Websites
1) Stepfamily Network
This website is simple and easy to navigate. The site offers a forum for members to share their thoughts and stories, and ask questions about being in a stepfamily. Kids can join too! The Stepfamily Network site also provides a link for book suggestions and provides the opportunity to order them online. There is also a link for articles written about various stepfamily issues. Be weary of the fact that not all authors are experts about stepfamilies; some authors are stepparents themselves, offering candid stories and insightful advice on being in stepfamilies.
2) Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network
Cyfernet is a great web resource for professionals working with children, or for parents, because it offers high quality research based information provided by scholars from universities across the U.S., including our own University of Missouri-Columbia. All posted information is carefully reviewed by college and university faculty to insure its accuracy. This website goes beyond the scope of stepfamilies and offers good information about child development that is useful to first time parents, stepparents, or co-parents.
3) Missouri Families
This website is sponsored by University of Missouri Extension and provides information on all aspects of family life, including divorce and stepfamilies. There are links to E-Newsletters, Learning Opportunities (i.e. listings of programs and workshops), and Quick Answers for parents. This website is very resourceful because it provides accurate, research based information about families in Missouri. Information for this website is provided by University of Missouri faculty and extension specialists.
4) National Stepfamily Resource Center (NSRC) at Auburn University
The mission of this website and organization is to provide support and guidance to stepfamilies. NSRC seeks to promote stepfamily education and make stepfamily resources available to all stepfamilies, stepfamily support groups, web sites, authors and publishers, all human-service professionals working with stepfamilies (clinicians, clergy, educators, medical professionals, mediators, financial advisors, family-law and law-enforcement professionals, etc.), and the media. Browsers can search for local support groups and therapists, find information on stepfamily law and policy, and join chat forums. The NSRC e-mail is .
5) Divorce Net
Divorce Net offers a nationwide directory of divorce attorneys, mediators, and financial professionals. The website offers links to local resources and state specific articles, which is important because laws vary from state to state.
6) Divorce Support
Divorce Support is similar to the previously mentioned website, offering state specific information and a nationwide directory. This website also provides chat forums that are general and state specific.
7) Divorce Magazine
Divorce Magazine is a divorce and separation resource site, providing information and advice about divorce law, divorce lawyers, family law, children and divorce, and other divorce-related issues as well as directory information on divorce professionals in your state. The site also offers an active forum for viewers to share their experiences with others.
8) Share Kids
Sharekids.comis a co-parenting system designed to assist individuals in managing child sharing between homes.This tool facilitates planning for the welfare of the children.It minimizes stressful discussions and possible confrontations between custodians and parents who are divorced or separated.
9) Focus Adolescent Services
This site offers families information on teen and family issues to help and support families with troubled and at-risk teens. While there are many issues covered, the site offers information on how to support a teen that is struggling with the divorce of his or her parents, or the adjustment of living in a stepfamily.
10) Divorceinfo
This website is posted by a lawyer and divorce mediator from Birmingham, Alabama. Information on this site includes tips on how to amicably work through a divorce and learn to co-parent. The site also provides information on financial issues as they relate to a divorce, including retirement, taxes, and property division. The web developer also provides advice on how to deal with the emotional stress of going through a divorce.
Five Criteria for Evaluating Websites
The internet can be a valuable source of information on many topics, including divorce, remarriage, stepfamilies and co-parenting. However, much information posted on the internet can be false so it is important to understand what to look for in order to differentiate between reputable websites and those that provide false or biased information. Below are five criteria that can help you determine whether or not you are viewing a website that is presenting accurate and helpful information.
Evaluation of Web Documents / How to Interpret the Basics1. Accuracy of Web Documents
- Who wrote the information presented on the website, and can you contact him or her?
- What is the purpose of the website and why was it produced?
- Is this person qualified to present information on the topic?
- Make sure author provides email or a contact address/phone number.
- Know the distinction between author and webmaster. Authors are responsible for writing the material that is posted on the site, whereas webmasters are responsible for designed the webpages and posting the information. Sometimes authors and webmasters are the same person.
2. Authority of Web Documents
- Who published the information on the website, and is it a different person than the “webmaster?”
- Check the domain of the website, what institution publishes this website?
- Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?
- What credentials (example: PhD) are listed for the authors?
- Where is the document published? Does the URL suggest a reputable affiliation with regard to the topic—is the type of internet domain personal, or an official site? For example, if the web address ends in .edu it is an educational institution; .org = non-profit organization; .com =commercial enterprise; .net = Internet Service Provider; .gov = governmental body; .mil = military body.
