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 family unit. In a blended family, one or both partners have children from a previous relationship. This mix often creates tension among family members, and striking a balance is not always easy.

To complicate matters, being a stepparent does not just include having to form a relationship with stepchildren: It also includes blending your extended families. There are a lot of new relationships forming in order to create a seamless family unit; it is certainly a daunting task. However, with those difficult (seemingly insurmountable) difficulties, come victories as well.