COMMUNITY NEWS

https://www.catholiccarevic.org.au

Navigating the complexities of step-families

Every step-family is unique, and step-families often have complex relationship structures.

Some step-families will have multiple children from previous partners, as well as new children from current partnerships, not to mention a large array of extended family and grandparents.

Naturally, new and existing step-families may also experience challenges or tension between relationships both in and out of the home.

Joy Strahle, Team Leader Dispute Resolution Services and Family Counsellor, discusses how parents may navigate the complexities of step-families.

Joy has worked in our Geelong Family Relationship Centre for 10 years supporting families through the stages of Post Separation Parenting.

“It's never an easy process for families, but when the parents can get the ground rules established with their partners, that can go a long way to helping work out how to move forward with their kids.”

So what do we mean by ground rules?

Ground rules can include setting clear boundaries, managing expectations, and discussing how your step-family will function within an environment of respectful, open communication.

“As a parent, what are you expecting from your partner? How are you expecting them to be with your children? Because it's the parent’s role to discipline them. It's the parent’s role to make major decisions about them, and it’s the partner’s role to be a support person to the children and to support you as a parent. It can be their role to be a friend to the children,” says Joy.

“However, the parents may need to discuss with their partner how it's going to impact their current household. If the partner also has children from a previous relationship, they may need to consider how they will all work together.”

Establishing ground rules/boundaries with your partner may help prevent assumptions from being made, and may help avoid further conflict and future challenges.

“One of the benefits in family mediation is being able to provide a forum for parents to discuss and manage their expectations and to ask them, ‘What do you see moving forward as the role of parents and partners?’ We then help parents to reach agreement on those ground rules, while keeping their kids’ wellbeing at the centre of their decision making,” says Joy.

If you are in the process of separation, and your family is experiencing ongoing conflict or challenges with child arrangements, we can provide a range of services to support the family at this time:

Family Dispute Resolution

https://www.catholiccarevic.org.au/directory/services/family-dispute-resolution

Parenting  Orders Program

https://www.catholiccarevic.org.au/directory/services/parenting-orders-program

Property Dispute Resolution

https://www.catholiccarevic.org.au/directory/services/property-dispute-resolution

LEONGATHA LIBRARY

CELEBRATING Science Week 2022 early!! Join us after school on Tuesday, August 9 at 4pm for a fabulously fun hands-on science session.

The theme for National Science Week this year is "Glass: more than meets the eye". At Leongatha Library we will be exploring the properties of momentum, kinetic energy and reflective imagery and discovering the amazing, dynamic uses of glass! Children will be making their own working glass pendulum swing (Newton's Cradle) and kaleidoscope as part of our free children's programs and events. Sessions are aimed at primary school aged children, however, older and younger children are always welcome. All materials are provided.

Bookings are required to attend and children must be accompanied by an adult. You can book your ticket via Eventbrite at Science Week - D.I.Y. Kaleidoscope and Newton's Cradle at Leongatha Library Tickets, Tue 09/08/2022 at 4:00 pm | Eventbrite, in person at the library, or by ringing (03) 5662 4829 to secure your spot. We look forward to seeing you here!