~The New Family Dynamic~

The family structure today has changed more in the past 30 years than at any other time in history. Gone is the tradional family unit where the father works, the mother takes care of the home and children (although personally I am working to bring this aspect back into play), the kids obediently toil at school until they leave the nest soon after adolescence. And it hasn't been replaced by another basic structure-instead, families now come in a variety of combinations that pose new challenges to parents and children alike.

Today, almost 50 percent of parents are single. Often, both mother and father will commit to co-parenting, with the children spending periods of time with each. Although it's certainly not the perfect solution, children do adapt when they know that they're loved by both parents; and also step (parents and siblings).

Obviously, divorce has played a significant role in the development of "the new family." But there are variations to even the divorced/single-parent style of modern parenting. Many woman whose biological clock is ticking away are now deciding to go ahead and have a child without the support of a partner at all.

And then we have "patchwork families" - or "blended families."

blend·ed family (blĕnˈdĭd): a social unit consisting of two previously married parents and the children of their former marriages; A stepfamily.
 
Patchwork and/or blended families, where stepchildren and half-siblings come together to create a new family unit. Keeping the continuity of family is difficult in these situations, but crucial for the stability of the children.
 
Because of all these changes, the pscyhology of the family is venturing into new and unknown territory. However, the basic challenge remains the same: how best to raise a healthy, happy child. There are lots of theories out there, but there are no hard and fast rules, except to use your best judgment possible and treat your entire family-children, stepchildren, parents, and partners-with love, respect, understanding, and kindness.