Discover the key steps to building a healthy family with stepfamily expert Ron L. Deal. Now revised and updated, this interactive workbook is guaranteed to help you benefit from The Smart Stepfamily book and DVD. It includes: * Discussion questions for before and after each DVD session * Bonus question-and-answer section * Group leader instructions * Guidelines for facilitating effective groups Through eight engaging sessions, you'll learn useable solutions for everyday living and glean valuable insight and practical tips for becoming a smart stepfamily.

Backed by neuroscience and biblical principles, this book delivers a therapeutic model for couples who want to stop the painful patterns that harm their marriage so that they can build a stronger connection.

When Ron and Nan Deal suffered the devastating loss of their child, their marriage was nearly shattered by their destructive cycles. At wits' end, they sought the help of pioneering therapists Dr. Terry Hargrave and Sharon Hargrave, LMFT, whose transformational Restoration Therapy has helped millions through the practice of emotional mindfulness. 

Now, the Deals and Hargraves introduce readers to this proven method that challenges popular beliefs about how relationships work. They show readers how to better understand themselves in times of emotional distress, so that they can self-regulate. Christian readers will  especially appreciate the balance of scientifically proven methods along with Scripturally sound teaching, resulting in more loving, faithful marital relationships.

Named #1 Best Estate Planning Book of All Time by BookAuthority 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. "Undoubtedly one of the most complicated financial situations is that of the stepfamily. Ron, Greg, and David have combined their individual experiences to write a very helpful and practical book. I recommend it highly."--RON BLUE, founder of Ronald Blue Trust and the Ron Blue Institute of Financial Planning, and author of more than 20 books, including Master Your Money Ron L. Deal is founder of Smart Stepfamilies (TM), director of FamilyLife Blended (R) for FamilyLife (R), the author of numerous books on stepfamily living including the bestselling The Smart Stepfamily, and consulting editor for the Smart Stepfamily Series of books. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist and popular speaker. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Find resources at SmartStepfamilies.com. Greg Pettys, CLU, ChFC, CFP, has thirty-four years of specialized experience in securities and life insurance sales and services. Ron has known Greg for twenty years, and Greg speaks regularly at Ron's Smart Stepfamily events. David O. Edwards is an estate planning and elder law attorney based in Springfield, Illinois. David speaks regularly at Ron's Smart Stepfamily events.

A Premarital Guide for Blended Family Couples If you want to enter a blended family marriage well, this is the book for you. Aimed at engaged or pre-engaged couples who have at least one child from a previous relationship, Preparing to Blend offers wise counsel on parenting, finances, establishing family identity, and daily routines for your new life together. Within these pages you will learn how to: * predict common issues * define expectations * create solutions You, your soon-to-be-spouse, and your children will benefit from exercises designed to accelerate family bonding and help you better understand each other. There is even a chapter to help you plan your wedding with your children in mind, so you can build a strong future together. Preparing to Blend is also an ideal premarital counseling tool for marriage coaches, mentors, and pastors wanting to prepare couples for complex blended family dynamics. If you are considering forming a blended family, Preparing to Blend is the resource you've been looking for.

Help for Stepdads from Leading Expert The Smart Stepdad gives you all the tools you need to navigate the stepparenting minefield, such as how to connect with the kids, how to be a godly role model, and how to handle tricky issues like discipline.

Discover the Keys to a Healthy Stepfamily Leading stepfamily expert Ron L. Deal reveals the seven fundamental steps to blended family success and provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues you face as a stepfamily. Whether married or soon-to-be-married, you'll discover how to * Solve the everyday puzzles of stepparenting and stepchildren relationships * Communicate effectively with an ex-spouse * Handle stepfamily finances confidently * "Cook" your stepfamily slowly rather than expect an instant blend This revised and expanded edition has updated research and two new chapters with even more real-world advice on topics such as stepsibling relationships and later-life stepfamilies.

All the Tools You Need to Thrive as a Stepmom Let stepfamily experts Ron L. Deal and Laura Petherbridge show you how to survive and thrive as a stepmom, including how to be a positive influence on the children and how to deal with conflict, as well as practical issues like dealing with holidays and between-home communication.

Make This Marriage Last a Lifetime Leading blended family authority Ron Deal and marriage and family expert David Olson show you how to build on your relationship strengths and improve your weaknesses. Whether you're dating, engaged, a young stepfamily, or an empty-nest couple, The Smart Stepfamily Marriage gives you the tools you need at any stage to create a remarriage that will last. Each chapter of this book explores one of the key qualities of happy remarriages as identified by research. Like a GPS for your relationship, this book has built-in discussion questions that can help you and your partner discover where you are, where you'd like to be, and how to get there. The online survey gives you a report with personalized results for your relationship. "The Smart Stepfamily Marriage is the road map to a healthy marriage."--Gary D. Chapman, PhD, author, The Five Love Languages and When Sorry Isn't Enough "Remarried or marrying again? This book is loaded with specific, useful ideas for helping your marriage reach its full potential."--Scott Stanley, PhD, author, A Lasting Promise; research professor, University of Denver "This book is a must-read for any remarried couple. It includes the tools needed to create and maintain a wonderful remarriage."--from the foreword by Evelyn Husband Thompson, widow of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband, now remarried to Bill Thompson "The Smart Stepfamily Marriage is the most up-to-date, relevant, complete guide for remarried couples--I know of no other resource like it."--Francesca Adler-Baeder, PhD, professor and director, Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Auburn University; director, National Stepfamily Resource Center "This book will help you thrive in your marriage and beat the odds of divorce. The preventative information is the best I have ever seen, and the practical application covers it all. I have put The Smart Stepfamily Marriage at the top of my resource library for couples who find themselves in this beautiful and yet challenging world of remarriage."--Jim Burns, PhD, president, HomeWord, author of Creating an Intimate Marriage, Confident Parenting, and The Purity Code "Remarriages have unique challenges and different relational needs than first marriages. Based on a national study of 50,000 couples, this book is a wonderful resource for remarriage couples. Take the online Couple Checkup and get a report about your relationship, read the book, and build a relationship that lasts!"--Dr. Gary Smalley, author of The DNA of Relationships "You want a marriage that lasts forever, right? Blended family couples can beat the odds--this book will tell you how."--Dr. Dennis Rainey, president of FamilyLife, author of Stepping Up

Trustworthy Stepfamily Expert Offers Single Parents a Guide to Dating
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. Includes questions for individual or group study.