Blended Families

Unlike what we may have seen on “The Brady Bunch,” it takes more than one thirty-minute episode to solve the challenges of a blended family. Even though blended families are becoming a more common family structure, making them work well remains a real challenge due to the logistics and emotional landmines that are part of merging two homes into one.

Make Your Marriage a Priority

In a blended family, it's tempting to shift your primary focus to your kids. But the Bible describes marriage as "two becoming one" (Genesis 2:24). Keep your marriage a priority by maintaining clear lines of communication and working together as a team.

• Set a regular date night at least twice a month.
• Take a weekend trip.
• Pray Together.

Engage Both Parents

Children need parents to lead and guide them. Both parents in a stepfamily need to work together, include each other, and communicate regularly about discipline decisions.

• Spend intentional time with each child. Be creative!
• Communicate with each other on a regular basis.
• Strive towards unity with all parents.

Allow God to Redeem Your Story

In Joel 2:25, God says, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." Every blended family brings with it the hope that difficult chapters of the past can be followed by better days.

• Commit to regularly attending church together to help build a strong spiritual foundation for your family.
• Trust God to rebuild relationships, heal wounds, and lead your family.