Stepfamily Help Arrives, Just in Time for the Holidays

The holidays are just one of many challenges for stepfamilies and Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer, author of the newly released book "29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work," offers creative and practical strategies to help stepfamilies manage the upcoming holiday season (and much more).

Fort Worth, TX (PRWEB) November 17, 2004 -- One out of three Americans is now a member of a stepfamily, and its predicted that by 2010, there will be more stepfamilies in the U.S. than any other type of family.

As the holidays approach, most families will struggle with how to divide their time amongst various homes. Where will we spend Thanksgiving? Christmas? Hanukkah? When do we see the in-laws? Grandparents? How will we carve out time with just the kids at home?

Stepfamilies face these same questions, but with a twist. Do we have the children for Thanksgiving this year? Should we open presents early, since the kids leave the day after Christmas? How do we handle hurt feelings if the grandparents dont gift the children and stepchildren equally?

Everything is more complicated for stepfamilies," says Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer, mother of two/stepmother of three and author of the newly released book 29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work. These complications, she says, contribute to the 60% divorce rate for remarriages.

But with teamwork, a dose of humor and some creative and practical strategies, stepfamilies can beat the odds," says Shafer, who offers several tips to help stepfamilies manage the upcoming holiday season.

- Relax. The first year or two of stepfamily life can be the toughest, and as you wrestle with holiday schedules, clashing traditions and other peoples expectations, step back, relax and breathe!
- Remain flexible about the date you celebrate holiday occasions.
- Consider serving non-traditional dishes. Children who face multiple turkey feasts (and all the accompanying leftovers) across two households in the same week may rejoice over spaghetti at your house this year!
- Continue to honor the traditions family members hold most dear.
- Try to create new traditions, but realize it takes time to create ones your stepfamily will claim as their own.
- Laugh and enjoy each other.
- Remember to take time for yourself and your spouse.

"The holidays are just one of many challenges for stepfamilies," says Shafer. "But I've heard the cry from so many remarried couples - they're sick of hearing how stepfamilies don't work! Instead, they want positive guidance to discover how they can overcome the obstacles and find happiness in their stepfamily."

"With touching stories from her own life as well as others, Kelly illustrates the struggle and joy of living in a stepfamily," writes Karon Phillips Goodman, author of The Stepmom's Guide to Simplifying Your Life, a 2003 Gold National Parenting Publications Award.

Susan Wilkins, founder and publisher of the popular SecondWivesClub, says "29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work is one of the most concise and insightful books I have come across in a very long time," and recommends the book to all new blended families, or those who are considering step-life.

About Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer
Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer is a mother of two/stepmother of three, freelance writer, speaker and author of 29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work. She is a regular contributor to Your Stepfamily Magazine, the official publication of the Stepfamily Association of America, and publishes StepfamiliesWork.com and the free Stepfamilies Work! monthly newsletter. To learn more, visit www.stepfamilieswork.com or contact Kelly at kelly@stepfamilieswork.com.

Note: The above statistics, and more, can be found at the Stepfamily Association of America (www.saafamilies.org)

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Media Contact:
Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer
817.236.6075
kelly@stepfamilieswork.com
www.stepfamilieswork.com