Living Arrangements When You Remarry

Where you live and your specific living arrangements can have a significant impact on your stepfamily. Ideally, you’d move into a home that is new to all. It puts everyone at the same starting point and prevents family members from feeling invaded or like an outsider moving in.

But, in most cases, moving into a new home is not feasible or practical.

Living Arrangements When You Remarry

It may require children to leave established friendships, and change schools. It may be too expensive or may not be wise for other reasons. Weigh the pros and cons with your spouse, and make the best decision you can for all involved.

When moving into an already established home, try the following suggested steps to make your new living arrangements run smoother.

They Are:

• Be sensitive to the incoming family members’ feelings. They are likely to feel like outsiders or even unwanted guests at times.

• Be sensitive to the existing household members. They are likely to feel invaded, especially if changes happen too quickly or they must now share their room.

• Be willing to compromise regarding furniture and other household items. Use items from both homes and ask the children for input on which possessions are most important to them.

• Have a family garage sale to sell off excess items. (Get the kids involved selling sodas and/or lemonade —and let them keep the money.)

• Tackle a redecorating project together to make the home yours as a family.

• Go slow. Too many changes in the home, too quickly can be overwhelming to the children (and adult) already living there.

• Step into the incoming members’ shoes. What would make them feel more like it’s their home too?

Our Story:

Soon after we married, David and his children moved into a home I already owned. I quickly became resentful as my stepchildren threw their backpacks and shoes all over the floor each time they entered the house. I kept thinking —they’re treating my house like a hotel they can trash then leave.

After an enlightening conversation with their mom and a hard look at our home, I realized two things.

I realized:

(1) they did the same thing at their mom’s house and
(2) our walls were covered with photos of my children, but none of my stepchildren.

I adjusted my attitude, and we adjusted our home to better include all the kids.

This article, concerning remarriage living arrangements, is written by Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer who is a mother of two and the stepmother of three. She is also a freelance writer, speaker and the author of 29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work. She is a regular contributor to Your Stepfamily magazine, the official publication of the Stepfamily Association of America, and she publishes Stepfamilies Work! —a website and free monthly newsletter.

29 Ways To Make Your Stepfamily Work is written by Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer. This book helps you to make your stepfamily work even though stepfamily life isn’t easy. It helps you to know that it can be complicated and overwhelming. But it can also be an opportunity for growth and joy. With teamwork, creativity, commitment and grace, Kelly and her husband, David, have found ways to beat the odds and make their stepfamily work. In “29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work,” Kelly shares the secrets to her stepfamily’s success. They also have this available in an E-Book.

— ADDITIONALLY —

There are other living arrangements and adjustments that you need to make when you remarry. To help you a bit more with these adjustments, we encourage you to read:

• LEARNING TO SPEAK MARRIAGE AGAIN

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