SINGLE PARENTS: SAVVY PARTNERING: STAGE 2 ENGAGEMENT
ENGAGEMENT DIALOGUES
We interviewed scores of blending adults---including adults whose blending families have failed---asking what information they wished they had known about one another prior to marriage. From their honest answers came the following stories and topics of conversation.
Engagement/Couple and Child Issues guides couples through the complexities involved in the merging process---the first step toward family blending. Discussions cover such topics as finances, ongoing interactions with former spouses, the raising of children/stepchildren, and the blending of family traditions and habits.
Engagement Dialogues help couples learn to become a stable parent-team.
By discovering and working out early solutions to future difficulties, the two parents can create for themselves a strong foundation of understanding and mutual support.
Details:
Stage Two: Engagement Dialogues is for couples who have made a commitment to marry.
Finally, there is some literature that is designed specifically for engaged single adults with children!
Through guided discussions you will be helped to merge together as a team?the first step toward family blending. The questions cover a myriad of issues involved in combining your two families?finances, the raising of children/stepchildren, and ongoing interactions with former spouses.
Warning! Some of the subjects you will encounter in this book are not easy to deal with?and some are outright dangerous! The issues and questions presented here will require some very serious and thoughtful discussion between you and your partner.
Consider for a moment the benefits of preparing for the blending of your families now: fewer negative surprises about your partner and/or your partner's children, fewer thoughtless and potentially wrong attempts at solutions, fewer knee-jerk emotional reactions, fewer decisions made under stress and time constraints?and, most important, the priceless advantage of being prepared and thereby protecting your marriage from failure.
The greatest benefit you and your partner will realize from dealing honestly with the questions in this book will be the excellent quality of teamwork you will develop before you marry. The time you spend now in clarifying issues and building that teamwork will be reflected in the unity and strength of your future blending family.
