Stepfamilies may have the couple and biological children of one or both of the spouses. The thumb rule to successful parenting in a step family is the harmony between parent and the stepparent. There are two types of relationships that are at work in such families - marital relations of the couple and the stepparent-stepchildren relationships. It is not true that stepparent alone is responsible for step parenting. The strength of your love and affection of your spouse will determine whether your relations can endure the pressures and challenges of the stepfamily couples and give it stability. Role of stepparents in the family determines the level of stress in children that in turn determines stress in the marriage.
Both the parents have to understand that none of them is the only one responsible for the children. They need to work as a team. Instead of constantly suspecting each other and get set against each other when the stepparent somehow upsets the children, the biological parent must play the role of the facilitator and the bridge between his or her children and spouse. There must be a set role for both the biological parents and stepparents based on their strengths. They must have one goal for their children and should work as a two-people team to try and achieve them. Biological parents need to support their spouse and children who are struggling to adjust to each other. Smart stepparenting means that the biological parent and the stepparent form an alliance and plan and parent their children together.