Step families and second marriages are more common today than ever before. Over 65% of Americans are a stepparent, a stepchild, a stepsibling or a step-grandparent.  This means that most of us will experience the challenges around being in a step family at some point in our life.

     Experts have been predicting for decades that by 2010, there would be more step-families in America than traditional families, and we are almost there. The latest statistics show 46% of weddings taking place in the United States today, are the creation of a step family. This means there are more than 2100 new step families created every day.

      Experts agree the one way to beat the odds is to get educated about step parenting and blending families. Studies have shown that pre-marital education of some kind can reduce the divorce rate by up to 30%. Couples, who seek out professional help and education about re-marriage, are more satisfied with their relationships and stay together longer.

Coach Kim recommends the following resources:

Books:

Step Parenting - Everything you need to know to make it work - by.Jeanette Lofas

The Smart Stepfamily By Ron L. Dean (a christian publication)

Websites:

National Stepfamily Resource Center

Successful Stepfamilies Website

Claritypoint Coaching

The goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together.
~Robert C. Dodds