Choosing Love: How To Manage Anger In A Blended Family

Published On: April 29th, 2019Categories: CoparentingTags: , , , , , 13.4 min read
chalk drawing of broken home

On most days, and on this blog, I try to focus on the positives of life. But some days it can be hard. Especially when complicated family dynamics are involved.

Ours is a blended family. I do not have biological children, but my husband has four. They call me their “bonus mom” and I love them dearly.

I’ve written before about step-relatives and how loving them is a choice. I’ve jumped full-heartedly into loving my stepchildren, but that doesn’t mean our blended family has been all been rainbows and unicorns.

There is another choice involved in blended families – the choice to let go of anger. And that choice is one of the hardest.

One of our biggest blended family challenges is co-parenting with the kids’ biological mom. Sometimes it goes really well. But sometimes it doesn’t. During a recent, very bad evening, my husband’s former mother-in-law called my husband a nasty name in front of the kids and sneered that I should have known what I was getting into when I got married.

My response to her was that I knew I was marrying a man with four amazing children and I loved them very much. In retrospect, I am proud that I held my tongue and didn’t say some of the things I was thinking.

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Namely that what I didn’t know when I got married was that in addition to my relationship with my husband and his children, I was going to have to navigate some sort of relationship with his ex-wife. And that it was going to be far from easy.

I’d like to say I’m proud of how I conduct myself during every difficult interaction, but if I’m being honest, that’s not always the case.

Like many stepparents, I constantly work to choose to let go of things that are said to and about me, and actions meant expressly to exclude or hurt me. But I’m not always successful.

Anger Is A Dangerous Emotion.

Anger can get the best of people with even the purest of intentions. But throw it into an already simmering pot of emotions between ex-spouses who have a long history of pushing each other’s buttons, add in a new marriage, and it can be a recipe for disaster.

Whether it happens to you, an ex-spouse, or someone else, anger can take over a person and transform them into someone that doesn’t look anything like who you thought you knew. Bitterness can control someone’s actions until they punish everyone around them for their unhappiness.

And flying into a blind rage when you’ve been triggered by someone else can have lots of unintended consequences.

It doesn’t have to be like this. The thing about being angry and bitter is that it’s simply exhausting. You know when you’ve had a huge fight with someone and the next day you wake up and feel like you’ve been run over by a truck? It’s like an anger hangover, right? For me, it can take a day or two to recover if I’ve been part of a nasty argument.

I don’t like that feeling, but when that happens I try to shift my focus away from the ugliness to what I could have done to change the outcome and keep things from getting that bad.

Through this process, I’ve learned a few things that I hope are helpful to others navigating challenging family dynamics:

The Kids Suffer Most When Adults Can’t Hold It Together.

Kids need stability. Desperately. They need to know that the adults in their lives prioritize them. When they see adults fighting, it drives home a message that adults put their own interests and agendas ahead of the kids.

sad girl with parents arguing in the background

Kids have big ears, especially when adults are fighting around them.

Kids don’t have the ability to consciously digest that their adults are doing this. But that de-prioritization jumps into their psyche and festers. Which can lead to kids who grow up believing they aren’t worth being a priority to someone. And if left unaddressed, this absence of self-worth can lead to them having unhealthy, or even disastrous, relationships in their adult lives.

How can you change this?

Don’t fight in front of the kids. And if you’re in a blended family, don’t fight with the ex in front of the kids.

Okay, that is all easier said than done, right? My husband and I do squabble in front of the kids every once in a while. Most times it’s resolved within minutes by one of us cracking a joke.

But even when it lasts longer than that, we don’t attack each other. We don’t swear at each other and we don’t say ugly things we can’t take back. And when we resolve things (which usually happens pretty quickly), we have a conversation with the kids about what they’ve seen and heard. And we talk about the fact that people who love each other sometimes fight, but that if you love each other, you can always work it out.

That being said, one of the toughest conversations we had with our kids was when one of them said to Craig, “but you and mom couldn’t work it out.” Yikes, we had focused so much on setting a good example for them we hadn’t counted on that one!

