Step-Family Foundations – Making it work for your family

Have you ever felt like you’re in a circus act, walking a tight rope between your partner and the children?  Does it feel like there’s no safety net if you happen to stumble?

1. Marriage Matters Most: Establishing a Strong Foundation – Nov. 12

This workshop examines some of the tough issues couples must deal with in building their step family.  Discussion points include:

• Understanding your beliefs about marriage
• Understanding the foundations of a strong marriage
• Why establishing and maintaining connection as a couple is critical to the new families success
• Establishing and maintaining protected time and space
• Issues to consider in developing a vision for the your family, including discipline, family rules and parenting styles

Do you sometimes feel condemned to a life of frustration and conflict? Are you serving a life sentence for guilt?

2. Resistance is Futile: Sanity Skills for Stepfamilies – Nov. 19

Living in a stepfamily presents us with a whole range of issues we come into conflict over, don’t understand, or simply wish we didn’t have to deal with.  Discussion points include:

• Understanding why good intentions aren’t enough
• Examining common challenges for stepfamilies
• Managing guilt!!!
• Overcoming impossible standards
• Moving forward

Does your family’s hearing mysteriously stop functioning whenever you speak?  Do you find that turning the volume up or down doesn’t work?

3. Stop Talking: The (Strange) Key to Better Stepfamily Communication – Nov. 26

Stepfamilies provide numerous opportunities to build communication skills that are the envy of any family. There are many trials but many more opportunities for learning and growth.

• Couple communication styles and how you interact with each other
• Applying those styles ot your stepfamily
• Differences in male/female communication and how they alter perception
• Finding the middle ground
• Boundary setting
• Building self-responsibility in your children using the concept of family coaching

This series of classes has been designed to support and educate families who have blended their families.  It will be facilitated by Shona Welsh and John Penton, authors of

Yours, Mine and Hours: Relationship Skills for Blended Families
  www.yoursminehours.com

Where:  Hillhurst United Church
1227 Kensington Close N.W.
Calgary, Alberta

When:  November 12, 19, 26        Time:  7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Cost:  $100.00/person for series of 3 classes