Stepfamily Day In the United States, and perhaps in other countries as well, September 16 has been designated as ?œStepfamily Day?? A day dedicated to the stepfamily. A day to honor all the StepHeroes out there who choose every day to be parents to ALL the children in their lives. Stepparents But it doesn?™t need to be that way. Indeed, for lots of stepparents it isn?™t. Being a stepparent can be very rewarding and enjoyable. If the stepfamily functions well you get time with your partner when they?™re with their other parent. The Teenage Boy My biggest lesson from reading Raising Boys was that actually my teenage stepson' s behaviour was ?˜normal??in any family and it wasn?™t just because we are a stepfamily. Surviving the Step Family To survive and have a successful marriage is no easy task. Stir in children from a previous marriage, ex-spouses, ex-in-laws, and the extra baggage from previous relationships and you will realize just how different the stepfamily is. Each of these ingredients can bring with it a whole set of problems themselves that need to be dealt with. Resolutions There are support groups available to help stepfamilies. If there?™s no support group in your area, materials for starting one are available from the Stepfamily Association of America. Support groups are often available from therapists specializing in stepfamilies, and talking with a trained therapist or counselor can help you, your spouse and your children grow as a stepfamily and as individuals. Stepfamily Holiday If you have children coming to visit that don?™t usually live with you think though things that you can do to nurture yourself whilst they are there. Do you need to plan some time out with a friend, or perhaps you need to let your partner know that you plan to take a long hot bath one evening. Don?™t let yourself dwell in worry and concern. Think of all the positives you can do to make their stay as happy for you as possible. Development Process Every adult I speak too in a stepfamily who is having difficulties tells me they wished they?™d come to me sooner when they were planning blending families. They realise that discussing key things early would make life a lot easier later. As the old saying goes, failing to plan is just planning to fail. Rebuilding Your Life Jesus wasn?™t teaching, in the above passage from Matthew, chapter 5, that we are supposed to be wimps. On the contrary, it takes much more courage and character to answer an attack with an attempt to make peace. It is harder, but it is more rewarding. The Outsider Now, as The Stepfamily Coach I realise these to be all perfectly natural and normal emotions and part of the ?˜getting going??stage (See the Development Process Of A Stepfamily at www.thestepfamilycoach.com) of a new blended family. Be Heard So my partner and I decided to make a few subtle changes. Rather than something that we just wanted to get done and out of the way we made our dinner a more social experience.