While we can control how we act in front of the kids, we can’t control interactions with an ex-spouse that occur in front of them. It’s easy to say you just won’t react when verbally attacked or provoked, but when you’re in the moment it can be hard to hold your tongue.

I constantly remind myself that I can’t control others’ actions, I can only control my reactions. Good advice when I can take it.

Violence Is Never The Answer.

I hope this one doesn’t need much explanation. When anger controls someone, he or she can easily get carried away. Do not. Under any circumstances. Let things escalate into violence.

Shoving, slapping, punching. None of it will solve anything and all of it will get you in trouble. It’s just wrong – especially when you’re in front of the kids.

When children are shared by two people who get into an altercation, it is considered a domestic matter – even if the two adults are no longer married. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 20,000 calls a day are placed to domestic violence hotlines.

I’ll add here that if you are the victim of violence or find yourself in a quickly escalating situation, do not hesitate to call 911. Try to disengage and get yourself to a safe place and wait for the police to arrive.

The Kids Don’t Need To Know All The Whys.

Sometimes people get divorced because they grow apart. Sometimes it’s because something tragic has happened in their lives that they can’t get past. Or it’s because they never really did get along. Or they were just a total mismatch. Sometimes it’s because someone stepped out. And sometimes it’s a combination of a bunch of those factors.

Whatever the cause, you should not, under any circumstances, get into all the dirty details with or in front of your kids. They simply don’t have the capacity to understand complicated and adult feelings.

They don’t need to know that mom or dad had secret boyfriends or girlfriends. Or that mom or dad got into pills or drinking. That there was some underlying emotional trauma in mom or dad’s background. Or that mom is mad at dad for getting remarried, or dad thinks mom isn’t paying her fair share.

Whatever the circumstances, kids only need to know three things: that their parents love them, will provide for them, and will keep them safe. That’s what is most important to them. Anything else needs to be put to the side when the kids are around.

When parents get divorced, kids usually have a lot of questions. Things like: Where will I live? Why is this happening? Is it my fault?

Focus on making sure they understand that just because you aren’t together, you both love them and will put them first. If they ask a lot of questions that start with the word “why” simply say that they don’t need to worry about the adult conversations, that the important thing is that they are loved by all.

We try to remind the children often that they have three parents who will always love them unconditionally.

Water Under The Bridge Doesn’t Always Stay There.

This all seems like a pretty easy formula, right? Put the kids first. Behave around them. Get along.

I wish it were that easy! My husband and his ex-wife were married for a long time. There is a lot of water under that bridge and they know exactly how and where to drop a depth charge.

They both try not to on most days, but despite best intentions, we’ve had more times than I can count where one of them will say something that hits the other in the wrong spot and it goes downhill from there. And yes, I’ve gotten dragged into it, too.

kid pushing elevator button

Pushing buttons doesn’t help anyone.

It’s like being a kid on a full elevator and wanting to push every button on the grid. You sort of know it will make everyone angry, but you can’t help yourself.

And then as soon as you push the buttons, you hear the sighs and feel the collective daggers shooting into the back of your head as the elevator makes its way to the top, stopping at every. single. floor. Everyone suffers and becomes more irritable because you couldn’t exercise a little restraint.

See the above section on kids suffering when you can’t hold it together. Keep the water under the bridge where it belongs and try your hardest to refrain from pushing those buttons.

And if you push a button, identify that it has happened and try to back out of the situation. Turn around to the other elevator riders and say you’re sorry, that you can’t keep the elevator from stopping on every floor but you sure wish you hadn’t done it.

Sharp Tongues Cut.

I was an English major and am a lawyer by training. I have a decent command of the English language and I can think on my feet. My husband and his ex-wife are also smart and quick-witted. Especially when provoked.

This can all make for a dangerous combination when people get angry. I watch my husband and his ex trade barbs, and I cringe when any of them are directed at me.

