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Shirley Cress Dudley offers 50 minute coaching sessions.  These sessions are held by telephone, and are $95 prepaid.

Coaching is different from counseling.  Coaching is more direct, and less intensive than face-to-face counseling.  Counseling also may extend for months or even years.  Coaching is short term, and can be from 2-12 sessions, depending on the particular topic and need.

Each one-hour session includes:

• Initial email to Shirley describing your issues and concerns, and also available times for the session
• Response email from Shirley confirming the day and time of the telephone appointment
• One 50 minute session of coaching (parents, stepparents and caregivers are welcome in this telephone session)
• Follow up email from Shirley, with a summary of the telephone call and more helpful information and resources

If you have questions about the coaching process, you can contact Shirley Cress Dudley at-  Shirley@BlendedFamilyAdvice to see if your issues are appropriate for telephone coaching.

Email Shirley now, to schedule your coaching session.

Blended & Step Family Newsletter, August 8, 2009

In this Issue:

• Guest Author section- lots of new articles and reader's contributions
• Advice from Teens to Teens
• Getting ready for school

Guest Author Section

I've invited several authors from similar websites and organizations to write articles for the site.  There's a lot of new information for you to enjoy:

• ·Conflict Resolution and Managing Stress submitted by Sandy Knollman
• ·How to Better Communicate with my Ex  -Written by Richard "RJ" Jaramillo
• ·Mother and Daughter's Relationship - Written by Shari Dabby of Better Way Moms
• 5 Rules for Divorced Dads- written by Paul Banas
• 10 tips to Help Divorced Men be Better Dads-also written by Paul Banas

There are also several other reader contributions:

• Debbie Barth tells about her blended family in a video
• Rob Britt talks about the early days in his blended family
• Polly from Australia suggested a blended family song (by Phil Collins) and we have a couple of Step Mom videos, from the movie, posted on the site.

Advice from Teens

When a couple marries and a blended family is formed, the kids have a tough time, especially teenagers.  Teens can't see through their pain and self-centered focus enough to help themselves or even communicate their needs.

I received an email from a young lady who found me on Twitter. She wanted to tell me about her experiences as a teenager in a newly blended family.  Her thoughts were so profound and helpful, that I thought other teens might want to contribute their comments.

Check out this new section for Teens.  We will continue to add advice and comments from other teens as they are received. If you have a teen that would like to send us their experiences, advice and comments, send an email to Shirley@BlendedFamilyAdvice.com  If you are still struggling with your blended family, check out more information about Blended Family ebook.

Getting Ready for School

Summer is almost over and it's time to get ready for school.  If your family is like mine, there are kids in/out of the house at various times, going to several different schools. 

Here are some tips that may help with the overall confusion:

Buy a large calendar and a package of markers

• Assign each child a different colored marker
• Mark all school holidays, teacher work days, exam schedule, etc. - for each child in their color marker
• Circle and label all birthdays, anniversaries and other special events
• Have your children check the calendar and add other special events
• Mark visitation schedules in the various colors

I hope these tips will help organize your schedules and reduce some of the confusion of a blended family schedule!

Talk with you again soon. Send me your comments, suggestions, and blended family experiences.

Shirley Cress Dudley

Shirley@BlendedFamilyAdvice.com

Follow us on Twitter at BlendedFamily4U (We have over 18,000 followers!!)

If you enjoy this newsletter and know someone who would benefit by reading it, forward this email to them.

Quick Links

Main Blended Family Website: http://www.blendedfamilyadvice.com

Articles: http://www.blendedfamilyadvice.com/freearticlesandadvice

Reader Contributions:  http://www.blendedfamilyadvice.com/readercontributions

Contact Information

Email:  Shirley@BlendedFamilyAdvice.com

Web:   http://www.BlendedFamilyAdvice.com