LEAD December 2021 | Page 11

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By the way , involving children in the planning and production of the wedding is also part of giving them a voice . One chapter in Preparing to Blend goes into great detail about this in order to help leaders and couples experience a prewedding journey and family-based ceremony that is full of meaning and fosters family identity . Additional chapters help couples create a digital genogram of their future family ( so they can see the complexity and anticipate stress ), identify and examine unrealistic expectations for their new home , create a parenting plan together , and begin to merge their money and financial assets .
Making a commitment till death do them part is just the beginning of the blended family journey . Helping them prepare for the rest of that journey is your privilege and opportunity .
Excerpts from Preparing to Blend and the Preparing to Blend Leader ’ s Guide by Ron Deal provided by Bethany House Publishers , a division of Baker Publishing Group . Copyright 2021 . Used by permission .
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Ron Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country . He is President of Smart Stepfamilies , directs the blended family ministry at FamilyLife , and is the author of more than a dozen books and resources including the bestselling books The Smart Stepfamily and Building Love Together in Blended Families ( with Dr . Gary Chapman ). Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist , popular conference speaker , host of the podcast FamilyLife Blended , and his work has been referenced by the New York Times , The Wall Street Journal , Today . com , USA Today , U . S . News and World Report , and newspapers / blogs throughout the world . 11