Raising Children in Blended Families: Helpful Insights, Expert Opinions, and True Stories [Paperback]

Maxine Marsolini (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2006

A realistic and forthright resource, this practical guide for parents of blended families helps adults understand their children's feelings and cope with arising difficulties. (20070501)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Maxine has a blended family herself and has added many stories from her counseling background to illustrate each chapter. The book is divided into two major sections: "What the Children Have to Say" and "What the Experts Have to Say." Each chapter in the "What the Children Have to Say" section contains 'Joy Builders', 'Thoughts for Today', 'Let's Look at This Family', 'Things We Can Do Now' and 'If I Could Tell My Parents Something It Would Be' . . . . No subject is too hard to cover, serious abuse, hatred, anger and the example spare no details. I found the suggestions to be excellent. The second section when the Experts speak is written by well known names like Patricia Rushford and H. Norman Wright. It would be helpful to any blended family with children from preschool to adulthood. I recommend this title. (Jan Arkills The Lamplighter )

From the Back Cover

Blended families face the daunting task of building new lives together while sorting through a rapid river of struggles. New roles, new rules, new stepparents, stepchildren, or stepsiblings—so much change can threaten to overturn adults and children alike if relationships are not handled with wisdom, delicacy, and patience.

Packed with honest stories from children in blended families and advice from a host of trusted experts—like Tim Clinton, Gary Oliver, Norman Wright, and others—Raising Children in Blended Families plots a course through such topics as childhood grief, anger, overcoming abuse, what kids need most in a parent or stepparent, and how to handle conflict. Full of solid, hope-filled answers to the common questions that arise, this book steers parents through the rocky waters of parenting a blended family.

“This book is excellent! Maxine Marsolini continues to educate her readers to the daily frustrations facing stepfamilies. Raising Children in Blended Families gives a unique ‘voice’ to the children affected by divorce and fresh new insight to anyone associated with blended families. Parents and teachers alike will gain from the honest emotion and ‘joy-building’ Scriptures included in Raising Children in Blended Families.”

—Dr. Randy L. Carlson
President of Family Life Communications, Inc., and
host of Parent Talk OnCall

Maxine Marsolini is an author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Together with her husband, Charlie, they are a family with seven blended children, making her a valued resource for stepfamilies. Maxine’s articles have appeared in magazines such as Decision, Lifewise, Bible Advocate, and Whispers from Heaven.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082543355X
• ISBN-13: 978-0825433559
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Stepparenting & Blended Families

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource that blends equal measures of piety, practicality, testimony and psychology., January 5, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raising Children in Blended Families: Helpful Insights, Expert Opinions, and True Stories (Paperback)

Written by American Association of Christian Counselors member Maxine Marsolini, Raising Children in Blended Families: Helpful Insights, Expert Opinions, and True Stories is a guide especially for Christian parents facing the unique challenges of a blended family and being a stepparent. Presenting testimony both from children affected by divorce or remarriage, and from experts on how best to help children deal with grief or anger, and how to make the adjustments to a new way of living. Raising Children in Blended Families also upholds the role of faith in God and Jesus Christ as a key to finding faith, stability, and nourishment of the soul. An excellent resource that blends equal measures of piety, practicality, testimony and psychology.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Help for Stepfamilies and Blended Families, April 9, 2008

By 

Barbara Sheldon, M.S.W. (Solana Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raising Children in Blended Families: Helpful Insights, Expert Opinions, and True Stories (Paperback)

Here's the parenting help you need, if you're blending a family or trying to unite a stepfamily. Author Maxine Marsolini updates her earlier work here; this is an expanded and revised edition of her earlier study.

Excellent parenting tips as you face the inevitable struggles. One of the better books about parenting school-age children as you blend one set of kids with another.

Barbara Sheldon, M.S.W.
I also highly recommend: Moving Forward After Divorce: Practical Steps to * Healing Your Hurts * Finding Fresh Perspective * Managing Your New Life

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read!, September 10, 2011

By 

K. Gary "classics" (Louisiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Raising Children in Blended Families: Helpful Insights, Expert Opinions, and True Stories (Paperback)

Really enjoyed this book as it was written from a different perspective. Would recommend it to anyone in a blended family situation.