COMM 004 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Noncustodial Parent, Stepfamily, Nuclear Family

• School: College of The Sequoias
• Department: Communication (COMM)
• Course: COMM 004
• Professor: Tom

Document Summary

1 in 3 currently a member of a stepfamily. Blended families, bi-nuclear families, remarried families, second families, etc. Coming together as a family but one spouse doesn"t have any children. Spouses already have their families (children) and are. Ways stepfamilies are formed: combining their world. Having children with someone and never marrying them. Communication challenges: negotiating ambiguous parental roles, regulating boundaries, building solidarity. Not having a relational history means not having stories, traditions, etc. but this creates a lot of opportunity because you can create your own story/book of how your stepfamilies came to be. When you"re saying step-mother or step-brother has an impact in how you"re shaping the new family/blending in the family members. Rapidly develop traditional family roles, norms, boundaries, & expectations. Spouses are getting along and working on their relationship. Adaptable, flexible, & satisfied, does not compare itself to nuclear family. Understand it does take time to feel like a new family.