Statistics show that approximately 40 percent of all married parents nationwide have children from a previous marriage or relationship. If you’re one of them, you didn’t just find a partner when you got married—you got a bonus!

As beautiful as that is, the situation also comes with challenges. Not only do you have to find your footing with your new spouse—which takes time, patience, and communications even when no one else is in the household—you must navigate those relationship with your and/or your spouse’s children as well. Not to mention that if you and your new spouse both have children, you must help them work out their issues with each other!

Steve Arterburn gets questions about this from listeners all the time, so he’s partnered with Connie Clark to help adults with bonus children

• manage their own stress, and help their children manage theirs

• overcome common difficulties

• develop healthy communication patterns and interpersonal skills

• find common ground with their new spouse when issues arise over the kids

• find ways to have fun and increase happiness together