And there have been times when an amazing zinger of a response has slipped out of my mouth. The kind that you hear someone in a movie say that is the perfect retort to someone who has said something cruel.

At the moment it makes me feel good, like I got the last, best word in. But in the end, it never makes me feel better. In fact, I usually end up wishing I had held my tongue. Which leads me to . . .

Sometimes The Best Answer Is No Answer.

It’s okay to not answer an insult with an insult. It’s also okay to not respond right away to a nasty email or text. Take time to think about your response. Will your response escalate the situation or will it work towards solving whatever problem you’re fighting about?

If it will help solve things, go ahead and hit send. But if it adds to the hostility and re-opens old wounds, take a beat before you respond and think about how you might be more constructive.

This can be particularly hard as a stepparent. We can often end up being used as emotional punching bags for the ex-spouse’s grievances, and even for kids who are processing complicated emotions about their parents.

As rewarding and amazing as stepparenting can be, it can also be frustrating to always turn the other cheek (or at least to always try). You have to let a lot of stuff roll off your back, which is really hard sometimes.

My first inclination when someone snaps at me is to stick up for myself and argue the point until I win. But that is not always the best answer.

Sometimes it’s better to let things go. Even if you feel like you’re being treated badly.

It is hard. Really hard, some days. But usually, it’s for the best to take a pause and think before you speak/write/shout.

Don’t trash the other parent or stepparent to the kids.

Like some of the other tips in this post, this should go without saying. But I’m saying it here. Kids do not have the emotional maturity to understand adult dynamics.

So when you talk to them about the fact mom or dad cheated, or that mom or dad never shows up on time, or never pays what’s owed, kids accept those things as fact. And it can tarnish their relationship with the other parent. While that may be tempting in a moment of anger, it is never the right thing to do.

We do not badmouth the kids’ mom in front of them and we hold our tongue when something she has said is repeated to us. That being said, we aren’t always perfect and it is hard to keep a poker face sometimes. I’d love to say we are successful every single time, but we just aren’t.

Talking badly about your ex or your spouse’s ex might get you what you want in the short term. But you’re doing far much more harm to the kids in the long term. The kids will feel like they’re stuck in the middle and once again like they aren’t a priority to either of you.

hands clasped in prayer

Prayer works for me.

Prayers Work.

I know not all my readers are believers. Whether you want to call it prayer or just sending positive vibes into the universe, I believe it helps. If you need it, I would ask you to consider just giving a silent plea for help. I think you’ll be surprised at how it makes you feel.

I pray every day, but when we’re going through a tough situation, I pray more specifically. Not for God to exact revenge on my husband’s ex for whatever is the most recent way I feel wronged, or for God to give me the solution I want. Tempting though it may be, that doesn’t work – and it’s selfish.

I pray first and foremost for God to give us, my husband and I, the strength to get through whatever the current challenge is. When I say those words, out loud or to myself, I can feel myself becoming stronger and more resilient.

For me, prayer works. And whatever you want to call it, I would suggest you consider trying it. It might bring you some peace you didn’t even realize you needed.

Keep choosing love over anger.

In the same way we choose to love our blended families, we must also try to choose to let go of anger and bitterness. It’s really hard. Especially when you’re balancing the delicate relationships that surround a blended family.

But it’s really important. For everyone involved, but especially for the kids.

Whether you’re in a blended or traditional family, I wish you nothing but rainbows and unicorns in all of your relationships. But I suspect most of us aren’t going to reach that level of perfection, so I hope I have given you a few things to think about.

I’d love to hear from you. What are some tips that have helped you navigate a difficult family dynamic? What tools are in your toolbox to diffuse tense situations? Comment below!

xo,

Cameron

 

 

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  1. Berkley Schwarz April 29, 2019 at 11:42 am - Reply

    What a great post, Cameron! It is so well written and just what I needed to be reminded of today!

