The Bonus Family Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Co-Parenting and Creating Stronger Families

"This diplomatic guide offers advice on how parents can navigate caring for a blended family.... Blackstone packs this encyclopedic manual full of insight.” -Publishers Weekly

"This definitive practical guide addresses nearly every situation that bonus families might experience.” - Library Journal

An essential resource for today’s integrated families

Imagine you’re in a heated argument. Your kids have decided that they don’t want to go back to your ex’s home, and your ex isn’t having it. Meanwhile, your new partner is squirming uncomfortably in the other room. What do you do? How do you stop the madness and come together to find the best solution for everyone?

The Bonus Family Handbook introduces readers to a completely new approach to co-parenting and blending families. Until now, parents have been told that once there’s been a break-up, they become autonomous, single parents, and can make decisions for their children on their own. But that’s not true. That’s not real life. That “old school” break-up attitude offers no direction for co-parenting. The Bonus Family Handbook changes all that. It helps even the most contentious parents learn how to work together in the name of their children, teaching them how to apply practical co-parenting techniques so that they will be able to form a supportive, loving family.

The Bonus Family Handbook also recognizes the importance of incorporating new partners into the mix—of bringing in Bonus Moms and Bonus Dads—and empowering them to make decisions for the safety and well-being of the children. With its emphasis on positive, collaborative co-parenting, this book is an essential resource for today’s integrated families.

Jann Blackstone, PsyD, coined the term “bonus” in lieu of “step” almost 30 years ago to describe the growing phenomenon of combined families. Since then, she has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show promoting the term and how to better improve relationships within blended or “Bonus” families. She has written numerous books chronicling her life experience as a co-parent, including Ex-etiquette for Parents, Ex-etiquette for Holidays and Special Occasions, and Co-parenting through Separation and Divorce. Currently in private practice as a child custody mediator and co-parenting counselor, Dr. Blackstone also runs a weekly column, Ex-etiquette: Good Behavior after Divorce or Separation, syndicated by Tribune Content since 2004. Today, it runs in hundreds of newspapers and websites all over the world. She resides in Phoenix, AZ.

Jann Blackstone, PsyD, coined the term “bonus” in lieu of “step” almost 30 years ago to describe the growing phenomenon of combined families. Since then, she has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show promoting the term and how to better improve relationships within blended or “Bonus” families. She has written numerous books chronicling her life experience as a co-parent, including Ex-etiquette for Parents, Ex-etiquette for Holidays and Special Occasions, and Co-parenting through Separation and Divorce. Currently in private practice as a child custody mediator and co-parenting counselor, Dr. Blackstone also runs a weekly column, Ex-etiquette: Good Behavior after Divorce or Separation, syndicated by Tribune Content since 2004. Today, it runs in hundreds of newspapers and websites all over the world. She resides in Phoenix, AZ.