A blended family is sometimes referred to as a stepfamily; it includes families where two partners decide to create a life together, and through that union, they create a larger…...

The Cultural Revolution, which began in the 20th century, has gradually undermined the survival of the family as a unit. Blended families are torn apart through divorce, death or abandonment.…...

Decisions in divorce and family law previously reflected the fact that a child could only have two legal parents.  As of January 2014, a new law changed the traditional perception…...

A Letter From a Reader Dear Mel, About six months ago, I got married again to a lovely man. He’s very good to me and is keen to know everything…...

Continuing the series of excerpts from Mel’s book on Successful Step Parenting, we come now to the sensitive issue of wedding plans and what to call the new person in…...

The following words were written nearly thirty years ago by one of America’s most popular authors, a father of four. They show a realism about family life that goes beyond…...

Whenever the subject of single parents marrying again arises, there is a tendency to think that the greatest consideration should be given to the impact of divorce on children. Those…...

Can a Step Parent Ever Replace a Real Parent? This topic was recently debated on the Richard Bacon radio show on BBC Radio 5 Live. As the author of a book…...

The following is an abridged and revised excerpt from Mel’s book Stepfamilies, which the BBC recently asked her to debate on the Richard Bacon Show. In previous posts, the inference has been…...

When it comes to having a stepfamily, it is important that the stepparent is confident and can help boost the self-esteem of the stepchild. This topic is explored in this…...