BLENDED FAMILY BREAKOUT AND PROJECTS

FAMILY

Weekend to Remember

BLENDED FAMILY BREAKOUT AND PROJECTS

blended family marriage 2

“this is us” exercise part 1 4

“this is us” exercise part 2 8

APPENDIX

next steps 9

resources 10

BLENDED FAMILY BREAKOUT AND PROJECTS

FAMILY

Weekend to Remember

Blended Family Breakout and ProjectsFamilyLife Publishing® 5800 Ranch Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72223 1-800-FL-TODAY · FamilyLife com FLTI, d/b/a FamilyLife®, is a ministry of Cru®

© 2018 FamilyLife

All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher Requests for permission to make copies of any part of this publication should be sent to: permissions@FamilyLife com

FamilyLife®, FamilyLife Publishing®, and Weekend to Remember® are registered trademarks of FLTI

Photography Credits: istockphoto com, unsplash com, used by permission

Printed in the United States of America

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IT’S ABOUT CONNECTIONBLENDED FAMILY BREAKOUT

This workbook includes special projects

designed to prepare or strengthen you

for blended family marriage During the

getaway, you’ll be invited to attend a session

with other couples in stepfamilies This

breakout is designed to be a smaller group

setting that allows for interaction with the

speakers We encourage you—whether dating,

engaged, or married—to get answers to your

questions about marriage, stepparenting,

and combining your family this weekend

strengthening your marriage

BLENDED FAMILY MARRIAGE

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At the intersection of Parenting Street and Marriage

Avenue is a caution sign that reads, “

your marriage ”

Blended family couples have to figure out parenting

and all at the same time

Parenting Street and Marriage Avenue is not the only

tricky intersection for blended families

Sketch your family as you see it now

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“THIS IS US”E XERCISE PART 1

3 QUALITIES OF SMART STEPFAMILY COUPLES:

1. They Put Each Other in the Front Seat

a Ways biological parents put themselves in the

back seat:

b Why stepparents remain in the back seat:

c Biological parents must put stepparents in the front

seat in two ways:

1) In the front seat of your

2) In the front seat of the parenting team

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2. They Strive for Unity in Parenting

Qualities of Healthy Parenting in Blended Families:

1) Partner

2) Pursue

3) Pace

4) Patience

5) Persistence

6) Prayer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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(LOW)

(LOW)

(LOW)

(LOW)

(LOW)

(LOW)

(HIGH)

(HIGH)

(HIGH)

(HIGH)

(HIGH)

(HIGH)

3. They Drive Carefully in Caution Zones

Common caution zones include co-parenting and

struggles with a former spouse, being hurt in a divorce, a

stepchild who doesn’t accept you, and grief

Caution Zone: Co-parenting and struggles with a former spouse.

Luke 6

Colossians 3:13

Romans 12

Caution Zone: The leftover residue of being hurt in a divorce.

Caution Zone: A stepchild who doesn’t accept you.

Caution Zone: Grief

Put words on your caution zones Identify what they

are and slow

Check in with those in your family vehicle

Strive for compassion and for

one another

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Take turns sharing what you drew earlier and what it

represents

Of the six principles of healthy parenting, which dipsticks

are topped-off nicely in your home? Which need

attention?

Discuss how you might apply one or two of the principles

Ron taught to your family

In this space, write down key insights to implement later

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Share & Discuss Your Sketch

“THIS IS US”E XERCISE PART 2

NEXT STEPS

Follow FamilyLife Blended® on social media, read an

article, or download a podcast at familylife com/blended

Pick up a resource this weekend or search online at

familylife com/blendedmap for a stepfamily ministry or

event in your area

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RESOURCES

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FOR MORE STEPFAMILY RESOURCES VISIT SHOP FAMILYLIFE COM

THE SMART STEPFAMILY BY RON L DEALIn The Smart Stepfamily, leading expert Ron L Deal reveals the seven fundamental steps to blended family success and provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues stepfamilies face Book, eight-session DVD, and Participant’s Guide all available The book is the best first resource to purchase

DATING AND THE SINGLE PARENT BY RON L DEAL

THE SMART STEPDAD

BY RON L DEAL

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT

FOR THE SMART STEPFAMILY

BY RON L DEAL

THE SMART STEPMOM

BY RON L DEAL AND LAURA

PETHERBRIDGE

THE SMART STEPFAMILY MARRIAGE

BY RON L DEAL AND DAVID OLSON

THE ART OF PARENTING

BY FAMILYLIFE ®