Typical stepfamilies and intact biofamilies are composed of unique adults and children with talents, limitations,  needs, friends, responsibili-ties, wounds, bonds, losses, conflicts, values, boundaries, histories, an-cestors, dreams, fears, successes, and failures; and both...

   are managed by adults, who (usually) try to nurture dependent kids    toward successful independence;

   follow predictable human and family developmental stages;

   acquire, use, and maintain dwellings, vehicles, and physical and fi-   nancial assets;

   depend on clear thinking and effective communication to get their    needs met;

   work to stabilize family roles, rules, rituals, boundaries, and goals,    and...

   both kinds of family system interact with human and Earthly environ-   ments as contributors and consumers.

   Family adults and supporters who focus mainly on these similarities risk seriously underestimating the impacts of over 60 differences be-tween typical stepfamilies and intact biofamilies. Lesson 7 helps to guard against this.                                              more detail