    • cgnormand April 29, 2019 at 11:53 am - Reply

      Thank you so much, Berkley – that means a lot to hear!! ❤️❤️

  2. Helen Pickle April 29, 2019 at 2:19 pm - Reply

    Beautifully written from your heart. I can only imagine how difficult it was! You have given some wonderful insight and advice to others. ❤️

    • cgnormand April 29, 2019 at 2:31 pm - Reply

      Thank you so much, Helen. You are so kind!! 😘

    • Tracy May 2, 2019 at 10:48 am - Reply

      This article is great. Co-parenting is definitely tough and I struggle with it myself and am like you. No children my self but he has 2.

  3. Francesca Purcell April 30, 2019 at 6:52 am - Reply

    Love it! Truth!

    Something I’ve had to do recently is remind myself – I’m a loving bonus mom but my job is always to support my husband. I can’t control all the parenting decisions at the other house and neither can he. We just have to set the example we want in OUR home.

    I also like the phrase sometimes “Not my Circus, not my Monkey”. I take it so personally if things go awry with grades, tween friends, clothing choices etc. I just can’t – good kids do weird stuff. So this releases me of the pressure I might feel and a response that isn’t supportive of hubs and steps!

    Great read! 😘

    • cgnormand April 30, 2019 at 6:55 am - Reply

      Thanks!! And you are so right. I love “not my circus, not my monkey” – brilliant. I’m going to have to start using that!!😘

  4. Pam Barnard April 30, 2019 at 9:02 am - Reply

    Terrific, Cameron! This problem also spills over to grandparents who have been and are close to the grands. Listening is important from our perspective, and remaining calm, and always offering unconditional love to our grandchildren. It’s not easy to be quiet and “practice the pause” before saying anything to the kids or, in my case, to their mother. From the beginning I’ve told the girls (starting at age 4. that they have many people to love them, and 3 homes or 4 counting their other grandmother’s. I try to practice the saying, “pray it don’t say it,,” and ask the questions, “is it true? Is it kind? Will it help?” If it won’t help then don’t say it!’
    I can add that, at any age, having good friends who you can trust and be your prayer partners is a real help in navigating these tedious waters of “co-parenting!”
    Sounds like your commitment to hard work and love is paying off. Love your commitment and love your article!

    • cgnormand April 30, 2019 at 9:04 am - Reply

      Pam, why am I not surprised you are the model of civility!! I know some folks who could benefit from your way of thinking!! 🙂 xoxo!

  5. Brittany May 2, 2019 at 9:34 am - Reply

    Wonderful post! I think a lot of people go through this and need to know they aren’t alone. I’m sure its very hard to blend families, especially for the children. They can feel like they are being pulled in multiple directions. Great post on how to handle that.

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 10:39 am - Reply

      Thanks so much, Brittany!

  6. Brittany May 2, 2019 at 11:12 am - Reply

    This hit home, because I am in the same situation. Not married, but in an amazing relationship with a man, and I have a son. My ex is not the kindest about this situation. These are some great tips!

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 2:48 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Brittany!

  7. Emily May 2, 2019 at 11:20 am - Reply

    AMEN!!! Great great great read!!!!!!!! 🙂

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 2:48 pm - Reply

      Thanks so much!

  8. Lisa Manderino May 2, 2019 at 12:16 pm - Reply

    I like that you said loving is a choice. I feel like we have to try hard in all of our relationships especially our family.

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 2:49 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Lisa – that is so true!

  9. Suzan May 2, 2019 at 12:38 pm - Reply

    Wonderfully expressed with some great advice for those in the same situation. Love the “bonus Mom” 🙂

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 2:49 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Suzan!

  10. Malia May 2, 2019 at 1:04 pm - Reply

    Wow, kudos to you for tackling this sensitive topic in such a well thought out way. I love your point that the kids only need to know 3 things: t their parents love them, will provide for them, and will keep them safe. So very true.

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 2:47 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Malia!

  11. Joanne May 2, 2019 at 2:06 pm - Reply

    What a difficult situation but it needs to be dealt with delicately which is not always easy

  12. Angela May 2, 2019 at 4:54 pm - Reply

    This is a great read with a lot of real life examples. The honesty on what works and does not work really touches me. It isnt all unicorns but knowing that and learning is what makes a great step=parent!

