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Keeping the peace in a blended family can be precarious.
Now herrelationshipwith her daughter is at risk.
This is an issue for Laura because Emily never buys her lunch or shares with her.
When OP asked her about this, Emily said her friends pay her back, while Laura cant.
OP called her ex again and told him to stop giving Emily lunch money.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, 1300 new stepfamilies are formed in the US each day.
Thats a lot of adjustment.
Segal suggests some tips for strengthening your relationship with your stepkids.
For example, let your stepchild set the pace and dont rush the relationships.
Another tip is using new routines and rituals to bond.
The reason why second marriages often fail when there are kids involved is because of blended family dynamics.
They can be extremely difficult and take people by surprise, says psychologist and clinical director Lisa Marie Bobby.
Bobby provides some tips for creating a successful blended family.
Get very, very clear about the boundaries of your role in the family, she says.
Learning what those are as early as possible can minimize friction later.
Next, take a stab at recognize your place as the stepparent.
A stepparent should be a friendly adult to their stepchildren, not an additional parent, Bobby says.
Part of this is knowing that you dont have a say in these kids lives.
Do not have the expectation that you have parental authority, Bobby says.
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