Whether a child is still young or off to college, bonding with a new step-parent is always a little uncomfortable for everyone involved. While the new step-parent is anxious about creating a good first impression, the children are skeptical about their parent’s new partner’s motives and personality.
According to Yitzhak D Stern, if the child’s biological parent plans out the meetings properly and the children are given their space and time, any initial awkwardness or hesitation will be replaced with mutual understanding and a strong familial bond. To learn how that can be done, keep reading below.
Yitzhak D Stern’s Top Tips for Bonding with a New step-parent
Welcoming a new step-parent into one’s life can be a little uncomfortable initially; however, if efforts are made to bond with the step-parent, the initial discomfort can change to acceptance and love.
As per Yitzhak D Stern’s expert advice, the children and their biological parents need to take the following proactive steps to create a strong and wholesome bond with the step-parent, where both sides feel understood and respected.
Preplan the Initial Meetings
The appropriate approach with bonding with a new step-parent will greatly depend on the age of the child. If the child is still quite young, the biological parent can mediate the meeting and ensure that the child feels safe and heard.
The child can then ask the new parent about their interests, hobbies, favorite movies, etc., to better empathize with the new step-parent and form some mutual understanding.
On the other hand, if the child is much older and less dependent, both the child and the parent should be allowed proper time and space to form a bond as naturally as possible.
The child should try to arrange a one-on-one meeting with the new step-parent to discuss all concerns, or hesitations without having to worry about bothering their biological parents.
According to Yitzhak D Stern, such intimate meetings often make the interaction easier and both the child and the new step-parent get a chance to truly learn more about each other.
Schedule Fun Family Activities
Once the children have been introduced to the new step-parent, the next step to forming a bond is by planning or scheduling fun family activities.
Even though the new step-parent might not feel like family in the beginning, spending some time together can make that transition quite smooth.
The children should try to find common interests and plan an activity around those grounds so that both sides feel comfortable and more in their element.
Spend Some One-on-One Time with the step-parent
Spending some one-on-one time with a new step-parent can be pretty overwhelming for children, especially when they are still young.
However, according to Yitzhak D Stern, doing so can quickly escalate the strength in a relationship and make it deeper than before.
Let Them Know How You Feel
Finally, if the children have been uncomfortable or skeptical regarding any aspect regarding their new step-parent, it is best to address the situation as soon as possible and let them know how you feel.
Yitzhak D Stern’s Final Words
Having a new step-parent is overwhelming and uncomfortable till the children make an effort to form a bond with them. Once a bond has formed, the relationship can quickly become natural and both sides can start enjoying the newly formed relationship.