{"id":43910,"date":"2022-03-07T16:00:38","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T21:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/?p=43910"},"modified":"2022-03-14T15:26:16","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T19:26:16","slug":"there-once-was-a-b-lended-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/magazine\/lifestyle\/there-once-was-a-b-lended-family\/","title":{"rendered":"There once was a blended family"},"content":{"rendered":"

EVOLUTION<\/span> \u2014 <\/i><\/span>In the history of the family, two important transitions gave rise to the formation of blended families: widowhood and\u2014much more frequently these days\u2014parental separation. In previous centuries, the much shorter life expectancy than the one we enjoy today left many children orphaned without a father or mother. In addition, the remarriage of widows and widowers was strongly encouraged by society. For a few decades now, the presence of blended families has been promoted by shifting values and attitudes regarding life as a couple. We want this to be satisfying and fulfilling. If this isn\u2019t the case, many parents will decide to separate. However, this doesn\u2019t put an end to their love life. Indeed, it is very common for them to get together with a new partner. Finally, it is often forgotten that a significant portion of children in Quebec are born into single-parent families. Many of them will see a step-parent come into their lives!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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HOW MANY ARE THERE?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

A survey of recently separated parents in Quebec shows that 43% of them are once again in a relationship two years after their separation. Among these, 41% are living with their new partner full-time, and 41% are doing so on an intermittent basis, with each person keeping their home. Yes, you can still be a step-parent even when the children aren\u2019t there full-time, or when you only share certain periods of life together. It should also be noted that 2% of parents who are in a new relationship are with a partner who identifies as the same gender as them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About 132,000 families in Quebec are blended\u2014that is, they involve a spouse who is not the parent (biological or adoptive) of at least one of the children. This represents one in six two-parent families, a higher ratio than that of Canada. It is difficult to determine the proportion of step-parents who are men vs. women. A few years ago, more men played the role of step-parent. However, there has been an increase in the number of single fathers who engage in family blending, which leads to a growing number of women playing the role of step-mother. This is explained by the changes that have occurred in child custody arrangements since the 1990s. Finally, it should be noted that, according to the census, half of Canadian families with same-sex parents are in fact blended families, and that the majority of same-sex couples consist of two women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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THE SPECIFICS OF LIFE IN A BLENDED FAMILY\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the past, many studies were conducted to compare the well-being and functioning of blended families with those of intact two-parent families. In so doing, researchers supposed to a certain extent that intact families were a benchmark or standard, which had the indirect effect of devaluing other family structures. <\/b><\/p>\n

But beyond this structural question, families\u2014whether they are blended, single-parent, intact, or with same sexparents\u2014take on the same purposes. They may all encounter challenges, experience difficulties, be places of attachment. These days, therefore, we try to place greater emphasis on the elements that make life within a blended family unique:<\/p>\n