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 4:58 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Angela. That is so true!!

  13. Yolanda May 2, 2019 at 5:44 pm - Reply

    This was a great post! It’s hard to deal with changes and adjust to new situations, but I agree the children should not suffer because of it.

  14. Jill May 2, 2019 at 6:28 pm - Reply

    Great points for maintaining a healthy home environment.

  15. Michelle May 2, 2019 at 6:29 pm - Reply

    Such a great post – I am always so sad to hear when the children are being used as weapons against the other spouse in a dissolved marriage/family situation. I hear of the negativity seeping in so easily. I hope that this helps people who really need to hear that loving is a choice and it takes self control and patience!

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 7:38 pm - Reply

      Thanks so much, Michelle!

  16. Heather May 2, 2019 at 7:21 pm - Reply

    What an amazing post! Well said and I need to keep this for a reference for later. Sometimes anger gets the best of us and you have valid points.

    • Tonya | the Writer Mom May 3, 2019 at 1:01 am - Reply

      Wonderful reminder for all of us to think before lashing out, especially in front of the kids. Even for those of us who don’t have a blended family; we still need to remember to keep our cool with one another!

  17. Stacey May 2, 2019 at 7:52 pm - Reply

    Navigating relationships in blended families is not easy! It takes commitment from all the adults. I can certainly relate to the sharp-tongues part. It’s so easy to let the retort fly if you’re not careful!

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 7:52 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Stacey! Yes it is, isn’t it?!

  18. Jill May 2, 2019 at 8:52 pm - Reply

    Great strategies for all families. Enjoyed reading about what has worked.

  19. Ramae May 2, 2019 at 9:07 pm - Reply

    This was a really nice post, Cameron! I haven’t always done it right and held back anger with my ex in front of my kids. I can’t go back in time, but I’m happy that I learned in time to do it better. My motto I try to live by is ‘choose love over fear.’ Choose love over anger works too. I wish more parents and stepparents realized how hard anger is on the kids and really worked on this.

    • cgnormand May 2, 2019 at 9:43 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Ramae! Choose love over fear is great – I agree, it would be great if everyone worked hard on this!!

  20. Leigh Ann May 2, 2019 at 9:57 pm - Reply

    You are so right that it’s the kids that suffer most when their parents/step parents fight. We need to always keep this in mind.

  21. Tricia Snow May 2, 2019 at 10:14 pm - Reply

    I was really fortunate…. I made the decision early on to only depend on God, not my ex, to care for us so I had no expectations of him.. I was in a really good second marriage though. And he lived in another state. The damage is real. Great post!

  22. Lina May 3, 2019 at 6:46 am - Reply

    This is a beautiful post with lots of great points for all families. Kids are the priority in maintaining a healthy and safe palce for them.

  23. Michele May 3, 2019 at 10:32 am - Reply

    “Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.” You have given great advice on giving the kids of divorce stable, loving families to learn from.

    • cgnormand May 3, 2019 at 1:54 pm - Reply

      That is a great quote – thanks, Michele!!

  24. Anna May 3, 2019 at 12:12 pm - Reply

    Anger for sure is a dangerous feeling! And I love the way you handle the situation! Especially your point “Choose love over anger”. Great post! Thank you for sharing!

    • cgnormand May 3, 2019 at 1:54 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Anna!

  25. Jen May 3, 2019 at 2:13 pm - Reply

    Beautiful post. Very honest words that are true and I think most families are some type of blend so important to create this community to vocalize these type of things. Nope, not easy, but worth it!

    • cgnormand May 3, 2019 at 6:34 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Jen – could not agree more!

  26. Katie Wolfe May 3, 2019 at 4:07 pm - Reply

    Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt post. Blended families look so challenging from the outside; it’s nice to have a peek inside to know what people might be going through.

    • cgnormand May 3, 2019 at 6:35 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Katie!

