The Smart Stepfamily {Review}

Do you have step-children? Or maybe you’re going to in the near future? I know from experience how difficult this can be for families; and so does the author Ron L. Deal who has released an updated version of his best-selling book, The Smart Stepfamily, Revised and Expanded Edition: Seven Steps to a Healthy Family.

As a child, both of my parents remarried and I had step-siblings on both sides as a result. I can recall some of the issues that came up between my parent and step-parent or even my parent and the “new” spouse! Luckily, nothing major was said or done in front of me, but I know that’s not always the case for some families.

It can be a tricky situation, especially depending on the ages of the children and if it’s going to be a blended family or if only one person had children prior to the marriage. Communication is key! Not one strategy will work for everyone; even within the same household!

I know the biggest issue for my two families was how do we keep the family traditions alive but create new ones without disrespect or hurt feelings?

I think this book, The Smart Stepfamily, addresses many major issues that can haunt a family for years. It is written with a Christian faith-based family in mind, and uses biblical references throughout. The author offers encouragement and words of wisdom along with some humor so while it’s a serious topic, it’s not all negative and heavy.

Here is more information about the book from the publisher:

When stepfamily life gets tough, remaining dedicated to your commitment is a day-to-day decision.

In The Smart Stepfamily, leading expert Ron L. Deal reveals the seven fundamental steps to blended family success and provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues you face as a stepfamily. Whether married or soon-to-be married, you’ll discover how to communicate effectively and solve the everyday puzzles of stepchildren relationships. This revised and expanded edition has updated research and two new chapters with more real-world advice on stepsibling relationships and later-life stepfamilies.

• Recognize the unique personality and place of each family member
• Solve the everyday puzzles of step parenting and stepchildren relationships
• Learn communication skills to deal with ex-spouses
• Honor families of origin while developing new traditions
• Invest the time to grow their stepfamily slowly rather than look for instant results

Interested in picking up this book for yourself? You can purchase a copy at Amazon.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my fair and honest review; all opinions are honest and completely my own.