Becoming a Stepfamily- A Teenagers guide

I didn’t choose this, why do I have to live with these people

Teenagers are probably the most challenging when creating a new stepfamily – here are some tips for them to help them adjust to their new family!

When you are in a stepfamily you might feel:

Sad or angry that your family has changed.
Under pressure to like your new stepparent.
Pleased that this nice person has come into your family and your mum or dad is a lot happier but it’s still weird sometimes.
Split in half – so it feels hard to stay close and be loyal to both parents at first.
Left out, because your parent gives the new partner a lot of attention.
Annoyed that this stepparent also comes with their own kids you have to deal with.

Ideas that can help:

Make a list of things you like doing (playing music, being part of a club or a sports team). Fill up your week and spend time with friends so you are not so focussed on what’s happening at home.
Ask for support from your friends. You will probably be surprised that when you share your story they will tell you that things aren’t exactly perfect in their family either.
Keep a diary or a blog about what it’s like to be in a stepfamily. It can help you feel better and it’s good to look back when things have changed.
Work on accepting that in life – there are some things that you just can’t change. Think about it and work out what you DO and DON’T have control over (e.g. you can’t control how someone else acts, just how you respond to them).
Be smart and make a plan to be respectful towards your stepparent – whether you like them or not. Saying normal things like good morning, hi and bye, thanks for dinner etc. will stop them complaining about you to your parent. Everyone deserves respect and if you are communicating civilly then you can ask them to do the same (eg “Please speak to me nicely, like I speak to you”).
Request a family meeting if you have a big problem to discuss. Make sure you LISTEN to other people’s point of view and ask them to then listen to yours without interrupting. Stay calm and be clear about what you want, rather than getting angry and walking off in a bad mood.
If you have things to say to your family members but you feel uncomfortable about it – then write them a letter. It can be a good chance to explain why you have behaved as you have, and tell them how you would like things to be in the future.
If you don’t like your new stepparent disciplining you (setting rules and consequences) then ask that this be handled by your parent. You don’t have to be horrible about it just say “I think that would work better for everyone” – adults don’t know all the answers, they are going through a transition period too.
Recontact old friends or extended family you haven’t seen for a while. It feels good to be connected to other people who know you well.
This is a challenging one… try to imagine what life is like for your stepparent. They probably didn’t choose this situation either, they just fell in love with your parent. If you are brave enough you can ask them “So what’s this family situation like for you” and listen to what they have to say, even if you don’t agree with all of it – just asking the question will improve things. If you can go easy on them for a while you might find they show a different side of themselves and things get easier. Sometimes young people can be the ones that fix up these situations because the adults don’t always know how.
Let the little things go – try not to make a fight over every small detail. If your somebody annoys you try walking away. You have better things to do with your time.

It is ok to seek out some positive support during this time.

See a counsellor that is familiar with parenting and stepfamily dynamics. They can help with things like communication skills and managing your emotions.

Where to access further help:

Stepfamilies Australia stepfamily.org.au
Family Relationships Advice Line 1800 050 321
Lifeline 13 11 14
Raising Children www.raisingchildren.net.au