Monday, October 25, 2010

Monday Musings

Last Friday Robbie came home from work with a story about a coworker. It seems that his wife and him got into an argument about disciplining his stepdaughter. The wife didn't like the way he handled it so they argued and then she gave him the silent treatment. Coworker knows that Zach is not Robbie's biological child so he was asking how we handle things. Robbie's only child is our daughter Olivia. Zach is 14 and has Asperger's. We do not always agree on punishments and whatnot but I refuse to argue about the kids in front of the kids. I feel that is undermines authority and teaches children that they only have to listen to one parent. And I don't do the silent treatment. I want you to know how I feel whether you want to hear it or not. Zachary has to listen to Robbie just like he has to listen to me. Now, my older sister believes that Zach should not have to listen to Robbie because he is not his biological parent. She doesn't make her teenage daughter listen to her fiance. I think that would cause problems. I know that I would not live in a home where the children did not have to listen to me. It just would not happen. \

So my question is, are you a blended family too? And how do you handle it?

3 comments:

Liz Mays said...

That could be really confusing, and it's a subject I really can't shed any light on for you. Sorry! Your logic seems sound though!

He & Me + 3 said...

We are not a blended family, but if we were that child would have to listen and abide by our rules no matter who was sharing them when they were at our house. I agree with you.

Unknown said...

I am a blended family, the kids know they have to listen to Scott. As with you, I may not agree, but I don't want to show the kids that. I was bad about it before but have been working on that. My stepdaughter knows she has to listen to me.