April 2011 Newsletter for Blended and Step Families

In this month’s Newsletter:

• Special issues:  blended families with adult children
• Reunion after 62 years
• The winner of the Baby Codes book!
• Contest- 3 free trial of Divorce Communications

Blended families with adult children

I have heard recently from several blended families with adult children. . It’s interesting- when our kids are young, we believe it’s so difficult- and we can’t wait until they are older. We just wait for the day for when all the kids are out of the house, and our blended family will be simple again.  But once the kids get older- it’s just a different set of issues.

I have seen adult children (even in their 40’s and 50’s) get highly upset when their mom or dad remarries.  Blending a family is difficult for children of all ages.   Here are some articles on particular topics about blended and step families with adult children:

• Children who don’t want to share the holidays with their stepsiblings
• Adult children coming home to the blended family
• Attending a stepfamily member’s funeral

Reunion after 62 years

I found this amazing video about 81 year old sweethearts, united after 62 years. It’s worth the 6 minutes of your time to watch this humorous and inspiring video.  What they don’t mention, as the daughter pushes the wheelchair of her 81 year old mom, as she goes to the airport to greet her old sweetheart, is they are going to become a blended family- at 81 years old.  Take a few minutes and watch it, it will definitely put a smile on your face.  Here’s the link:  look at the bottom of the page, on the left- for the video.

Winner of the Baby Codes Book!

Thank you for sending in your blended family baby photos and stories of how a baby helped blended your family.  The winner of the book, Baby Codes:  101 winning combinations to help your baby sleep by Kevin Mills is Cristina Sneed.  Congratulations to Cristina, and thank you to everyone who participated in our February contest.

This month’s contest- 3 month trial to Divorce Communications

Divorce Communications is an online tool, all inclusive tool that eliminates the stress and emotions around shared parenting. Here are some of the features: 

• Send/receive and track messages between you and your ex
• Give access to a third party
• Create a shared calendar of children’s activities
• Helps remove the strain of shared parenting
• Use the Money Matters Financial Center to post expenses, pay bills

How to enter the contest for 3 month trial to Divorce Communications:  Send a your name and "Divorce Communications Contest" Shirley@BlendedFamilyAdvice. One name will be drawn and winner will be announced on Facebook, Twitter (MarriageNFamily) and in next month’s newsletter.  Contest ends April 18^th.

Talk to you again soon!

Shirley 

Shirley Cress Dudley, MA LPC NCC FACMPE

Director of The Blended and Step Family Resource Center, Charlotte North Carolina

Shirley@BlendedFamilyAdvice.com

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