5 Golden Rules for Grandparents in a Blended Family

You and your new spouse have married and blended your two families. Your parents are happy for you but unsure how to treat this new additions to the family. Here's a few golden rules to help them figure out how to respond to your newly blended family:

1- Treat every child the samer
Treat your step grandkids as if they were all your biological grandchildren. They are waiting and watching to see if you will be fair to all. If your biological grandchildren call you “grandmother”- then invite your new step grandchildren to call you “grandmother.” If you hug your grandchildren when you see them, then hug your step grandchildren, too.

Dispense with the “biological” and “step” labels as soon as you can. Even keeping these labels in your head may cause you to treat your grandchildren unequally.

2- Remember Special Daysr
Acknowledge birthdays, school events, and any other special activities of your new step grandkids. At the beginning of each year- mark all special events on the calendar. You may even want to purchase birthday cards, or gift cards- all at once. That way you are fair to all and don’t forget anyone.

Don’t forget your new daughter or son in law, too. Remembering them with a card on their birthday will help show your support for the marriage. Share information about your family history or family recipes, to help your daughter or son (by marriage) feel a part of your family.

3- Express interest in each childr
Make time to learn about your new step grandchildren: their activities, friends and hobbies. Figure out what makes each child unique. These endeavors will help you feel more comfortable around them, and help you get to know them.

4- Don’t reminisce about the Pastr
Your adult child has divorced and moved on to a new marriage. Recalling the good times in their old marriage is not going to help with blending the new marriage. Take the old wedding photos off the wall and put them away in a special album. It’s O.K. to keep these pictures, but do not display the old marriage partners on the wall for everyone to see when they visit you.

5-Listenr
When your adult child calls and wants to talk about their frustrating moments in their blended family, but don’t judge or say anything negative that you’ll regret later. It’s very difficult to blend a family and requires a lot of patience. Support your son or daughter as they try their best to be a good parent and spouse in this new blended family.

In conclusion- remember it’s your job to love all of your grandchildren and support your adult child and his/her spouse in their new blended family. It’s a little new and unfamiliar at first, but well worth your efforts. You will have the reward of a bigger family to love you back.

For more information, check out The Blended Family Advice Ebook, the instruction manual for blended or step families- by Shirley Cress Dudley, MA LPC