The other day, The Cosby Show came on television. After the classic theme music, we find Denise Huxtable in the living room with her new husband, Martin Kendall, whom neither of her parents had previously met.

“I realize that this is a bit awkward — especially when you’ve just heard things about me that you might find troubling,” Martin hedges, as the Huxtables look on incredulously. “Well, I’m sure you were concerned when you heard I was divorced,” he continues, as Cliff and Claire’s eyes grow wider. “I suppose I also have to tell them about Olivia?” he asks Denise. “Is that another wife?” Claire asks. Martin assures them that Olivia is his 3-year-old daughter and the scene continues to unfold as the Huxtables get a crash course in blended families.

As funny as this scene is, it portrays the essential nature of blended families. Combining families can yield a number of different results: for example, it can be comedic and entertaining as your new spouse learns the ticks and quirks of your young children who speak without filter. Family blending can also be tedious, as you explain for the one hundredth time to your teenagers that they do have to obey the rules set by their stepmother even though she is not their biological mother. And of course, there’s the classic Brady Bunch result where both partners bring children into a newly formed union. Depending on the dynamics among the children, this type of family blending can run the spectrum from great to horrible.

No matter what your blended family looks like, we would all do well to remember that, whether biological or blended, the emphasis should be on the word family. Regardless of the circumstances that forged this incongruous group of people, here you are. Maybe merging families resulted in your daughter getting the sister she always wanted; or maybe now, your youngest son may have a sibling closer to his age that he can finally play with. Whatever the situation, blending families can sometimes require an extra dose of grace and patience from every family member involved.

Even if your blended family functions fairly well, there are always ways to improve family interactions. What are some new ways that you could spend time together that everyone would enjoy? Is there an activity or a location that several people have mentioned, but you all have yet to explore as a family?

And if your transition into a blended family has been more challenging, is there at least one commonality over which the family can bond? Is there at least one activity, game, or place that would be more conducive to calm, positive family interactions? Creating a new family is a task, that with hard work and patience, can eventually yield some great results. And who knows, with a little effort, your family might even look like the one of those happy ones on TV, the Huxtables even.

The way in which our blended families come together isn’t the important thing. The important thing is that we all come together regardless of circumstance. However, we know that the transition isn’t always so simple for all parties involved. If you need family law advice in Atlanta with regards to your own blended family, then you need to know someone is here to help. 

Do you need assistance with step parent adoption or a custody case ? The experienced attorneys at The Fairell Firm can help you successfully navigate the legal processes associated with creating a blended family. The Fairell Firm assists with family law advice and support, including divorce and child custody issues, throughout the greater Atlanta area. Call today at 678.973.2803 or contact us to schedule a consultation.