How to Get Along with New Step Siblings

Thứ bảy - 27/04/2024 01:08
Step families are becoming more common each year, but merging families isn't easy for the kids involved. As part of a blended family, it's natural to feel some tension with your new step-siblings. You may end up fighting with your new...
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Step families are becoming more common each year, but merging families isn’t easy for the kids involved. As part of a blended family, it’s natural to feel some tension with your new step-siblings. You may end up fighting with your new step-siblings or find it difficult to relate to them. That said, you can still learn to get along with and even enjoy your new family members – just focus on building relationships, maintain some of your own space, and try to help “blend” the family together.

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Managing Conflicts with Your Step-Siblings

  1. Step 2 Address issues in a direct, assertive way.
    [2] If you are upset about something that one of your step-siblings has said or done, then it is important to address the issue in a constructive way. You can do this by using direct, assertive communication. Simple things like arranging a time to talk and using “I” statements can help you to communicate more assertively with your step-sibling.
    • Ask your step-sibling when would be a good time to talk. Try saying something like, “Hey, I have something kind of important to discuss with you. Do you have some time to talk after dinner tonight?”
    • Use “I” statements when you share your concern. Using “I statements will help to take the focus off of you step-sibling and this may prevent him or her from becoming defensive. For example, you might say something like, “I felt a little hurt by what you said to me at school today. I heard you tell someone that I was ‘annoying’ and that hurt my feelings.”
    • Avoid accusing your step-sibling of trying to hurt you. Just explain how the event made you feel. Focus on your perspective, not your step-sibling’s perspective.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Building Relationships

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Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Maintaining Your Own Space

  1. Step 2 Talk about sharing.
    Sharing is a good thing. But, we sometimes need to have limits on what we’re willing to share. Like your room, you probably have clothes, toys, and belongings that are yours and that you don’t necessarily want to share with a step sibling. This is natural. Having boundaries on these things will help minimize problems with your new sibling.[7]
    • You shouldn’t be expected to share everything you own with step-siblings or to make everything communal property.
    • If you’re going to share a room, talk to your natural parent (and maybe your step parent) about what can be communal and what you want to keep private. For instance, it would be hard to prevent your sibling from using a television or PC in a shared room. But you could ask that he or she not use your telephone or iPod.
    • Talk to your parent, again, if you feel that your step sibling is overstepping bounds. For instance, “Mom, can you talk to X about “borrowing” my clothes? I don’t like it” or “Dad, X has been reading my diary and I want him to know that that’s private.”
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Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Blending the Family

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