Blended Families--Special Children

Build a Happy Stepfamily

By: Andrea Campbell

Narrated by: Bonnie Trost

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Blending families can be complicated and challenging to navigate. The toolkit presented in Blended Families--Special Children explores the dynamics of stepfamilies caring for children with special needs and disabilities and presents the information in digestible nuggets ready for consumption by quintessential blended families who are juggling the demands of parenting.

You'll discover how to bond with your special stepchild and how you can recognize and embrace the differences, strengthen your family, and maintain a happy relationship with your spouse or partner so that all the children in the family unit will feel safe and content.

The 9-L model illustrated in Blended Families--Special Children explores the dynamics of stepfamilies caring for children with special needs and disabilities and presents the information in digestible nuggets ready for consumption by quintessential blended families juggling the demands of parenthood with caring for children with special needs.

Whether you have an established stepfamily or are in the early stages of a blended family, you can find value in the information presented. Here’s a synopsis of what you’ll discover:

• Launch–considerations for the early stages of your blended family
• Love–how to keep the love alive with your partner and in the family unit
• Listen–strategies for listening even when your child is nonverbal
• Laugh–techniques for building fun into your stepfamily

In addition to the 9 L’s, you’ll discover:

• State benefits you may be able to access
• The effect of challenging behavior on your stepfamily
• How cognitive disability can affect a child’s conduct

Also included is a chapter of real-life case studies from stepparents caring for disabled children. The experiences they share hold valuable lessons on issues that may arise and how they handled them in their endeavor to maintain a happy stepfamily.

The second book, Blended Family: A Guide for Stepparents outlines seven key factors that are often overlooked but have an adverse effect on stepfamilies. They are neatly arranged in the acronym BLUNDER - which is precisely what stepparents do when they fail to address or ignore the cited factors. Contemporary society is overrun with demands on parents who have to juggle various roles. But,if you pay attention to the elements outlined, the difference will be noticeable as you navigate this challenging but potentially enriching role.

And even if you think you've tried everything, consider these factors. You'll be surprised to find that these simple changes can make an impactful difference.

©2022 Andrea Campbell (P)2023 Andrea Campbell

Great guidance

Great guidance on how to make the best of a world that may be totally new. Both people are coming from different lives and with children. This book answers many questions. Narrated in a matter-of-fact way, this book will help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for them. It may not be too easy but with this handy and great guide, you will be alright...more than alright!

A must read guide for stepfathers!

This book is an invaluable resource for stepfathers navigating the challenges of blended families, especially when children have special needs. This book offers practical advice and strategies to foster positive relationships and support the well-being of all family members. Highly recommended for stepfathers seeking guidance and understanding in their unique family dynamics.

Great books with tons of helpful information

I love how this book really hits on the emotional and practical side of blended families, especially those who have children with special needs. There are so many things to take into consideration and it can certainly be overwhelming. This book provides great specific real-life examples and advice for dealing with tough situations. This is a great listen- highly recommend!

Fantastic Audiobook

This is an excellent book bundle about blended families and those who have family members with special needs. The books are extremely insightful and informative, with great narration too. The author does a fantastic job of covering all the types of issues and challenges that come when separate families merge, and offers practical and valuable guidance. I was very impressed with the use of the “9-L” strategy as well as various acronyms to make it easier to absorb the information. And the case studies give great insights too. Andrea Campbell does an amazing job. Highly recommend this for anyone in blended families who are also struggling with special needs issues.

Awesome book

You will feel more prepared and hopeful after listening to this book. It has many helpful strategies and real-life stories for blended families with special needs children. The 9-L model is a useful tool for understanding the resources provided. The book also has unique insights for step-parents. It is clear and easy to understand. You will feel more confident in your ability to handle the challenges of blended families and special needs. This book is a good choice for you if you are in a similar situation. It will make you feel informed and strong.

Wonderful book on blended families

This is a great book for anyone looking for information on blended families. There is an emphasis on having a child with a disability and all the things that go with it. There are a lot of things to consider when trying to bring two families together. It is important for the couple to have honest conversations about money matters and how severe any disability actually is. This book is so detailed. Anyone who finds themselves on this situation would definitely benefit from reading this book.

What a tremendous resource

If you think you are strong, listen to this book and then you will know what strength is. You should share this with as many families that you know. This is not only a book for Blended families it is a book for all families.

Nicely presented and narrated

"Blended Families--Special Children" is a 2-book package that explores the challenges of working with both stepchildren and special needs children. It delves into how to avoid situations that might cause bitterness and bad attitudes that can lead to toxic familial relationships. It emphasizes listening, learning, and loving, which, to me, is at the heart of anything positive when it comes to relationships. I recommend this audiobook highly.

A must-have

This book should be made compulsory by marriage counselors, in churches, and to everyone that has a stepchild, or step-parent.
Blended families, can be described as the solution to modern-day marriage. Blended families provide a step-by-step guide on how to tackle problems that we face today as parents. Most broken homes are going through a very tough time because they don't have this book at their disposal.

I bought this book for my uncle, who has struggled to manage his broken family, he calls me every day to express gratitude for recommending this book to him, as he tells me how things have got better.

I have always believed that a relationship with our step-parents or step-children is possible, but how to make it happen is what Blended familes provides us.

Needed this back in he 90's

These books are about special families like stepfamilies and families with children with special needs. I love the way it explains how a stepdad needs to be in the environment for 2 years before the children fully start accepting him as the authority figure. My mom needed this because every time my older brother would challenge adult authority, my stepdad was ready, but my mom would stop him as if he was going to do something God-awful.

My brother would curse, skip school, rob us, drop out, and do drugs and the whole time my mother wouldn't let my stepdad handle it. Even when my brother got physical with her. After 8 years, my stepdad called it quits and started his own family. Perhaps if my mom read this, my stepdad wouldn't have left.