The Smart Stepfamily: Seven Steps to a Healthy Family, Ron L. Deal

 

Also available in Spanish.

"The best book available for stepfamilies..." --Dennis Rainey, President, FamilyLife

Have Ron personally sign your copy with your name!  Just type the name(s) in the Autograph request box above. It's a great gift idea for a friend or family member.  (NOTE: Personalizing books may delay your shipment a few days.)

"I love this book!" --Dr. Margorie Engel, Former President, Stepfamily Association of America.

"I urge churches to begin 'stepfamily support groups' that begin by reading this book and discussing the questions at the end of each chapter." -- Michael McManus, Author of Marriage Savers and Founder of city-wide Community Marriage Policies found throughout America.

Designed for individual or group use, this practical book provides seven effective, achievable steps toward building a healthy marriage and a workable and peaceful stepfamily. Biblically-based and grounded in solid research, this proven, practical resource will bless your home. 

• Perfect for stepfamily adults and single-parents considering remarriage.
• Used with The Smart Stepfamily DVD (8-sessions), it is the premier ministry tool for educational groups and bible classes.
• Useful to therapists and ministers who are counseling stepfamilies.

From the back cover:

Ron Deal provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues that stepfamilies face. He helps remarried and soon-to-be married couples

 

·        Recognize the unique personality and place of each family member

·        Solve the everyday puzzles of stepparenting and stepchildren relationships

·        Learn communication skills to deal with ex-spouses

·        Honor families of origin while developing new traditions

·        Invest the time to grow their stepfamily slowly rather than look for instant results

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

HEADED FOR THE PROMISED LAND!

1. Through Wilderness Wanderings
2. Key Stepping-Stones

SEVEN STEPS IN THE JOURNEY

3. Smart Step One: STEP Up!
Discover a redemptive God who loves, forgives, and provides strength and direction for the journey

4. Smart Step Two: STEP Down
Adjust your expectations and learn how to cook a stepfamily

5. Smart Step Three: Two-STEP
Your marriage must be top priority

6. Smart Step Four: STEP in Line (Part 1)
With the parenting team

7. Smart Step Four: STEP in Line (Part 2)
Parent and stepparent roles

8. Smart Step Five: Side STEP
The pitfalls common to stepfamilies

9. Smart Step Six: STEP Through
The wilderness: Overcoming special challenges

10. Smart Step Seven: STEP Over
Into the Promised Land: Stories of those who are making it

11. Smart Questions, Smart Answers

A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH

12. Ministering to Stepfamilies

 

What readers are saying:

This book is an excellent source for those with children who are considering remarriage. I had "The Brady Bunch" mentality and this sure blew it out of the water. Scripturally founded and extremely well written, it has given my fiance and me a realistic perspective on what to really expect. It also makes you think much more about what your children have gone through, something we as adults don't often take into account. I am passionate about this book. It is a must read!!!!

K. Mankins, Idaho

The bottomline is that this is the best book for stepfamilies that speaks from the Christian perspective. Integrating families is the biggest challenge of any family type and this book gently inspires and motivates as it answers numerous questions. Personally, as a member of an integrated family, I LOVE this book and it's message. As a professional Marriage and Family Therapist working with dozens of clients, this book is the best resource for the ever changing, challenging blended family. I recommend it for ALL of my stepparent clients and for every one in all of the support groups I do that involve integrating families. GREAT for newly divorced individuals - supportive but also tells you straightforward what you'll be getting yourself into if you remarry with kids in the home!

Dr. Dana McCall

"I had read numerous other Christian books on stepfamilies before this, however, your book is by far the very best book I have ever read on stepparenting.  My husband and I refer to it quite often, and I find myself re-reading many passages.  I definitely had unrealistic expectations of our "new" family, and you certainly put things into perspective for us.  God has definitely given you great wisdom in dealing with some very tough issues...Thanks for such an encouraging and well researched book.  It should be a bestseller!!"

Mary Lise Parsons

"Last night our stepfamily couples group dove into chapter one.  The head-nodding and "ummm-huh's" of affirmation told me that we are in for an incredible journey!  Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful learning tool for these stepfamilies...One couple on the brink of divorce after a year of remarriage have a renewed sense of purpose for their marriage.  We are being blessed!  Again, thank you."

Southern California

Read a book review by psychiatrist and psychotherapist Daniel Morehead from Wineskins Magazine.

Read a book review by author Karon Phillips Goodman.


Softcover, 271 pages, from Bethany House.

 

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Add to your cart: Successful Stepfamilies recommends that The Remarriage Checkup by Ron L. Deal and David H. Olson be read together with The Smart Stepfamily. The former book focuses on strengthening the couple relationship while the latter the entire stepfamily.