All the latest news and updates for the National Stepfamily Awareness Day
26th July 2006
To celebrate National Stepfamily Awareness Day (Sunday 30th July), the Child
Support Agency today launched a new booklet to support separated parents. Me
and My Changing Family is the latest addition to the Me and My
series of booklets for separated parents. It's full of helpful tips and hints on
how to build healthy relationships after separation.
Navigating the highs and lows of stepfamily life can be hard for everyone
involved—parents, new partners, kids and the extended family—but it's not an
uncommon experience. Separation and re-partnering is relatively common and it's
estimated that one in four Australian families is a re-partnered family.
Knowing what challenges lie ahead and how re-partnered families are different
can take away some of the mystery and help people in this situation realise that
their family situation is still normal and can be a rewarding experience too.
Me and My Changing Family contains stories from real people who
speak from their own experiences of making blended families work—including
suggestions on what worked for them. It contains practical advice and strategies
for others just starting on the blended family journey, such as the importance
of setting clear ground rules, how to run family meetings, establish new family
routines and traditions and what to do about discipline.
This book is a valuable addition to the Me and My series: essential
tools every parent should have in their tool kit for surviving separation.
