Do You See His ‘Potential’ or Who He REALLY Is?

Submitted by Delaine
It’s been three and a half years since my ex-husband and I split up.  And since then, despite the many dates and mini-relationships I’ve had, I’m still single.  But I don’t think of this as being a ‘bad’ thing ; I think I’ve needed this time – to heal, to grow, to like myself more…and to get a [...]

House Hunting for the Blended Family

Submitted by Shirley Cress Dudley
Budget
Discuss with your future spouse the ideal budget for a new home.  Make sure you choose a range that you can afford.  Try to keep your house payments to 25% of your income (33% at the very most.)  You may have two houses that need selling.  Make sure at least one [...]

Grandparent’s Golden Rules for Blended and Step Families

Submitted by Shirley Cress Dudley
You and your new love have decided to blend your families.  Now it’s time to help your Mom and Dad with some tips on how to respond to your newly blended family.
1- Treat all children the equally and fairly
Treat your step grandkids as if they were all your biological grandchildren.  They [...]

Blended Family Vacations – How to be Successful

Submitted by Shirley Cress Dudley
You and your new spouse/boyfriend are wondering what to do about a vacation… 
Do you have the fantastic idea of taking your newly blended family on a three-week car ride all around the United States?
Uh oh… maybe you haven’t thought this through.                       
Your spouse/boyfriend is asking if maybe we should just take separate [...]

Sex vs Lovemaking – Why Are we so Confused?

Submitted by: Big Little Wolf
Did you get lucky this week?
Or should I say, did you score? Did you hook up? Or are you more comfortable if I ask if you made love?
Whatever you call it, great sex is great sex, right? Not exactly? Then do our distinctions in terminology serve us, or complicate matters?
When it [...]

How to Attract a Man and Keep Him Coming Back for More

Wondering how to attract a man and keep him coming back for more?
It’s easier than it sounds. You don’t have to speak a foreign language, live in a loft in a trendy neighborhood, drive a hybrid, or down tequila shots without flinching. You don’t have to be anything but yourself.
The key to attracting a man [...]

Top Ten Signs You Have A Successful Blended Family

Submitted by Shirley Cress Dudley
1- You and your spouse have clear house rules that apply to all blended family members
Yes, this means that house rules don’t change when you are tired, or your spouse is out of town.  Both biological children and stepchildren all follow the same rules.  It really does help when the parents [...]

LUST: Damned if You Give Into it, Damned if You Don’t

Submitted by Delaine
As my divorced girlfriend Amy told me about a recent first date she went on, she was practically squealing.  For not only was her date smart, funny and gentlemanly, she was very sexually attracted to him.  “I kept having to tell myself to stop staring at his lips,” she laughed.  “My mind kept flashing with scenes of us getting naked!”  [...]

Turning The Kids Against The Ex

Submitted by Shirley Cress Dudley
When parents get divorced, sometimes the divorce is less than amiable.  Parents may carry resentment and anger.  Unfortunately, sometimes those negative thoughts are communicated to our children.
I regularly hear from stepfamilies that have been told by their children that Mom (or Dad) doesn’t love them anymore or that their new [...]

Discipline In The Blended Family

Submitted by Shirley Cress Dudley
Frequently, people ask me if their disciplinary methods should be different in a blended family.  Your kids have been through the separation of their parents…then a divorce…and now a new marriage/cohabilation arrangement that comes with a blended family.  You wonder, shouldn’t I just give my kids a break and loosen up on [...]

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