Paths to Stepfamily Life

Abstract

Stepfamilies do not begin as tabula rasa. Members of stepfamailies are well into the process of writing their life stories when step-relationships begin. Although remarriage or cohabiting may start a new chapter in those life stories, the plot lines from earlier chapters continue. Characters and events that were important in the development of earlier stories generally continue to influence the directions the stories take. In fact, forming a stepfamily has been likened to beginning a novel in the middle of the book. Family members are trying to combine and understand multiple, and often diverse, story lines from prior families; these story lines may include comedies, tragedies, mysteries, romances, science fiction, and even postmodern narratives that are hard to follow.