PART 3

LESSONS LEARNED

1. You are not your children’s pal; you are their parent.

2. Be open and available to accept your new stepchildren.

3. Make every effort to understand your stepchild.

4. Commit to making all relationships succeed.

5. Children must get help on their own terms, not yours.

6. Parents must be clear, consistent and understandable to each other and their children.

7. Both parents must participate in setting rules—and enforcing them.

8. Develop joint strategies for discipline.

9. Establish the same rules for your children and your stepchildren.

10. Biological parents are the only ones who can discipline their own children.