Stepfamily Realities 5 to 7

        Typical stepfamilies are just like average intact biofamilies in that they are adults and kids living and growing together, sharing concerns about work and school, health, pets, bills, chores, church, friends, etc. Paradoxically, step-families also differ from biofamilies in structure, adjustment tasks, and development stages in up to 70 ways!

        Collectively, these differences usually cause average stepfamily members stressful role and relationship problems for years. They often render "common sense" biofamily operating rules ineffective or even harmful to stepfamily roles, re-lationships and bonding. Adult awareness is the key!