The Smart Stepfamily Marriage

Leading blended family authority Ron Deal and marriage and family expert David Olson show you how to build on your relationship strengths and improve your weaknesses. Whether you’re dating, engaged, a young stepfamily, or an empty-nest couple, The Smart Stepfamily Marriage gives you the tools you need at any stage to create a remarriage that will last.

Each chapter of this book explores one of the key qualities of happy remarriages as identified by research. Like a GPS for your relationship, this book has built-in discussion questions that can help you and your partner discover where you are, where you’d like to be, and how to get there. The online survey gives you a report with personalized results for your relationship.

In this free downloadable Leader’s Guide, you can easily help couples explore these key qualities and discuss how they can grow them in their marriage. By providing couples in stepfamilies with community, you are helping them build a successful and smart stepfamily marriage.

Backed by the world-renowned PREPARE/ENRICH program and endorsed by notable experts including Dr. Gary Smalley, Dr. Gary Chapman, Dr. Scott Stanley, and Dr. Francesca Adler-Baeder of the National Stepfamily Resource Center, this book explores issues such as communication, finances, sexuality, parenting, and spiritually. By bringing experience and expertise together, The Smart Stepfamily Marriage gives couples the tools they need to build a marriage that lasts a lifetime.

David H. Olson, PhD, is founder and president of Life Innovations, which produces a variety of products designed to build stronger marriages. A national and international marriage and family expert, Olson is professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota and the author of more than twenty books. He lives in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ron L. Deal is Director of FamilyLife Blended™ and President of SmartStepfamilies.com. He is a family ministry consultant and conducts marriage and family seminars around the country; he specializes in marriage and stepfamily enrichment. Ron is author of the bestselling book and DVD curriculum The Smart Stepfamily and author/coauthor of The Smart Stepmom, The Smart Stepdad, and The Remarriage Checkup.

He has extensive experience training pastors, ministry leaders, and counselors and has appeared on dozens of national radio and TV broadcasts in the US, Canada, and the UK. Ron is considered a leading voice in stepfamily education and ministry and in the prevention of redivorce. He and his wife, Nan, have been married since 1986 and have three boys. For more information visit RonDeal.org.