Father's Day, June 15, is just around the corner. It's a unique day when millions of dads are treated like kings and honored by their kids with expressions of love, respect and admiration.

We all know the importance of a father in a kid's life, and nowadays there are many different descriptors for dads; step dad, divorced dad, single dad, Mr Mom dad, gay dad. What they all have in common is an indelible impression on their kids' lives in terms of increased self-confidence, a strong sense of well-being, self-control, and success in school.

While a small percentage of deadbeat dads taint the reputation of the majority, we would hope that these absent dads could be present for their kids. But on top of that over 90% of dads believe that being a dad is one of the most fulfilling jobs they could have. In celebration of Father's Day, we offer some insight into two of the most common blended family dads: the step dad and the divorced dad.

Step Dads

There may be a lot of confusion about the role of step dad because even though, as male head of the household, he has crucial financial and physical responsibilities, he cannot take for granted that he has those same rights and responsibilities over his step kids. He's not the birth dad and that difference often causes tension, especially when he cares about being a supportive husband and provider.

Conflict may arise in any number of ways:

1) the kids may resist his influence because they feel so close to their birth dad;

2) Mom may feel he's too hard on her kids, picking on her parenting skills, or unbalanced in his treatment of her kids and his own; or

3) he may feel animosity and resentment about his wife being disrespected by her kids or by being ignored or discounted himself.

No matter how you slice it, these circumstances result in friction in the home and altercations between the couple. Issues like these are the major reasons for second marriages failing at a higher rate than first marriages.

Following are some fundamental guidelines for step dads who may be working hard to establish their rightful place with their step kids:

1. Keep in mind that your job is to support your wife in parenting as a mentor, coach, or friendly uncle. Take it slowly, and over time, when mutual trust and respect has built up, you may develop a stronger, more active role with everyone's support.

2. Focus on being on the same page as a couple, which means not only being affectionate and respecting each other, but communicating clearly about household responsibilities, family budget, rules of behavior, forms of discipline, and the role you play in backing up your wife. Her assignment is to define boundaries for behavior and follow through on consequences, and your role is to support her and remind the kids what their mother asks of them. A weekly Family Meeting is a helpful way of establishing rules and getting problematic issues on the table for discussion and resolution.

3. Be aware of unrealistic expectations by reading and learning about what it means to be an effective step dad. And, remember, it takes a lot of time, patience, understanding and sensitivity to help the family move towards mutual affection, trust and connectedness.

4. Consider an enlightening coaching session with a knowledgeable blended-family coach to help the step dad in your family cope with some of the issues and challenges he may be facing.

Divorced Dads

Father's Day for some divorced dads is not a very happy occasion, especially if they are removed from their kids physically or emotionally.

There are many reasons why divorced dads feel pushed to the side and are apparently unwanted in their child's lives: geographical distance because of work, remarriage, or divorce poison where the children's mother has carefully alienated the kids from their father with the intention of completely removing him from their lives.

Dads may feel disheartened but they should always remember just how important they are as they guide, teach, and show love and support to their kids, even if it is long distance.

Following are some basic guidelines for Divorced Dads:

1.Try to create a working relationship with your child's mother for the sake of the children. Agree on a visitation plan and a co-parenting plan. Kids are more interested in you getting along so they can enjoy both their parents, without worrying about your specific issues with each other.

2.Kids thrive on structure. The most effective way to create consistency is to agree on a parenting style with mom and try to do the same at your house. If that's impossible, establish your own rules and expectations of behavior and admit that, even though they are different from their mother's, they are still vital.

3. Resist being Uncle Dad or Disney Dad with non-existent boundaries, and inconsistent discipline; this teaches the kids to believe you are a peer and best friend and not a responsible parent guiding a child. Uncle Dad parenting results in lack of respect, emotional blackmail, and eventually, kids who have behavioral problems, because they have no respect for authority.

4. Consider a very helpful professional coaching session with a blended-family counselor who may help you acquire new insight on problems that you face.

For dads dealing with the agony of parental alienation or Divorce Poison, you may want to listen to best selling author and parental alienation authority, Dr Richard Warshak, at http://www.Blended-Families.com/richard-warshak.