These days, there?s a strong chance that you or someone you know is part of a blended family. According to the US Bureau of Census, nearly 50% of families in America alone are blended, with one partner (or both) taking on the role of stepparent.
Becoming a blended family can be emotional for everyone involved, from the couple walking down the aisle to the little child getting a new authority figure in his or her life. It?s important to acknowledge this and make everyone feel welcome in the new family dynamic, particularly on your wedding day.
So, how can you make the kids feel included in your nuptials" Here are a few ways to help make your wedding a celebration that?s not just for you and your spouse, but for everyone in your new family.
Build a Rock Cairn
Many couples perform a symbolic ritual at their wedding to mark the start of their new union. They will light a unity candle, fill jars with assorted colors of sand, the list goes on and on. You can easily include the kids in these ceremonies, but I suggest something a little different: building a family rock cairn.
Cairns are man-made stacks of rocks that have been used since prehistory to designate landmarks, showing wanderers the way to safety. What a beautiful metaphor for your new family!
A rock cairn sculpture is fairly easy to create. During the wedding ceremony, have each member of your family come forward and place a stone (just practice first so the stones stay balanced). Best of all, you can display it ...