FARMINGTON – The unique challenges of living in a stepfamily is the topic of workshops being offered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Franklin County.
This five-part discussion series, “Building Strong Stepfamilies,” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings, Oct. 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9 and 16 at the Cooperative Extension office, 147 Farmington Falls Road. There is no cost to participate, but participants must register by Oct. 14.
The series focuses on: recognizing unrealistic expectations; adjusting to new family members and dynamics; resolving conflicts; and communicating effectively with all players.
“Although a stepfamily may look like a traditional family with parents and children, the actual differences between step- and traditional families are striking,” explains Wendy Legg Pollock, extension educator and leader of the workshop.
“Anyone living in a stepfamily knows how challenging and confusing stepfamily life can be, yet they may be blaming themselves or thinking something is wrong’ with their family, rather than realizing how typical these struggles are for most stepfamilies. A valuable feature of the series is the support participants receive from each other as they learn more about these common struggles and ways of dealing with them.”
People may obtain more information or register by calling the extension office at 778-4650 or (800) 287-1478.
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