Thriving as a Blended Family - Part 2 with Guest Ron Deal

The dynamics of being a stepparent can be tricky. A new stepdad or stepmom in the home can often be a reminder that a child’s biological mom or dad is absent. On today’s Family Talk, Ron Deal, author of the best-selling book, The Smart Stepfamily, explains that there are two keys to successful step-parenting. First, connect with the child to let him know you are understanding of his emotions concerning the turmoil. Second, do not attempt to “erase and replace” the biological parent. Like God, who lovingly and patiently pursues all of us, stepparents should do the same with their stepchildren.

About Today's Guest: Ron Deal
Ron Deal is a licensed marriage and family therapist, podcaster and conference speaker. He is also an author who has published several books, including Building Love Together in Blended Families, The Smart Stepfamily and Preparing to Blend. He is the director of FamilyLife Blended and the founder of Smart Stepfamilies. He specializes in both marriage enrichment and stepfamily education, and has been featured in publications including The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. Ron has been happily married to his wife, Nan, since 1986, and together they are the proud parents of Braden, Connor, and Brennen. Ron and Nan live in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Resources Mentioned:
Preparing to Blend: The Couple’s Guide to Becoming A Smart Stepfamily book by Ron Deal
http://Rondeal.org
FamilyLife Blended - https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/
Smart Stepfamilies Website - https://smartstepfamilies.com/
Digital Family Map (Blending.love) - https://blending.love/

For more information and to connect with all resources mentioned – http://drjamesdobson.org/broadcast/2021-11-17

Family Talk Station Finder – http://bit.ly/FYT_StationFinder

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