Product Description

Practical, realistic, and upbeat advice--from sharing a bathroom to initiating conversations--for people who "inherit" children along with a new spouse. The success or failure of a stepparent to bond with stepchildren can make or break a new marriage. But this book has a refreshing message--it is possible to achieve longlasting, rewarding relationships with your new children.

Most stepparents feel caught in a bind because in order to connect with their stepchild, they have to reach out--but not too much, too little, or too deliberately. And relationships with stepchildren are inherently different from those with biological children who love their parent unconditionally. But these 7 basic steps will give you the essentials, from deciding what kind of stepparent you want to be to realizing that love comes later.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42917 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780312253653
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Suzen J. Ziegahn is a clinical psychologist and writer specializing in stepfamily issues. She also has over 12 years of experience in the administration of mental health services, serving as Director and CEO of mental health systems in the Midwest. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, and the stepmother of two children. She lives in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews

7 Steps to Bonding With Your Stepchild
We are a treatment foster home and Suzen was our clinical specialist for almost a year. I have a step child that I was having problems with and Suzen suggested that we read her book and see if it would help. It helped me because I at times seemed like I was in competition with my step-son for his father's attention. It showed me new ways to deal with this and how to come to terms with it. It also helped me with the foster children in our home and really had a large impact on how I dealt with those children. I feel Suzen writes from the heart and some very good points in her book. I would recommend this book highly to any family which is dealing with difficult step-children. It is worth every penny.

Compassionate, In-Depth And Packed With Great Tips
I read this book as a biological parent and a stepparent. I really appreciate the author's deep and compassionate understanding of the primitive connection between parents and their biological children in stepfamilies-a connection that can leave stepparents feeling like outsiders. Because the author honors this important bond between divorced parents and their kids, she does a beautiful job of explaining the incredibly complex nature of relationships in stepfamilies. I love the author's warm, personal approach and her ability to create empathy for all members of a stepfamily. She does a great job of helping stepparents view the world from their partners' and stepchildren's point of view. She also offers very helpful tips about how to bond with stepchildren, including sample conversations about difficult topics. The bonding tips include "Conversation Starters That Get Stepchildren Talking" and other creative ideas. This book is a gold mine for stepparents!

Good book
Both, my husband and I, enjoyed this book very much. I am a stepparent to my husband's daughter and he is a stepparent to my children. This book gave us both some usefull tips on how to connect with each other's children as well as with each other. I enjoyed reading Suzen's case examples and dialogues which illustrated typical stepfamily scenarios that I could relate to. It reasured me that bonding is simply a matter of time!