Terri Clark

In blended families, conflicts often run deeper than the surface issues. Letting go of the past and establishing trust through open communication is vital to building a healthy marriage and family.

Your spouse may act nothing like your ex, but without even realizing it, you might be unfairly reacting based on fears and emotions that are rooted in your previous marriage — these are triggers.

Stepsibling jealousy can be subtle, volatile and destructive, but detecting it isn’t difficult if you know what to look for.

Everyone brings baggage from past relationships, but you can pull from the strengths you’ve gained from your past — maturity, patience, wisdom, godliness — to build a new marriage and family.