ABSTRACT
The feelings of hurt and anger, and the sense of loss and failure which can accompany the dissolution of a marriage relationship often produce a difficult climate for working out visitation and custody issues. Many of the problems for men in stepfamilies are related to difficulties arising from the disruption of their relationship with their children, and from difficulties surrounding their attempts to become a functional part of the newly formed stepfamily unit. Mike’s stepfamily situation was even more out of control than was his first marriage and Mike failed at his attempts to get it under control. Unrealistic expectations and lack of understanding of the reactions in newly formed stepfamilies prevented Mike from having any clear awareness of the difficulties. The uncertainty of scheduling visits with his children was “driving him crazy,” so Mike stopped seeing his natural children and concentrated on providing rules and regulations for his stepchildren.
