- 1). Give everyone in the new blended family space to adjust to the new situation and the new personalities. Do not expect to create a perfect, smiling family overnight as relationships take time to build.
- 2). Include the whole family, including the teenagers, in family decisions to promote cohesion and involvement. Consider establishing regular family meetings where everyone can discuss their feelings and concerns.
- 3). Set aside some family time each week so that everyone can get to know each other in a fun situation. This could be as simple as a games night or playing a sport together.
- 4). Give the biological parent the main disciplinary role initially. Once the new stepparent and teenagers have established a bond, the couple must then present a united front in terms of discipline and boundaries. All children, including teenagers, try to play one parent against the other to get their own way.
- 5). Accept attitude and mood swings while the teenagers adjust to the new blended family. With time the teenagers might thrive and flourish in the new setup.
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