Stepparenting Help in Houston: The 5 Words Every Child Needs to Hear

Much more than the gift of happiness, caring adults owe each new generation some perspective. I believe we must be willing to sacrifice their temporary happiness for long-term happiness — including preparing them to be disciplined adults themselves. Instead of pleasure, let’s prepare them for fulfillment. That is what I stress whenever I offer stepparenting help for Houston parents. What if we borrowed a page from the playbook of the past? A few years ago, Izquierdo and Ochs wrote an article for Ethos, the journal of the Society of Psychological Anthropology. They posed cultural questions like: Why do Matsigenka children “help their families at home more than L.A. children?” and “Why do L.A. adult family members help their children at home more than do Matsigenka?”
http://www.thebridgeacross.com/2014/08/08/stepparenting-help-houston-5-words-every-child-needs-hear/

Houston Single Parents Coach Gives Workshops at NAMRE Conference 2014

Jayna Haney, coach to single parents in Houston and founder of The Bridge Across for Single Parents and Stepfamilies, conducted two workshops at the recently concluded Marriage, Fathering, Family & Relationship Education Training Conference in Frisco, Texas. The event allowed Haney, who is herself divorced and a stepmom, to share her insights on building healthy relationships in single-parent or blended-family households. Held from June 28 to July 2, the conference was organized by the National Association for Relationship & Marriage Education (NARME), a group that serves the interests of family and relationship educators around the country. During the five-day congress, participants were able to choose from among 68 workshops, of which Haney presented two.
http://www.thebridgeacross.com/2014/08/07/houston-single-parents-coach-gives-workshops-namre-conference-2014/

Dealing with Common Stepparent Issues: Relating to the Former Spouse

Relationships can be tricky, and adding stepfamilies or blended families into the equation can make them even trickier. In preserving relationships, facing common stepparent issues can sometimes require you to be an emotional athlete. However, overcoming obstacles and having a family that lives healthily and happily together can happen only if each party involved puts in effort. One common issue in stepparenting is dealing with the former spouse. In an article published in Philly.com, professional speaker and coach Cheryl Rice recounts her personal, unique story as a stepmom. She and her husband’s divorced wife were placed in a situation that neither of them would have wanted to be in. “People say that when you marry a man, you marry his family - usually referring to his parents. It's more when you marry a man with young children and a resolutely involved former wife,” Rice wrote.
http://www.thebridgeacross.com/2014/09/01/dealing-common-stepparent-issues-relating-former-spouse/

Single Parents in Houston: Facing the Challenges of Raising a Child

Like those around the nation, single parents in Houston know the struggle of raising a child. At times, you have to face burdens alone, and at others, your ex-spouse may have a conflicting opinion. When you lack support systems, you could get burned out with all the tasks and responsibilities you need to accomplish. Sometimes, you can feel lonely, or find the need to forego what you want to do to prioritize your child’s needs. On the other hand, co-parenting may prove difficult and create more conflicts and stress instead of easing them. This can be especially true when your separation or divorce stemmed from negative or destructive feelings toward each other. You may find it trying to reach a compromise on various aspects of childcare.
http://www.thebridgeacross.com/2014/08/29/single-parents-houston-facing-challenges-raising-child/