From bestselling author, speaker, and therapist Ron Deal, one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country.
Part of Ron’s Smart Stepfamily series of books (over 250,000 copies sold) including The Smart Stepmom, The Smart Stepdad, Dating and the Single Parent, The Smart Stepfamily Marriage, Daily Encouragement for the Smart Stepfamily, and The Smart Stepfamily Guide to Financial Planning.
Single parents who are dating or want to begin a dating relationship wonder, How will dating affect my children and my parenting? They probably have figured out that “dating in a crowd” is complicated. Now they’re looking for help. Ron Deal, who has counseled single parents and remarried couples for many years, helps single parents-as well as those who date them-navigate the potential pitfalls involved. He gives perspective on when a relationship may be harmful to the children as well as how it can be a blessing to all. Always at the forefront is the goal of strengthening families.

If you are considering remarriage and want to do everything you can to ensure a happy and fulfilling union, turn to Ron Deal and the Smart Stepfamily series.
This is the ideal book for engaged or pre-engaged couples who have at least one child from a previous relationship, offering premarital counsel about how to prepare to blend family relationships, parenting, finances, rituals, and daily routines for your new life together. You will be able to:
– become stepfamily smart
– predict common issues
You and your children will also benefit from exercises designed to accelerate family bonding and help you better understand each other-even plan your wedding with your children in mind-so that you can build a strong future together. If you want to enter a blended family marriage well, Preparing to Blend is just the book for you.
Marriage coaches, mentors, and pastors who feel overwhelmed by the complexity of blended family dynamics can use this as their primary premarital counseling tool. Armed with the sister book Preparing for Marriage (for first marriages) and this resource, you’ll be prepared to equip every engaged couple for their life together.

Take Control of Your Blended Family Finances Money issues are a frequent source of conflict in any marriage. But blended families are a monetary minefield. Debts, bills, and child support payments from previous relationships often influence the finances of a blended family. And planning for college expenses, retirement, and inheritance gets even more complicated in stepfamilies. However, proper blended family money management can make money an asset to your relationships rather than a liability. The authors use over fifty years of combined financial planning and blended family educational experience to help you merge your current financial realities and family, and protect your marriage while doing so. Get real-world financial advice specific to unique blended family matters so you can provide for your family both now and in the future.