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7 Intriguing Historical Facts About Stepparents

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Submitted by observer on Sun, 06/16/2013 - 3:05pm

• Adoption of a stepchild was not an option until the nineteenth century.

• High mortality rates were the primary reason people became stepparents during colonial times. Today, divorce rates are to blame.

• In Maryland, stepfathers would fight biological grandparents for custody, not on the grounds of a child's best interest, but because of his investment in the maintenance of a child and his need for their services.

Did you know?

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Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 9:48pm

• Over 65 percent of Americans are a stepparent, a stepchild, a stepsibling or a step-grandparent.

• Experts predict that by 2011, there would be more stepfamilies in America than traditional families.

• 46 percent of weddings in the United States create a stepfamily.

• 2,100 new stepfamilies are created every day.

Blog Introduction

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Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 4:37pm

This blog will address the adverse impact step families can have on self esteem and self image. An emphasis will be placed on step family dynamics. The history of step families as well as reasonable and unreasonable expectations will also be considered.