means to mix one thing with another until they are combined. ‘Blended’ conjures up images of the best banana smoothie you’ve ever tasted – with all the ingredients combined together in perfect taste-bud tantalising harmony. But successful stepfamilies know they may react more like a vinaigrette than a smoothie. With effort, oil and vinegar come together to enhance the taste of any green salad, but when left to settle they maintain their original identities forming individual but connected layers.
Trying to be a smoothie when you’re actually a vinaigrette can only lead to confusion, disappointment, frustration and – even worse – feelings of failure.
The reality is the term ‘blended family’ has no place in stepfamily life. ‘Blended’ in its true sense is not only unachievable but also extremely limiting for stepfamilies. In fact, avoiding the whole notion of blending is a sure fire way to help your stepfamily succeed.
Photo Credit: Stepping Through
Want your stepfamily to succeed? Then, make sure you suck at blending.
‘To blend’ means to mix one thing with another until they are combined. ‘Blended’ conjures up images of the best banana smoothie you’ve ever tasted – with all the ingredients combined together in perfect taste-bud tantalising harmony. But successful stepfamilies know they may react more like a vinaigrette than a smoothie. With effort, oil and vinegar come together to enhance the taste of any green salad, but when left to settle they maintain their original identities forming individual but connected layers.
Trying to be a smoothie when you’re actually a vinaigrette can only lead to confusion, disappointment, frustration and – even worse – feelings of failure.
The reality is the term ‘blended family’ has no place in stepfamily life. ‘Blended’ in its true sense is not only unachievable but also extremely limiting for stepfamilies. In fact, avoiding the whole notion of blending is a sure fire way to help your stepfamily succeed.
Stop blending and start your family.
The bottom line is that forcing or expecting yourself, your partner and the kids to ‘blend’ is not going to get any of you anywhere but down the long road of resentment. In fact, Wednesday Martin, PhD and author of the book ‘Stepmonster’ believes ‘failing to blend’ is essential for developing positive stepfamily relationships. This is because in failing to blend you aren’t trying to change yourself, your partner or the kids into something new and perfect. Nor are you trying to replicate a first family. Failing to blend let’s you focus your energy on creating a stepfamily and life you love!
How can you make sure you suck at blending?
By sucking at blending you are choosing to create a stepfamily that marches to the beat of its own drum. You give yourself permission to get rid of others’ expectations about what your family ‘should’ look like so you can create the amazing family you know you can be!
Rachel and Trisha-Stepping Through started as co-workers 12 years ago and fast became friends. Having originated in New Zealand and the States, they have both created a home and a family in Australia. They both studied psychology and have extensive experience in the private and public sectors working with children and families. Trisha has a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology. Rachel has a Masters Degree (Social Science) majoring in Psychology and Behaviour Analysis, Post Graduate Certificate in Social Health and is a nationally registered psychologist in Australia.
Rachel and Trisha have celebrated some wonderfully happy and also devastatingly sad life events during the past decade of their friendship. Their stories involve divorce, re-partnering and children. They are excited to share their experiences, qualifications, friendship and sense of humour with repartnered couples in Australia and around the world.
The bottom line is that forcing or expecting yourself, your partner and the kids to ‘blend’ is not going to get any of you anywhere but down the long road of resentment. In fact, Wednesday Martin, PhD and author of the book ‘Stepmonster’ believes ‘failing to blend’ is essential for developing positive stepfamily relationships. This is because in failing to blend you aren’t trying to change yourself, your partner or the kids into something new and perfect. Nor are you trying to replicate a first family. Failing to blend let’s you focus your energy on creating a stepfamily and life you love!
How can you make sure you suck at blending?
- Spend time getting to know each member of your stepfamily individually
- Limit expectations – don’t expect love and kisses all around or even at all
- Really listen and do your best to understand what motivates and makes each member of your family ‘tick’
- Accept and celebrate each family member’s unique differences at every opportunity.
By sucking at blending you are choosing to create a stepfamily that marches to the beat of its own drum. You give yourself permission to get rid of others’ expectations about what your family ‘should’ look like so you can create the amazing family you know you can be!
Rachel and Trisha-Stepping Through started as co-workers 12 years ago and fast became friends. Having originated in New Zealand and the States, they have both created a home and a family in Australia. They both studied psychology and have extensive experience in the private and public sectors working with children and families. Trisha has a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology. Rachel has a Masters Degree (Social Science) majoring in Psychology and Behaviour Analysis, Post Graduate Certificate in Social Health and is a nationally registered psychologist in Australia.
Rachel and Trisha have celebrated some wonderfully happy and also devastatingly sad life events during the past decade of their friendship. Their stories involve divorce, re-partnering and children. They are excited to share their experiences, qualifications, friendship and sense of humour with repartnered couples in Australia and around the world.