Most children grow up with the story of Cinderella's evil stepmother. The wicked stepmother is a powerful myth and is still a challenge that many blended families must face. Sometimes it is easier for the ex-spouse and the children to blame the new partner, than to face the anger and disappointment they feel about the breakup and their parent's or spouse's contribution to that.
The US Bureau of Census relates:
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1300 new stepfamilies are forming every day.
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Over 50% of US families are remarried or re-coupled.
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The average marriage in America lasts only seven years.
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One out of two marriages ends in divorce.
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75% remarry
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66% of those living together or remarried break up, when children are involved.
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80% of remarried, or re-coupled, partners with children both have careers.
- 50% of the 60 million children under the age of 13 are currently living with one biological parent and that parent's current partner.
Stepfamilies now outnumber in-tact families. Two women decided to work on not becoming another statistic. The ex-wife and new wife have joined forces for the benefit of all. Carol Marine and Jennifer Newcomb Marine have tackled this issue with hard work and the tools of modern technology; a blog, a book (out May 2009) and a media campaign.
Check out their site, "No One's the Bitch - Strengthening families one stepmother/ ex- wife partnership at a time" for inspiration.
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