Search Results for: blog the teenager and the blended family

Still A Part Of The Family

Recently I was reminded of what co parenting looks like when the entire extended family makes it work. Being a single mom I usually only look at things from my point of view but this weekend I got the chance to look at this as a relative instead of the single parent. My best friend’s son and his wife are divorced, their son is three. I think that Sarah and Tyler have done a wonderful job of co parenting their son. This little boy seems happy, well adjusted and well loved. When he is with us he is the apple … Continue reading →

What Makes A Family

Posted on by

My daughter used to be an only child. I’ve always felt a little guilty about that. Sometimes it made me sad that she didn’t have siblings. I have four siblings, two brothers and two sisters, they were the best part of growing up. Even though we drove each other crazy, they were always there for me. It made me sad that Hailey wouldn’t know that love. When Hailey turned 15 her Dad gave her a sister. It was a very hard time for Hailey, she had gotten used to being an only child, and she was definitely ok with being … Continue reading →

The Teenager and the Blended Family

Blended families can be complicated, and they definitely take some getting used to. It is normal to have growing pains. Some of the most difficult struggles a blended family can face is when there is a teenager involved. Not all teenagers are difficult, it is just a difficult age and sometimes that in itself can cause conflict in an already sticky situation. A teenager who is entering a blended family might be defensive, angry and defiant. While normal teenagers in any family can be this way, it can be escalated in a blended family. Teenagers need a little special handling … Continue reading →

He’s Got Her Wrapped Around His Little Finger!

Chase has been dating Amy, a 28 year old single mother, for over a year. Things are getting serious; they’ve even been batting around the “M” word. She is attractive, kind, funny, considerate, and they both love to fish and camp. In a nutshell, she’s everything he’s been looking for in a life partner…except for one little thing… a twenty-eight pound, 3 year old little thing, named Marcus. “Now don’t get me wrong, he’s really cute and everything” admits Chase, “but she jumps every time he cries! And I mean every time! He has totally got her wrapped around his … Continue reading →

Children Can Cause Problems

Children can be a great blessing, but they can also cause problems between you and your spouse if you are not careful. Children are very quick to pick up on ways to play one parent off against the other. It’s not just something that happens in a blended family but in any family. Talking to friends recently, one remarked that most of their arguments were about the children. Even in a couple there will be different ideas about what appropriate behavior is and what it is not. A lot of that might depend on the way you or your spouse … Continue reading →

Parenting – The Hardest Job Out

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs out. These days it is made even harder by so many marriages breaking up and ending in divorce and re-marriages that create blended families. The other reason parenting is hard these days is because there are more cases of both parents working outside the home. That need or perceived need for both parents to work leads to many problems, some of which Andrea touches on her blog. It leads to bored children and teenagers, with too much time on their hands and lack of supervision. Another factor is that parents have either by … Continue reading →

Finding Time For Yourself

Sometimes as a single parent it is difficult to find or make time for yourself. There isn’t anybody else to sit with the kids during homework time, or tuck them in bed at night. Single parents often feel as if they never get any time at all. It is important to rectify that as soon as possible, to prevent resentment from building. How do single parents find time for themselves? Early Riser/Night Owl Many single parents choose to wake an hour earlier than their children, or stay up a little later after their children have gone to sleep. This doesn’t … Continue reading →

Torn Between Two Worlds

When our children are younger, we single parents can have a bit more control over custody and visitation arrangements. During the holidays, many of us have very definite, written, court documents that state who will go where and for how long. As children get older, however, and start into adulthood–they no longer have someone making those decisions and choices for them and have to start making them on their own. It can be very difficult and painful for a child who feels like she is torn between two (or more) different worlds. I wrote earlier in the holiday season about … Continue reading →

Teaching Learning Disabled Kids To Read

Trying to teach a learning disabled child to read can be a frustrating experience. When our oldest came to us, he was a poor student. His report card read D’s and F’s across the board. He detested reading and refused to even try to enjoy anything involving the printed word. A big part of Randy’s aversion was his discomfort in doing it. He felt inferior because he had poor reading skills. He didn’t have a good foundation to build on; no one read to him as a child and he was never encouraged to read. He was never taken on … Continue reading →