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A Second Helping from Step Family Success
June 1, 2005

One Step At A Time: Breakfast First

Going From Throwing Stones To Stepping Stones

Sandy's Tip for June

What Are Your Pet's Tastes?


 

Going From Throwing Stones To Stepping Stones

Everyone who has been here knows that having a harmonious and functional TRADITIONAL family is sometimes difficult; achieving that with a blended family is even more challenging. Put a check next to issues you would like to see improved in your family and let us see where we stand!

  • Kids pitting birth parents against step parent.
  • Birth parents siding with birth children over steps.
  • Blended couple having trouble unifying parenting styles.
  • Ex-spouses adding fuel to a firey situation.
  • Jealousy issues between blended children.
  • Visitation and holiday issues.
  • Grandparents having difficulty with new family.
  • The mother name change problem.
  • Pets being integrated.
  • Preservation of the new marriage.
If you had to check three or more of these issues as being a problem in your family, you are not alone! Not only do you have one out of every two families in America on your side of the table, you have Step Family Success beside you waiting to assist! I invite you to allow me to offer a complimentary 20 minute session.

Find out more....


Greetings!

My youngest stepson told me that the one thing he missed when he moved out on his own was our family sitting down together to share meals.


  • Sandy's Tip for June
  • Your blended marriage (you and your new spouse) need to present a unified front concerning table manners as well as with any other issue. Chances are that meals and the way they were dealt with in the "old" family may have been different than the way they are with your new family. Whatever those rules used to be, the two of you parents need to decide what is important and then lay out the guidelines for the kids. Make sure that there is an equal division between them (duties being age appropriate of course) for dishwashing, clearing the table, setting the table, etc. What about asking to be excused from the table? Does that matter to either one of you? Whatever you two decide, bring it to the table in a unified front as soon as you can to prevent those stones from flying!

    Read on...
  • What Are Your Pet's Tastes?
  • Goldfish are one thing, but trying to move the new cat in with the old dog, or vice versa? That is a little bit like how your kids are getting along, huh? Fighting like cats and dogs!!! Hardy har, har, har. Not funny at all! Depending on the breed & socialization of a dog, canines really like, and have a healthy respect for cats. Some terrier breeds are notorious for having a "taste" for cats, so you will have to take that into account! If the dog likes to chase cats (what dog doesn't?), make sure it knows that is NOT allowed through words and tone. EVERY time it tries to chase. Cats however, are totally different animals. They don't tend to change home situations easily, and they don't often integrate easily into a house with another cat. Sad, but true. One thing you have to do is keep the cat indoors at the new house for a minimum of three days to let it know this is where you want it to stay. Another thing you should do is put your scent (cologne or perfume) on the new dog or cat, and on as many surfaces that the cat will come in contact with before he or she moves into the new house. A cat's olfactory sense is very keen, and your scent is familiar and comforting to him or her. Avoiding jealousy between animals is just like kids: pay an equal amount of attention to them. Keep all of the dog rules for all dogs, and all of the cat rules for all cats. Of course, feeding times should be consistent and they should all have their own feeding places established safely, fairly, and right away.

    Read on...
    phone: 910-315-1741


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