Stepparenting the Grieving Child
Living with a Child Whose Parent Has Died
What happens when you mix the dynamics of stepparenting with the experience of grieving? You ignite an emotional powder keg under your house − one which no stepfamily member even knew existed.
To avoid landmines and to heal the family, stepparents need help navigating this complex and unfamiliar territory. Stepparenting the Grieving Child advises and encourages stepparents living with a child whose parent has died. Readers will gain insight and ideas from stepparent anecdotes, expert recommendations, and the author’s own experience.
Before moving the new family forward, stepparents look at how to take care of themselves and how to understand the grieving their new children are going through. Stepparenting the Grieving Child dividesthe challenges into three phases, and answers these questions:
Exploration: Engaging in Self Reflection
- How do I get ready for stepparenting in a grieving family?
- How do I invent my identity within the new family?
Empathy: Reaching out to Your Family
- What is the “lifework” of grief and how do we manage it?
- How do I find compassion when family grief resurfaces?
- What does it take to develop straightforward communication?
Equilibrium: Finding Balance Day by Day
- How can we find a family rhythm?
- How do we handle life milestones and additional losses?
Table of Contents
Endorsements
Excerpts
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