Tips for dealing with your stepchildren's biological parent

Watch Video: Tips for dealing with your stepchildren's biological parent by Maria Elena Cruz, ...
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Tips for dealing with your stepchildren's biological parent

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Dealing with the biological mother of my step-children, has been very challenging. In a sense where I may be warm and receptive, but on the other end is kind of shut off. The way that I handle that is, I don't respond to it in any other way, but to remain cordial and saying, "Hello." I make sure that I always speak, even if it's unwelcome because I think it's important for the kids to see someone take the initiative to say "hello," even if it's unwelcome. I never have any problem communicating or wanting the relationship to be better between us. What I usually do, especially if the kids are pertaining to the problem, I always take her side and have them address what they could have worked on. Just try to handle things gracefully. If you are in a situation where you are not finding that kindness is being reciprocated, always keep yourself in check. It's always important that the children to have that anchor and sense of peace.

Watch Video: Tips for dealing with your stepchildren's biological parent by Maria Elena Cruz, ...

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Maria Elena Cruz

Mom & Art Curator

Maria Elena Cruz is an active artist and curator, and the mother of two children, aged five and seven. She has taught art for 15 years, and believes that art can help children’s development and ease them through difficult times of transition – something she has experience with firsthand. During the day she teaches at Optimist High and in the evening she teaches watercolor, mixed media art, and figure drawing at UCLA. Maria also directs a project called, “The Pulse,” where she invites the community to paint to the rhythm of drums. Maria also recently began a nonprofit, Dial Art that serves communities in multiple ways through art. Her children are happily involved in most of her art programs. Her son, Clarence, age seven, has been learning to play the trumpet for two years and is involved with the science academy. Her daughter, Amara, age five, is involved with gymnastics and the science academy.

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Transcription: 
Dealing with the biological mother of my step-children, has been very challenging. In a sense where I may be warm and receptive, but on the other end is kind of shut off. The way that I handle that is, I don't respond to it in any other way, but to remain cordial and saying, "Hello." I make sure that I always speak, even if it's unwelcome because I think it's important for the kids to see someone take the initiative to say "hello," even if it's unwelcome. I never have any problem communicating or wanting the relationship to be better between us. What I usually do, especially if the kids are pertaining to the problem, I always take her side and have them address what they could have worked on. Just try to handle things gracefully. If you are in a situation where you are not finding that kindness is being reciprocated, always keep yourself in check. It's always important that the children to have that anchor and sense of peace.