Q: "I thought we would all get along by now. It’s been one year and there is still so much arguing and conflict. When will it end?"

A: Well, perhaps it will help you to know that the first two years of Stepfamily life is typically very turbulent. Everyone is adjusting to new roles and expectations. I don’t know how many kids you have but, if you are combining kids, there is so much adjusting going on in your new household. Your oldest may now be a younger sibling and may not like that position. The kids may have to share things; their rooms, their possessions, their time with you, and they don’t like it. With Stepfamily life, there is a long turbulent cycle that the family experiences and, of course, the more children that are being combined, the longer it may continue. But hang on, this eventually settles down. Work on building communication with each child separately, and continue to work on your relationship with your partner. Talk to the kids as a family about their experience in the new Stepfamily and give them a place to express any of their frustrations.