Tuesday, October 9, 2007

BLENDED FAMILIES - October 2007

Granted, I do not have a lot of experience with blended families. My first marriage did not produce any children (thank goodness). But by blended, I mean families that come into being through remarriage, or when one or both new spouses bring children to the group.

Both of my husband's parents remarried early on. My FIL has been remarried for more than 26 years now, and she had a son from a previous marriage. So DH has a step-brother from there. His mother (my MIL) also remarried several times, like five or 6, and finally married the man she was seeing before she met my FIL. He has four children, I believe, from a previous marriage, so there are two step-brothers and two step-sisters from that union.

If the new spouses have children together, then you get the half-brother and sister relationships going on. There are few relationships of this sort in my family on either side, at least any of which I am aware.

So, do I have step-brothers and step-sisters-in-law? The ones that live in California, I've had no contact with, and don't think I ever will. They're just not too interested in any contact, and other than the oldest son and his family, I don't see much probability of it happening. I've been thinking, though, that MIL and her current husband would like a present from the "grandkids", that being the two step-cousins to my children and my three.

My FIL's wife's son has two children, a daughter who is a year older than my girl and a son, who is going on 2, I think. My DD's nose got out joint one of the last times we visited, because the boy was there and getting some of "her" attention. It was amusing and touching to watch.

So, how do those of you with immediate blended families do it? Keep house and home and bodies together?

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