Building a Strong Blended Family: Tips for a Healthy Marriage

Building a Strong Blended Family: Tips for a Healthy Marriage

Blended families come with unique challenges and opportunities. Navigating these dynamics requires intentional effort and understanding. Here are some essential strategies to help maintain a healthy marriage within a blended family.

1. Communication is Key

• Regular Check-ins: Schedule regular times to talk about your day, work, kids, activities, what's working and what's not.  Text or call on long work days to touch bass.  Put the kids to bed, so you and your spouse have time to yourselves everyday. 

• Open Dialogue: Practice patience when listening and make up your mind to "Care" about what your spouse is doing each day.  Be open and empathetic to the ups and downs of one another.  Asking questions is a great way to get the conversation moving along.

2. Financial Harmony

• Discuss Financial Preferences: Talk about money management, including saving, spending, and debt.  You'll most likely have different ways you like to spend money or save it.  Have a deep discussion on this and meet in the middle.  Win/Win

• Joint vs. Separate Accounts: Decide whether you'll put your moneys together or keep them separate.  Combined has worked for my husband and I but for some couples, one more argument is not worth it.

3. Parenting Strategies

• Unified Parenting Approach: There's more than one way to do everything.  Decide what works for the two of you and stick with it.  I believe... LOVE 1st.... Discipline 2nd and be consistent.  

• Respect and Love: No need to talk to your 9 year old like they're a cute little puppy but a kind voice gives differentiation to your angry voice.  Kids mimic what ever they hear consistently.  Kids need to know you care and treat them equally.  This will take effort.

4. Appreciate Each Other

• Express Gratitude: Regularly acknowledge and appreciate your spouse's efforts.  This continually fills the Love Bank that I talk about so often.

• Focus on Positivity: Focus on the things your spouse (& Kids) do well.  It is said that you get more of whatever you give attention to.  Too often trouble, gets the most attention and can cause misery on parents and kids in the end.

5. Keep the Romance Alive

• Date Nights: Most important!  Time together, fun together, experience new things together, this is how you continue to come together and grow together.

• Shared Activities: Find common interests to enjoy together.  I have 50 activities to get you started in my FREE Gift, "The Chemistry of Lasting Love" + you'll learn what keeps the love alive.  www.theextraordinarymarriage.com/5NEEDS 

6. Build Trust and Friendship

• Mutual Support: I personally like people that support me and encourage me.  That goes for my spouse too!

• Trust-Building Activities: Spending time together, keeping your word, occasionally go the extra mile.  Check out marriage workshops and retreats just for couples.

7. Embrace Change and Adaptability

• Flexibility: Change is hard for some and easy for others.  Know your spouse and how they react to sudden change.

• Positive Outlook: This is everything.  There are days I feel negative about everything.  These are not good days for me or those around me.  What do you need to do to keep your CUP FULL?

By focusing on these strategies, couples in blended families can build a strong, supportive, and loving environment that benefits everyone involved. Remember, every family is unique, and finding what works best for yours is key to long-term happiness and success.

Connie Durham

Host of The Extraordinary Marriage Podcast

www.theextraordinarymarriage.com