3. Objectivity of Web Documents
- What goals/objectives does this website meet?
- How detailed is the information?
- What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?
- Determine if the website is a mask for advertising something (for example, a divorce website might be advertising the services of a specific law firm). If so, the information might be biased.
- View any website as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself, why was this website made and for whom was it made?
4. Currency of Web Documents
- When was the website created?
- When was it last updated?
- How up-to-date are the links to other websites (if any)?
- How many dead links are on the site?
- Are the links current or updated regularly?
- Is the information on the site outdated?
5. Coverage of the Web Documents
- Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents’ theme?
- Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
- Is the information presented cited correctly?
- If the site requires special software to view the information, how much are your missing if you don’t have the software?
- Is it free or is there a fee to obtain the information?
- Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser (for example, internet explorer versus foxfire) for better viewing?
Putting it all together…..
- Accuracy – If your site lists the authors and institution that published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her and….
- Authority – If your site lists the author credentials and its domain is preferred (.edu, .gov, .org, or .net), and…..
- Objectivity – If your site provides accurate information with limited advertising and it is objective in presenting the information, and……
- Currency – If your site is current and updated regularly (as stated on the page) and the links (if any) are also up-to-date, and….
- Coverage – If you can view the information properly – not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirements, then…..
References
Kapoun, J. (1998). Teaching undergrads WEB evaluation: A guide for library instruction. C&RL News, 522-523.
Films
The following list of films are recommended for viewing to serve as a discussion tool to help divorcing families identify various divorce related issues that they may be experiencing in their own lives; viewers can discuss the characters in the films and discuss what divorce related behaviors are positive/negative. A description of each film is provided, including identification of various divorce related themes that are presented in the films.
Stepmom (1998)
Plot Summary: Anna and Ben, the two children of Jackie and Luke, have to cope with the fact that their parents divorced and that there is a new woman in their father's life: Isabel, a successful photographer. She does her best to treat the kids in a way that makes them still feel at home when being with their dad, but also loves her work and does not plan to give it up. But Jackie, a full-time mother, regards Isabel's efforts as offensively insufficient. She can't understand that work can be important to her as well as the kids. The conflict between them is deepened by the sudden diagnose of cancer, which might may be deadly for Jackie. They all have to learn a little in order to grow together.
Themes: Stepparent/parent-child relations, loyalty issues, parent/child interactions that affect stepparent-stepchild relationship, stepparent supportive of child, cooperative co-parenting, couple conflict
A Rumor of Angels (2000)
Plot Summary: Twelve-year-old James Neubauer has never fully healed from the traumatic loss of his mother in a car accident. His father has chosen to pretend it never happened, throwing himself headlong into work and a new life with James' stepmother. For these reasons, James harbors a deep resentment for his father. The only friend he has is his quirky Uncle Charlie, but even Charlie is unable to provide the consolation James needs. Salvation miraculously arrives in the form of Maddy Bennett, a local recluse who is still healing from a great loss of her own. When James accidentally breaks Maddy's fence, she demands that he fix it himself. What is initially a defensive, stubborn battle of egos slowly changes into an extremely close relationship that crosses all boundaries and helps both James and Maddy to confront and conquer their demons.
Themes: Stepparent-child relationships, fictive kin, loyalty issues, prior marriage, couple relations, couple conflict, stepfamily strengths
Rhapsody in Bloom (1998)
Plot Summary: After the death of her sister-in-law, Lilah Bloom began taking care of her brother Mitch and his three children. When Mitch meets career woman Debra, Lilah confronts the possibility of life alone, but then she finds romance with musician Jack. Conflicts arise when Mitch and Debra separate, Mitch assumes life will continue as before, but now Lilah has a newfound independence.
Themes: Stepparent-child relationships, couple relations, prior marriage, couple conflict, stepfamily strengths
Kazaam (1996)
Plot Summary: Being a lone young boy in the 'hood" is dangerous and unpleasant. This is what Max experiences when he fools a gang of local toughs who cornered him at school. The gang finds out that the key he gave them is of no value in committing a robbery, and they chase him through the streets of his neighborhood, bent on revenge. He tries to escape by slipping into the open door of an old warehouse, but they follow him there, too. While running from them through aisles filled with all kinds of stuff, he bumps into an old boom box. By doing that, he manages to release Kazaam, a genie who has been held captive for thousands of years. In order to stay free, Kazaam must give Max three wishes.
