Conflict Resolution and Managing Family Stress

Submitted by: Shirley Cress Dudley The following is information about managing family stress. It’s from Debbie Lorence, University of Louisville’s Kentucky Autism Training Center, who gave a handout that I thought may help: Magical thinking and conflict resolution: I will try not to avoid conflict altogether: Instead, I will try to not let the little [...]

Top 10 Co-Parenting Tips For Divorced Parents

Submitted by: Shirley Cress Dudley Top 10 Co-Parenting Tips For Divorced Parents 1- Keep contact to a minimum One phone call a day is excessive, several text messages a day is extremely excessive.  If you have a subject related to the kids- speak briefly and clearly about your expectations.  Emails are better than phone calls, [...]

Time For Yourself in a Blended Family

Submitted by blended family expert, Shirley Cress Dudley Being a stepparent is tough.  Really tough. You want to keep your spouse happy, their kids happy, your kids happy (if you have some biological kids) and usually anyone else that comes within three feet of you happy. Admit it… you’re the one in the family that’s [...]

Planning Travel for the Holidays

Submitted by blended family expert, Shirley Cress Dudley Have you ever sat down, the week before Thanksgiving, and realized that no one talked about visitation?  You don’t know who’s staying with whom or what days you are celebrating holidays…it’s just crazy to not plan ahead! Coordinating the Schedules Planning your calendar makes life easier for [...]

Ex-spouse keeps changing the holiday schedule – what to do?

A Q&A with blended family expert, Shirley Cress Dudley A Blended Family Mom asks: We can’t plan our holidays because my husband’s ex-spouse keeps changing the visitation schedule.  We want to plan a vacation with all of our kids, but we can’t do it, unless we get definite visitation dates from my husband’s ex.   My [...]

Top Ten Signs of a Wicked Stepmother

Submitted by Shirley Cress Dudley 1.  You ask your husband to choose between you and his kids.  You see the kids as competition and you’re determined to win. 2.  You don’t know much about your stepkids You spend all of your time focusing on your own kids and your new husband and don’t see the [...]

Are You a Noncustodial Dad who is a Disney Dad?

Do you get nervous when it’s time for your child(ren) to visit? Do you want everything to be perfect and your child(ren) happy at all times? Do you try to make wonderful plans, over the top, AMAZING activities each time they come over? Do you ignore your spouse and other family members during the visit? [...]

Blending your Family through Photography and Scrapbooking

Blended families are sometimes tough to unite.  One day you are two separate families, and after a brief marriage ceremony, a few bites of cake… the next thing you know, you’re considered one family.  Well- at least on the outside. It’s difficult for adults and kids to get used to the newly blended family – [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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