(HealthDayNews) -- If you're a step parent, you know how trying your role can be.
Barnes Jewish Hospital offers these suggestions to help you avoid some of the pitfalls:
- Don't feel guilty about putting your marriage first.
- Realize that it takes time for each member to adapt to a new family.
- Try to maintain positive relationships with ex-spouses. Don't make disparaging comments about them in front of the kids.
- If there's a new home involved, make sure the children feel welcome.
- Be patient and understand that loyalty to the new family takes time.
- Develop new family traditions without abruptly changing the old ones.
- Encourage the kids to establish strong relationships with both natural parents and their new family members.
- Make sure you and your spouse agree on discipline.