Themes: Stepparent-child relationships, prior marriage, couple conflict, stepfamily strengths
Man of the House (1995)
Plot Summary: Ben Archer is not happy. His mother, Sandy, has just met a man, and it looks like things are pretty serious. Driven by a fear of abandonment, Ben tries anything and everything to ruin the "love bubble" which surrounds his mom. However, after Ben and Jack's experiences in the Indian Guides, the two become much closer.
Themes: Stepparent-child relationships, stepfamily strengths, couple relations, prior marriage, couple conflict
Radio Flyer (1992)
Plot Summary: Two young brothers' lives are turned upside down when their new alcoholic stepfather enters their world and begins to beat young Bobby. Devoted to their mom, they come up with their own solution and attempt to build a working airplane from their ordinary red wagon. In the process, they transform their own lives into an extraordinary adventure.
Themes: Stepparent-stepchild relationships, prior marriage, couple relations, stepfamily strengths
Tumbleweeds (1999)
Plot Summary: Mary Jo Walker has been married numerous times and been in even more relationships. 12-year-old daughter Ava knows that when things go wrong with mom's romantic prospects they pack up and hit the road, which is why they're on their way to San Diego. Of course, Mary Jo meets trucker Jack along the way and decides to shack up with him when they reach their destination, while the remarkably resilient Ava settles into another new life. But since Mary Jo has such lousy judgment (except about her love for Ava) this mother-daughter duo is headed for rocky times ahead.
Themes: Stepparent-child relationships, prior marriage, couple relations, couple conflict, stepfamily strengths
Hollow Reed (1996)
Plot Summary: Following the break-up of his marriage after revealing his homosexuality, GP Martin Wyatt loses custody of his son Oliver to his now ex-wife Hannah and her new partner Frank. It is not long, however, until Oliver appears at the house of Martin and his new lover Tom claiming to have been beaten up by boys in the park. After another incident, Martin puts two and two together and comes to the conclusion that Frank has been beating Oliver without Hannah's knowledge. Martin then begins a long courtroom custody battle to win back his son.
Themes: Stepparent-child relationships, prior marriage, couple relations, couple conflict, stepfamily strengths, conflict with former partner
Monkey Trouble (1994)
Plot summary:Eva Gregory is an 11 year old girl who longs for a pet she can call her own. However, her mother doesn't think she's responsible enough, and her stepfather is allergic to fur. So when Eva harbors a monkey named Dodger who's run away from his abusive pickpocket master, she tries to keep her new friend a secret. It becomes exceedingly difficult, especially when the well-trained Dodger starts stealing everything in sight.
Themes:Stepparent-child relationships, prior marriage, child strengths
Life as a House (2001)
Plotsummary:Divorced from a woman he still loves, alienated from his troubled teenage son, and bitter at the loss of a job he never enjoyed anyway, architect George Monroe has hit rock-bottom when he decides that it's now or never to tear down his dilapidated home and build a long-postponed dream house worthy of his spectacular ocean cliff property.
Themes:Conflict with a former spouse, parent-child relationships, loyalty issues
The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998)
Plot summary:It's 1983, and seventeen-year-old Sebastian Cole's world explodes when his stepfather Hank announces he plans on undergoing a sexual reassignment procedure. When the rest of his family abandons Hank--soon to be Henrietta--the restless and confused Sebastian sticks by his side, forging a unique bond in this poignant coming-of-age drama.
Themes: Stepparent-child relationship, couple relationship, stepparent supportive of child, parent-child relationships, prior marriage
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Plot summary:Daniel Hillard is an eccentric actor who specializes in dubbing voices for cartoon characters. Daniel is a kind man and a loving father, but he's a poor disciplinarian and a shaky role model. After throwing an elaborate and disastrous birthday party for his son, Daniel's wife Miranda reaches the end of her patience and files for divorce. Daniel is heartbroken when Miranda is given custody of the children, and he's only allowed to visit them once a week. Determined to stay in contact with his kids, Daniel learns that Miranda is looking for a housekeeper, and with help from his brother Frank, a makeup artist, Daniel gets the job disguised as Mrs. Iphegenia Doubtfire, a stern but caring Scottish nanny. Daniel pulls off the ruse so well that neither his ex-wife nor his children recognize him, and in the process, he learns how to be the good parent he should have been all along. However, Daniel also has to deal with the little matter of Miranda's new boyfriend, Stu