231 | Blended Family Rules: Merging Parenting Styles Without Losing Your Sanity

Show Notes:

In this episode of Fulfillment Therapy, we tackle the unspoken challenges of blending families—identity shifts, loyalty binds, and clashing parenting cultures—through real-life stories and expert insights. Learn why stepfamilies take 5–7 years to harmonize, how to use “we” language to defuse conflict, and why creating new traditions (like “Fusion Fridays”) can bridge divides. Learn therapist-approved actionable strategies for stepparents feeling like outsiders, bio-parents navigating co-parenting tension, and kids caught in the middle!

Enjoy!

-Kendra

 

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Quotes:

 "Stepfamilies aren't broken—they're just wired differently. It's like assembling IKEA furniture without the instructions." — Dr. Ann Kelley

 "In blended families, love grows sideways before it grows deep. Start with respect, not affection." — Ron Deal

"Step-parenting is like gardening: You till the soil before planting seeds. Rushing ruins the harvest." — Sue Marriott