TRADITIONAL COUPLING:
“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” the expression goes.
Simple: Learn how to cook.
STEPCOUPLING:
“The way to their hearts is through the children”.
Not so simple: Learn how to build positive and genuine relationships with the stepchildren.
It takes emotional maturity and a deep commitment to pull this off. It can’t be fake or phony. Both adults should ask serious questions of each other and share concerns as early as possible. If there’s enough maturity, love and support in the relationship to care for and care about each other’s children, prognosis is good for healthy stepcoupling.
What’s your prognosis?
Susan Wisdom LPC
January 2008