"My brother, "Ethan," and his wife, "Emma," have a blended family with full custody of three kids, who are now 8, 10, and 15. Emma has mental health problems. Two years ago, they became acute, and she did inpatient care and a structured day program. My brother was overwhelmed and called our families for help. His mother-in-law picked the kids up from afterschool care. My wife and I (we're both women) started keeping half of our lives in their guest room."
"We helped with the kids outside of work hours, as well as helping run the household, and trying to give the kids more loving, stable contact with family adults. It was a rocky transition-we love them, but are stricter than their mom or dad. We ended up staying for 18 months, which was longer than we planned. It took Emma a couple of tries to fully stabilize and be home for good."
A blended family with full custody of three children (ages 8, 10, and 15) experienced a parental mental-health crisis that required inpatient care and a structured day program. Extended relatives and close family members moved in and provided hands-on caregiving, childcare, household management, and routine for stability. Two relatives stayed for eighteen months, imposing stricter rules but creating consistent routines. After the parent stabilized and returned home, relatives left and resumed their own household. Six months after departure, the children have struggled with the transition, with the oldest repeatedly asking to move in with the relatives and younger children showing adjustment difficulties.
Read at Slate Magazine
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