Step-By Step-Parenting: A Guide to Successful Living With a Blended Family [Paperback]

James Eckler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1993

Tells parents how to develop a good relationship with their stepchildren, identifies common problems in stepfamilies, and discusses grandparents, adoption, and adult child.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Betterway Books; 2 edition (April 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558702946
• ISBN-13: 978-1558702943
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Stepparenting & Blended Families

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars reviews, February 1, 2006

By 

Bezweifeln "Bezweifeln" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step-By Step-Parenting: A Guide to Successful Living With a Blended Family (Paperback)

Please note to anyone, who like myself, is researching a proper book to buy on step parenting, that the reviewer, Mr. Gerlach, has written the same criticism for many books offered by Amazon and is, I believe, promoting himself.

I have not read this book but was tired of seeing this roving negative advertisement.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended reading!, February 5, 2006

By 

LAH (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step-By Step-Parenting: A Guide to Successful Living With a Blended Family (Paperback)

Let me save you some time and money. The first few chapters I found to be slow and roughly written. I don't feel that the information flowed together. It felt more like reading a rough draft.This is probably the worst book I've read so far concerning blended families. By the time I reached chapters 10 & 11 I had to put this book down. The author was beginning to offend me. Let me quote some of his passages.
In one section called "stepfather and stepchilren" the author is talking about the living situation and says, "in turn the stepfather will live in the same household as his stepchildren and he will be there when they wake in the morning and to hear their grumbling every night." Grumbling? That sounds negative to me. Almost as if his stepchildren are annoying him. Then under his section giving stepfather's "basic tips" he says that, ex-wives usually discuss thier former marital problems with the new fiance. He suggests the stepfather-to be listen intently and hear all the facts. Okay, sounds harmless enough. But then he goes on to suggest that the stepfather (or stepfather -to be)ask her friends about her former marriage. He then goes on to say that many men have been led down the isle under false pretenses. He feels that if the former marriage included fights about the children it's safe to assume she hasn't changed any. He says to get her side of the story and based on what he is told if he thinks the former husband (the children's natural father) was right,(right about what I don't know. He never clarifies that one) then not to expect her to change just because she's remarrying. Now in his section titled, "advice for the stepfather's wife" I was a little taken back by what he writes. Or maybe a better term would be "offended" by what he writes. He says that "when a natural father does not live in the home with the children it's important that the household not be dominated by the mother. A boy needs a male figure to emulate. If the mother dominates, the son will likely be dominated by his wife when he grows up and marries." In another section he goes on to say that before a women marries she needs to consider her finances. Remarrying could mean losing her alimony and she shouldn't blame her new husband for her reduced finances. He says that it's possible that the wife to be may want to continue enjoying her "more- than- adequate child support payments" instead of getting married. What kind of garbage is that?
I think this is one bitter man who may have been bitten by marrying a women with children and it didn't work. So automaticly it's the womans fault. At least that's what it seems like to me. He minimizes the role of mother and stepmother, and I find that offensive. If you like this kind of advice, than by all means buy the book. But if you're like me and agree that the household is run by BOTH adults,and where BOTH adults are equal in authority, then forget reading this one. There are far better books on the subject.

4.0 out of 5 stars parentling, August 7, 2010

By 

Lana Floyd (Fort Payne, AL, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Step-By Step-Parenting: A Guide to Successful Living With a Blended Family (Paperback)

Anything that can help step families merge and get along are worthwhile. Great for reading and donation to a public library. Price competitive, easy to order/deliver, no complaints.