I was speaking on BBC radio about a new piece of research around mental health and stepfamilies. What struck me as unhelpful & laden with negativity is the word ‘BROKEN’ to describe parents who are divorced, separated or apart. Broken implies a failure, broken implies damaged, no longer able to work, something destroyed & dysfunctional but […]
Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist, believed that birth order played a significant role in shaping an individual’s personality & behaviour. He suggested that a person’s birth order position in their family could influence their psychological development & subsequent relationships. This “positional psychology” can be disrupted when two families become one. When it comes to stepfamilies, […]
Stepfamilies have a bad image. Think of Snow White’s jealous stepmother or Cinderella’s ugly sisters or at the other end of the spectrum, picture the unrealistically positive stepfamily, such as the Brady Bunch. But real life is more complicated that either of those stepfamily models and stepchildren have to come to terms with lots of […]
The Stepfamily Cycle I have been working with a lovely family who are finding it hard to adjust to the changes that blending two families together brings. I always remind my clients that bringing together 2 separate families is a process and not an event, and it takes time and flexibility on everyone’s behalf […]
I’ve been send this question from Dads Info a super website for Dads and Step Dads. Different parenting styles are causing our family friction, what can I do? One of the main problems within step families is who disciplines whose children… The simple thing is to sit down with a cup of coffee and a pen […]
The Sue Atkins Parenting Show is where we discuss every possible aspect of parenting, giving you advice and support on topics which affect your daily life. Each free, weekly episode is bursting with practical tips, techniques and ideas. Sign up for the podcast Experts and Extras here for exclusive, permanent access to all Sue’s full […]
I was delighted to have been invited by Dad Info to write a series of articles around supporting Dads & Step Dads. Here is the first of them & I’ll be publishing the rest over the next week. Please feel free to share to any Dads or Step Dads struggling. How to support your step children […]
Peter and Helen came to see me because as a newly married step family they were having some problems with Helen’s older children of 13 and 15 listening to Peter when he told them to tidy their room or to help around the house. The kids were angry and shouted, “You’re not my real Dad” […]
Cooking up a happy step family is like a slow burning casserole – it’s not like mixing up a happy family instantly in a blender ….. it takes TIME ! Listen to my interview with the lovely Claudette Chenevert The Stepmom Coach www.stepmomcoach.com discussing my simple tips and practical ways to build up family […]
The world is becoming a very small place through the power of Twitter, Facebook and social media and I’m delighted to include a wonderful poem by my new friend Rodrick Walters. I spoke to Rodrick this week on the phone about his passion for Upbeat Dads after connecting with his great blog through Twitter and […]
Divorce is stressful for parents and children alike and although reactions will depend on a child’s age, temperament, and the circumstances surrounding the split, many children feel sad, frustrated, angry, and anxious — and it’s not uncommon for them to become naughty at home or at school because of those feelings. Fortunately, you can help […]
