blended family
Stepparents and stepchildren
A blended family is a household where adults bring children from previous relationships into a new partnership.
The term emerged as divorce and remarriage became common, offering neutral language for what older generations called stepfamilies: After the wedding, they'll be a blended family of six.
Father's spouse, not birth mother
- stepfatherMother's subsequent husband
- stepchildSpouse's prior offspring
- stepsonMale child by marriage
- stepdaughterSpouse's child by another
stepsister · stepbrother · stepparent · stepfamily · half-sibling · step-grandparent · bonus mom · bonus dad
Document dividing child responsibilities
- joint custodyDivided parental legal responsibility
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- custody agreementLegal child-sharing terms
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
communication · collaboration · compromise · conflict resolution · co-parent · consistency · discipline · boundaries
Alteration to improve fit
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- trust-buildingEstablishing mutual confidence
- patienceCalm during delays
- integrationCombining into a whole
sibling rivalry · belonging · identity · quality time · shared experiences · milestone celebrations · holiday planning · vacation planning
One's personal residence
- cohabitationDwelling together unmarried
- living arrangementsHow someone is housed
- shared spacesAreas used collectively
- choresRoutine household tasks
house rules · routines · mealtime · moving in · decorating · personal space · privacy · storage
stepmother
Father's spouse, not birth mother
- stepfatherMother's subsequent husband
- stepchildSpouse's prior offspring
- stepsonMale child by marriage
stepdaughter · stepsister · stepbrother · stepparent · stepfamily · half-sibling · step-grandparent · bonus mom · bonus dad · bonus parent
parenting plan
Document dividing child responsibilities
- joint custodyDivided parental legal responsibility
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- custody agreementLegal child-sharing terms
mediation · communication · collaboration · compromise · conflict resolution · co-parent · consistency · discipline · boundaries · scheduling
adjustment
Alteration to improve fit
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- trust-buildingEstablishing mutual confidence
- patienceCalm during delays
integration · sibling rivalry · belonging · identity · quality time · shared experiences · milestone celebrations · holiday planning · vacation planning · inclusivity
home
One's personal residence
- cohabitationDwelling together unmarried
- living arrangementsHow someone is housed
- shared spacesAreas used collectively
chores · house rules · routines · mealtime · moving in · decorating · personal space · privacy · storage · allowances
- family therapymarriage therapy, relationship counseling, co-parenting, child therapy, premarital counseling
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, parent
- family lifebirth, kinship, childbirth, pregnancy, new baby
- family termsparents, mothers, fathers, single parent, son
- family dynamicssibling rivalry, parenting, parent-child bond, parenting styles, co-parenting
- kinshipmother, father, sister, brother, children
blended familynuclear family
Parents plus their offspring
traditional family · first family · birth family · childless couple · single-parent family
family, blend, blended, blending, families, unblended, blended families, reblend, preblended