If you have gone through the legal process of divorce, moved your children to a new home and restarted your life with a new partner or spouse, it may seem like the hard part is over. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Following a period of such significant change, your children may have difficulty adjusting to their new life and family, especially when that new family contains step-siblings.
In such an emotionally-charged situation, how can parents diffuse step-sibling rivalry? Below are a few tips for promoting harmony in your new family.
- Be proactive. Sit down with all members of your new family and come up with house rules, and follow up to ensure that everyone is following them. Don't want for an issue or disagreement to arise before you set expectations.
- Stay out of it. Don't always swoop in to settle an argument or fight between step-siblings, but give them the power and the space to work it out themselves. This will give them a greater understanding of one another and, in the end, a closer connection.
- Protect possessions. As the children are adjusting to sharing a home with their new step-siblings, they can become fiercely protective of toys, clothing and other personal belongings. This can be a good thing. Allowing each child to have something that is uniquely theirs often makes the transition to a new family feel much less traumatic for them.
- Seek support. Step-sibling rivalry can be just as hard on the parents as it is on the kids, if not more so. Turn to friends or counselors for resources or simply someone to lean on.
Source: Circle of Moms, "5 Ways to Help Step or Half Siblings Get Along," Mary Beth Sammons, July 5, 2012
At our Columbus family law firm, we help our clients through divorce, child custody and related disputes. To learn more, please visit our child custody page.
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