I’ve watched the Brady Bunch to death, I admit it, OK?

I don’t know how many episodes of the show I’ve seen, or how often, but just enough to not really want to see it again.

But this post isn’t a review of the adventures of Marcia Brady, her siblings and step brothers.

Rather, it’s asking a question – do the blended families really work?

What Is A Blended Family?

 

A blended family in this case is made up of parents, one or both of whom have been previously married, and a combination of the offspring of those relationships blended into one family!

From my experience, even the best family can be hard work at times, and I imagine that blended families bring with them even more hard work.

Life can be hard enough getting along with one’s own siblings, let alone a step brother and/or a step sister!

Add step Mom or a step father, and we’re really pushing mud up hill, especially if the parents have gone through the trauma of divorce.

About Divorce And Children

 

I’m writing this article as a follow on to the one I wrote here about the effects of divorce on children

I’ve known a few blended families in my time, and I admire the effort that most of them have put in.

Do Blended Families Work?

 

Our kids are older now, off studying and working, living their lives.

When I look at the road we’ve traveled, I wonder how much harder it would have been had we been a blended family group?

Taking the time to be available to our kids, as a group, and as individuals took some doing at times.

Doing it as a step father, with another man’s kids would have been a challenge, especially as I would have had to make sure that there was room for him in the family group.

And then there would be making sure that I wasn’t favoring my own children over the step children.

I have seen mixed families work.

Lots of love, planning, tolerance and understanding were involved, and through the ups and downs they did work it out!

Child Custody And Blended Families

 

In the “real life” Brady Bunch I can see all sorts of problems in maintaining a normal routine, and organizing access visits for the non resident parent(s).

That’s apart from dealing with changes that may result from moving to another area such as new schools, different work routines and so on.

Love is spelled T-I-M-E

The only way that I can see a set up like this working is by giving each member the time and attention that they need.

To the Moms and Dads involved in melded families, I take my hat off to you.

Building a relationship with each other, and with each other’s kids takes a lot of time and effort.

I wish you all the best… now, how to get that song out of my head?

You know the one, “This is the story, of a man called…”

Author’s Note:

This post is a reflection of my own thoughts and experiences, and is not intended as a text book for families either in, or contemplating this situation.