Building Stepfamilies That Work©	

Table of Contents

© Bill Nodrick, Ph.D. and Bev Nodrick, R.S.W. 2008

Week 1: Introductions and Basic Notions	
	Reading Materials	
		Patterns of Development in Stepfamilies	
		Strengthening Your Couple Relationship	
	Additional Resources	
		Great Books on the Stepfamily	
		Bibliography of Additional Resources	
	Survey	
		Stepfamily Stress Index (SSI) Overview	
		*Stepfamily Stress Index (SSI)	
			Note: An on-line survey. Please complete it independently	
	Homework	
		*Balance Map	
		Dating	
		Expectations	
		Goal Setting	
		Video: How To Succeed	
																				
Week 2: Couple Strength	
	Reading Materials	
		Building Relationships That Last	
		Gender Differences	
	Homework	
		Mission Statement	
		         (Note: This document is due by Week 6.)	
		*Emotional Needs Questionnaire	
			(Note: Do not discuss your answers with your partner yet.)	
		*Love Busters Questionnaire	
			(Note: Do not discuss your answers with your partner yet.)	
		Video: Gary Smalley – Keys to Loving Relationships Exercise	
			(Note: Watch all three video files, GS001.wmv, GS002.wmv and GS003.wmv)	
																				
Week 3: Communication	
	Reading Materials	
		How to Talk to Your Husband	
		Seven Steps for Resolving Conflict	
	Survey	
		Stepparenting Survey (SPS) Overview	
		* Stepparenting Survey (SPS)	
			Note: An on-line survey. Please complete it independently	
	Homework	
		Notion of the Family	
		The Language of Apology – Part 2	
																				
Week 4: Dealing with Prior Spouse	
	Reading Materials	
		Dealing With the Ex: General Information	
		Dealing With the Ex: Dos and Don’ts	
		Tips on Communicating With Your Prior Spouse	
		The Responsibility Pyramid	
	Homework	
		*Ghosts of the Past	
		*Letter to the Ex	
		*Letter to Your Spouse’s Ex	
																				
Week 5: Going into Business Together	
	Reading Materials	
		Helping Children Cope With Divorce	
		Misguided vs Effective Stepparenting	
		Mediating Agreement on Parenting Issues	
		Parenting Plans    Note: Includes links to Parenting Plan booklet and Parenting Template	
			Note: Includes links to Parenting Plan booklet and Parenting Template	
				Parenting Plan	
				Parenting Plan Template	
		The Problem Co-Parent	
		The Candle Story	
																				
	Homework	
		Job Description – The Stepparent Role Part 2	
		Charting Your Family Rules	
		Chores	
		The One-Minute Father Exercise 	
			Audio: Listen to all four recordings (father1.wma, father2.wma, father3.wma, father4.wma)	
	----NB:  Your Completed Mission Statements Are Due. Please hand them in.----	
																				
Week 6: Discipline	
	Reading Materials	
		Comparisons Between Discipline and Punishment	
		The 4 Goals of Misbehaviour	
		Erikson’s Developmental Stages	
		Developmental Stages 1 to 19 Years	
		Teen Development	
	Homework	
		Family Meetings	
		Kids are Worth It Exercise	
			Audio:  Kids are Worth It (coloroso.wma) Note: Only one audio file	
																				
Week 7: Money and Finances	
	Reading Materials	
		The Romance of Money	
		(Reference) Resource Books on Finances	
	Homework	
		*Time Money Energy Grid	
		Financial Goals	
		*Financial Support Inventory	
																				
Week 8: Evaluation and Celebration	
	Reading Materials		
		Tips for Stepfamily Members	
			10 Dos to Stepmothering	
			10 Steps for Fathers Who Have Divorced	
			10 Steps for Grandparents	
			10 Steps for Men in Step	
			10 Steps for Stepfathers	
			10 Steps for Steps	
			10 Steps for Young Mothers	
			10 Steps to Building Couple Strength	
			10 Tips for the Second Wife	
			How to Build a Healthy Relationship With Your Stepchild	
			How to Succeed in the Stepfather Role	
			Introducing Your Partner to Your Children	
			Nine Steps Towards a Healthy Stepfamily	
			Stepfamily Information	
			Tips for Remarried Parents	
			Tips for Stepfathers	
			Tips for Stepmothers	
			Tips for Teachers	
			Tips – Bonding With Stepchildren	
				
	Homework	
		See Week 8 Homework Folder	

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