The challenges and rewards of Step Parenting
When two fragmented families join together, there are a lot of issues that mostly concern the kids. Step parenting and building a new family with remnants from the old is tough - tough for the children involved and tougher for the parents who try so hard. You see, step parenting is just like a dance, but a delicate one. It takes time and great efforts to get the rhythm right.
The most important value in step parenting is harmony, harmony amongst the children and their supposed parent. Stepfamilies may be composed of two, three, four, sometimes even more members, making it harder for everyone to be concord with one another. Successful parenting within your own homes is the key principle to make step parenting a success as well. And the two most vital relationships in any stepfamily are the stepparent-stepchildren relationship and the new couple's marriage.
The couple's marriage is the most essential aspect of step parenting. The marriage should be strong, strong enough to endure tons of pressures that a stepfamily may face. The relationship between the couple will serve as the backbone to the stability of the new family. Almost as important as the relationship between the couple is the infamous relationship of the stepparent and the stepchildren. The stepparent's role in the newly established family is substantial because it considerably affects the stress level that the children is and will have. The better the harmony between the stepparent and the children is, the lesser stress it is for all. This will in time lead to better relationship with your spouse.
However, there are still quite a few misconceptions about step parenting. There is the assumption that step parenting is the sole responsibility of the stepparent and him or her alone. This should not be the case, step parenting should always be a two-person task otherwise it will cause eventual conflict in the marriage. Both the stepparent and the biological parent must work and complement one another. They should work out each roles and play to each other's strengths. Both parents should also have unified goals and everyone must try to work together as a team.
Step parenting may be hard but is it doable. You have to remember that building up a family for the first few years will be hard, more so in a stepfamily. It will take more exertion of effort and more time. Do not rush, as things will be better off if you let time takes its course.
