It's a tough situation when two families merge into one. Hey not everyone can be the Brady Bunch.
However, a new method a lot more families are utilizing is seeing some fascinating results, and it's called "Nacho Parenting."
Essentially, if it's "nacho" (not your) kid, you don't need to worry about them.
Mom Lori Sims found out about Nacho Parenting after trying herself to parent her new husband's kids. Her step-kids weren't responding to any of her disciplinary tactics, and a therapy session led her to realize: "They are not my kids. I was creating my own misery by trying to parent these kids who already had two parents."
Now to some they may seem like a callous way to approach raising step-kids. However, Sims ensures that Nachoing "isn't simply checking out mentally whenever a step-kid gets on your nerves or doesn't listen. Instead, it's all about how 'to disengage appropriately.' This opens the space for your significant other to step up and do the parenting."
Sims notes in the FAQ section of her site Nacho Kids, "Some may need a bit of a push, but their kids are their responsibility and you did not marry them to take over their parental roles."
Nacho Parenting doesn't mean abstaining from any maternal or paternal instincts completely. Instead, but is asking you to take a step back and look at the assumptions in your relationship with your significant other and adjust them accordingly.
If you formed an instant bond with your partner's kids that's awesome! However, if your step-kids are really pushing your buttons and your partner doesn't seem to mind at all, it's time to step back, have a talk, and figure out what the true boundaries of parenting are.
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