Boundaries in a Blended Family

“Divorce isn’t easy, but it doesn’t need to be bitter,” says Bonnie A. Rabinovitch-Mantel, Family Lawyer. After going through a divorce and transitioning into a blended family, Bonnie decided to make the transition from medical malpractice to family law. Bonnie’s first-hand experience in divorce and step-parenting opened her eyes to the need for strong, yet ethical family attorneys. Today, Bonnie runs her own firm where she guides families through the process of divorce in a healthy way for everyone involved. 

One of the first lessons Bonnie learned as a step-parent was the need for boundaries. Even though she initially wanted to jump straight in by implementing her parenting style on the kids, Bonnie soon realized that she needed to take a few steps back. The reality is divorce is hardest on the children. Bonnie explains that having to adjust to new parents while still remaining loyal to biological parents puts a huge amount of pressure on kids. In order to prioritize the best interest of the kids, Bonnie recommends setting healthy boundaries that respect both the children and the other parent.

Tune into this week’s episode of AskMamaAmy to learn tips on setting boundaries, the importance of co-parenting, and how to make the most of your blended household. 

 

Quotes:

• “You have to make sacrifices and decide when am I going to work? And when am I going to be a parent?” (06:38-06:42)

• “The turning point was seeing how my actions affected our kids.” (10:44-10:49)

• “Obviously you parent your step children when you're with them but you have to know your boundaries.” (11:15-11:19)

• “Not every divorce or blended family is toxic.” (13:21-13:26)

• “Divorce is not easy but it doesn't have to be bitter.” (15:06-15:09)

• “A strong mom is not afraid to tackle any road block in their way. However, they recognize the need for self-care because we know if we aren't good, nobody is good.” (23:00-23:12) 

 

Links:

Connect with Bonnie! 

Website | https://primusfamilylawgroup.com/?fbclid=IwAR3DpPu4oopI9GFAZnfnnvrxFL19ONL0Z97PP5MWgOrObrmezpw9uvWVJls 

Facebook |  https://www.facebook.com/PrimusFamilyLawGroup/ 

Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/primusfamilylaw/ 

 

Connect with Amy! 

Website |  https://hsiaolaw.com/ 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hsiaolaw/ 

Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/hsiaolaw/  

Hashtags | #hsiaolaw #askmamaamy

Twitter | https://twitter.com/AmyHsiaoESQ 

Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrvfMzTTbHslt3YxlZfDN1A 

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahsiao/ 

 

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm