The US divorce rate is 45 percent, the blended marriage divorce rate is 76 percent, and third marriage is 73 percent. Stepcouples often find themselves caught between the future and the past. In the past, pain and loss from divorce still haunt them. In the present, feelings of anger, resentment, rejection, and guilt take away people's energy emotionally, and losses are too much to count. The pain of the past makes for fear of the future.

Children of divorce are the ones that suffer the most. For most children, the divorce of their parents is like an earthquake that destroys their home, security, and stability. Their parent's divorce marks them for the rest of their lives. However, research confirms that children can successfully adjust to the ending of their parents' marriage and can fare reasonably well when their parents work together whether married, divorced, or married to other people. 

Intentional and purposeful Co-Parenting can make an absolute difference in the emotional health, wholeness, and future stability of the children who are often caught in the middle of unresolved issues between their parents. To co-parent well you have to get along. You have to put your differences and emotions aside and find a way to cooperate with him or her for the sake of the children. Parenting decisions, goals, and attitudes need to be centered around what will benefit your children and increase their desire for the Lord.

Bringing two families together in Remarriage can be joyful and chaotic! The good news is submitting your relationships to God and seeking the right resources, blended married couples can truly thrive!

Building Healthy Stepfamily Relationships requires patience and time. Research revealed that a loving, well-functioning stepfamily over time can negate many of the detrimental psychological impacts of divorce on children. The benefits to children from healthy stepfamilies carry over to their adult years and positively impact their marital choices. It appears they have a lower divorce rate (compared to other children of divorce), and the quality of their own marriages closely mirrors the stepfamily's healthy marriage than the poor-quality marriage that ended in divorce. 

Below are helpful resources to guide you on your path to building a blessed, healthy and happy blended family.