  27. Carolina May 3, 2019 at 9:17 pm - Reply

    Well written. I love “choose love over anger.” Love always wins every though sometimes it’s hard but it is always possible.

  28. Cindy May 4, 2019 at 9:36 pm - Reply

    Great read! Good relationships can sometimes be challenging. Being civil and helpful in relationships with exes can be extremely difficult. You are right about what matters. The kids. And being able, at the end of the day, to know that we did our very best to show love, to set positive examples and to do some good in the world.

  29. Annette May 5, 2019 at 11:17 pm - Reply

    Great post!! There are lots of blended families in our world. Sharing the struggles and ways to overcome them are important seeds of information for others.

  30. Kyndall Bennett May 6, 2019 at 12:55 am - Reply

    Thank you for sharing this! My fiance and I don’t have kids, but we are an interracial couple both from Alabama (fun fact: Alabama didn’t approve of interracial marriages until November 2000)! Although 99% of our family has been loving of our engagement, we still have that 1% to worry about from both sides. Your tips are still helpful even for our situation. ❤

  31. Pauline Reynolds May 6, 2019 at 12:40 pm - Reply

    Good read. I have a step daughter that I love with all my heart. Her mother is very difficult and controlling and there are so many things I’d love to say but I don’t. The only person I have control over is me and I continue to be supportive of both her and my step daughter.

  32. Sharon May 6, 2019 at 2:23 pm - Reply

    Blended family life is not easy! Thank you for vulnerably sharing honest, informative points about some of the challenges with important reminders for overcoming them. And I agree…prayers is a critical tool!!!

  33. T.M. Brown May 7, 2019 at 1:03 pm - Reply

    I agree and pray the exact same way – “Lord, give me the strength and wisdom to know how to act appropriately in this situation. Grant me the discernment to know what I may need to adjust, where I may need to act and where I may need to step back. ” I know the post was about blended families in general, but it really does apply to any kind of family. Dealing with in-laws can be just as frustrating and tumultuous if allowed. Great tips and things to keep in mind.

    • cgnormand May 7, 2019 at 2:52 pm - Reply

      So true. And I love your prayer – a great one for any circumstance!!

  34. Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef May 15, 2019 at 2:44 pm - Reply

    Wonderful post and so well written such a great reminder for so many I’m sure! Thanks so much for sharing 🤗

    • cgnormand May 15, 2019 at 3:31 pm - Reply

      Thank you so much, Angela!!

  35. Claire May 23, 2019 at 8:49 am - Reply

    Well thought and well said! I’m so glad you reiterated that kids can’t handle adult situations and emotions. Kids that are supportive and loving will try to help you and understand you so dearly that you can forget they are just kids. I try to imagine what I’d think if the kids were to repeat the things they’ve heard… I’d be aghast at their disrespect of their elders (no matter how I felt about the adult in question) and tell them they shouldn’t discuss what they don’t understand. But that starts with us– if you don’t want a child to parrot things they can’t process, keep them out of it. When they do hear and repeat, I try to turn the focus to what they can learn about themselves and their behaviors: “How does that behavior make you feel? What would you do differently in the same situation?” — What’s funny is that this translates to Politics too… when they parrot political viewpoints, we break down the challenges that leader is facing and ask them what choices they would make to solve the problem. Whether personal politics or bigger, every difference of opinion is an opportunity for a kid to examine what position they might take, and a conversation that affects our collective future.

    • cgnormand May 23, 2019 at 9:55 am - Reply

      Thanks, Claire!! Very thoughtful and I totally agree(obviously:))!!

  36. Patty June 6, 2019 at 9:57 pm - Reply

    I know you and I know your heart and you love big girl!

    Patty
    GoodBetterBestFood.blogspot.com

    • cgnormand June 7, 2019 at 8:53 am - Reply

      Thanks, Patty!! ❤️

  37. Patty June 6, 2019 at 9:58 pm - Reply

    Sending you big hugs!

    Patty
    GoodBetterBestFood.blogspot.com

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