The nontraditional family has become the new traditional family. More people than ever before (including more than half of Americans) will be part of a blended family at some point in their lifetime, and unrealistic expectations for stepfamilies set them up for discouragement and defeat. In this bestselling book, leading stepfamily expert Ron L. Deal reveals the seven fundamental steps to blended family success and provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues you face as a stepfamily. Whether married or soon to be married, you'll discover how to · solve the everyday puzzles of stepparenting and stepchildren relationships · communicate effectively with an ex-spouse · handle stepfamily finances confidently · "cook" your stepfamily slowly rather than expect an instant blend With updated research, proven principles applied to different stepfamily configurations, and new tactics to support everyone connected to blended families, this revised and updated third edition will provide the tools you need to build a healthy stepfamily.