Divorce and Remarriage

I personally grew up in a traditional family system. My biological mom and dad, had and raised 11 children. I knew several classmates and friends, growing up who came from blended families. After this week in class and the readings from our textbook, I have gained new insights and a slight understanding for the challenges and complexities that divorced and blended families experience. In a divorced situation (and death of a spouse) there is part of the family that may get lost. That parent's parents may still want to be grandparents to the children and be apart of their lives. However the parent may want to move on. Things like dating bring in challenges as well. The parent may cling to the child and not want to date. However if the parent does date and eventually remarry, you are starting a whole new family system and quite complex at that! Think about it, you have the late spouse's parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, the living parent's family, and then the step-parent's family as well. Relationship bonds are strains and conflicts may arrive. It is a very sensitive situation. Lets think about all the past history that one brings into the picture, from both parties. The children's grief and emotions. A power struggle between the couple. And then there is disciplining techniques, and who has the right to discipline who's children.

I really have come to empathize with divorced and blended families. I can not imagine just how real these challenges are. I have great respect for men and women that are capable of coming into to families and being able to fill maybe a hole that was missing. It is not their responsibility, but they fill that role out of love. I know that all families can find and create happiness together. After all that is what Heavenly Father wants for all of us.