40. Uncover the unspoken feelings of kids in blended families [Special Resource: In Their Shoes]

Have you ever been confused by your kids or step-kids?  

Maybe it feels like they just don't like their step-parent.  Maybe they give the silent treatment or cop an attitude.  You want to be understanding, but it's just so frustrating!

Part of that frustration might actually be misunderstanding.  It's hard for your kids to see life from your perspective — and the opposite is true too. It can be challenging to put ourselves in our kid's shoes.

That's where Lauren Reitsema comes in and we're sharing about her book In Their Shoes in this episode.

Lauren is a child of divorce and became a step-child after both her parents remarried.  Through her profession in communication as well as her personal experience growing up in a blended family, Lauren is able to uncover the unspoken feelings of children living in a blended family dynamic.

We'll be highlighting one concept from the book called 'Step-Parentification', which is an easy pitfall we can inadvertently fall into.  We'll explore how to avoid this unproductive approach with our kids and offer Lauren's practical tips for stepparents to thrive, even while feeling rejected, hurt and disappointed.

Seeing things from your kids perspective can make a big difference in your blended family.  True understanding will impact your kid's well-being and also help you to feel more grounded — even when things seem to be taking a downward spiral.   

You'll Discover:

• Why it's important to look at the kid's 'bigger story', not just their behavior
• Why step-kids can seem insensitive and self-centered
• Why a step-parent's attempts to acknowledge a step-child often goes unreciprocated
• What is 'step-parentification' and how does it negatively impact the kids
• 3 healthy ways for stepparents to manage their own hurts and emotions
• Why Lauren's book 'In Their Shoes' is a must-read resource for you

Resources from this Episode:

• Episode 39 — How to Create Strong Bonds with Resistant Step-Kids
• Episode 37 — Why do Kids Struggle to Accept Their Stepparent?
• Episode 34 — How to Avoid Mother's Day Disappointment
• Get the Book:  In Their Shoes:  Helping Parents Better Understand and Connect with Children of Divorce 

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