Yahoo Launches Online Catholic Blended Families Group

Are you a Catholic and you and your partner have been married before? Have each of you lost a spouse through a divorce, annulment or death? Do you or your spouse have children from your previous marriage? Are you a couple who have fallen in love and decided to remarry in the Catholic Church? Was your marriage con-validated and you or your spouse have children from previous marriage? Are you a couple who have adopted children? Are you taking care of children in foster care?

If you answered "yes" to anyone of the above questions, an online support group has been recently launched at yahoo groups. Mr. and Mrs. Treasures are the group moderators for the many issues faced by Catholic Blended Families. Specifically, the following are some of the topics to be discussed:

· Lifestyle changes and adjustments

· Unresolved issues with biological parents

· Discipline issues

· Family rules

· Developing bonds with step children slowly and naturally

· Respect of beliefs and cultures

· Creating stable environment for children after a dysfunctional life

· Children's age, gender, emotional status

· Dealing with children under 10, adolescents, young adults

· Establishing relationships with stepchildren takes time

· Developing family history (new traditions, rituals, way of doing things)

· Each child is unique and challenges vary

· Being steadfast in protecting children's souls

· Aspiring for peace through daily family prayer

· Calling stepparents "mom" or "dad" is on the comfort level of children

· Marriage is always priority

· Family Meetings

· Get all assistance you can get from spiritual advisers, grandparents, relatives, counselors

· Higher risks of emotional and behavior problems

· Removing myths of stepparents - wicked, love occurs spontaneously, stepchildren are dysfunctional, there is only one kind of family