Inspired by another thread! I come from a "blended family" and I hated it. Most related experiences I read on Mumsnet are negative. In real life, I rarely hear people talk about step families positively, yet so many people enter into blended families. I think Mumsnet doesn't allow external polls, so I'm doing one here. If I get enough responses (and if I have enough time) I'll analyse the data and summarise at the end of the thread :)
If you have experienced a blended family (or had a step-parent), whether as a child or a parent, please respond. Other people, maybe sit this one out.
Q1: Did you experience/are you experiencing a blended family as:
a) a child
b) a parent or stepparent (you blended your family)
Q2: If you experienced a blended family as a child, was the principal home you lived in (If you're a parent or step parent, answer for your child's situation):
a) Blended with your mum and a stepparent
b) blended with your dad and a stepparent
c) blended with your mum and dad (you were born into a blended home)
d) you were shared equally, no home felt like your main home
Q3: Were other children present in your blended family? If you're a parent or step parent, answer for your child or children.
a) no, I was the only child
b) yes, my step parent brought them into my principal home
c) yes, but they lived elsewhere (not my main residence)
d) yes, I was brought into another family's principal home
e) yes, other children were born into the blended family (principal home)
f) yes, other children were born into the blended family (other home)
Q4: Did you have to share a room? (If you're a parent or step parent, do you children have to share a room?)
a) not in my principal or any other home
b) not in my principal home, but in another home
c) yes, in my principal home, but not in another home
Q5: If you had to share a room, did you feel the sharing situation was age and sex-appropriate (whether or not you agreed with or enjoyed the situation)? If you're a parent or step parent, do you think you've shared rooms as well as you could have? Give details in comments at the end.
a) yes
b) no
Q6: Do you think your needs were met as a child in this situation? If you're a parent or step parent, do you think you're meeting the needs of an children?
a) yes
b) no
c) unsure
Q7: from 1-10 (10 being positive), how positive or negative did you feel about your family situation when you were growing up? If you're a parent or step parent, how would you rate the environment you've provided?
Q8: Comments. What was it like? What kind of things did your parents do to make you feel safe and cared for? What didn't they do? How did you feel about your blended family experience? Would you blend a family?
I don't know if writing a poll like this breaks any rules, but I'm sure it'll be taken down if it does.