All Articles for Dating and Preparing for Marriage

Preparing to blend a family can be a daunting endeavor. But you can—and should—get smart about stepfamily living ahead of time. Listen to Ron Deal talk with two stepcouples about what they did before marriage that helped prepare to blend their families.

Preparing for marriage to begin a blended family comes with unique dynamics. Ron Deal, Director of FamilyLife Blended, talks about addressing not just the joining of two hearts, but those of the whole family.

Are you engaged or just beginning a blended family? Ron Deal, Director of FamilyLife Blended, discusses how couples can prepare their families to blend with intentionality and joy.

Yellow flashing lights mean proceed with caution.

Spring weddings are just around the corner. So, how do you prepare to be a blended family?

It's time for a dating attitude adjustment.

If you're a single parent or dating one, here's a dating myth to avoid.

If you're a single parent or dating one, here's a dating myth to avoid.

If you're a single parent or dating one, here's a dating myth to avoid.

We could spend 1/3 of our lives without a paycheck as we live longer now, which makes saving for later-life so important. Ron Deal talks with Greg Pettys about how to prepare for retirement while being mindful of your blended family dynamics.

Conversations about money and inheritances can be uncomfortable. But wouldn't it be better to talk about it with family members while you can? Ron Deal gives suggestions about how to make wise money decisions.

Ron Deal says finances and personal values are especially complicated in blended families. He lists practical tools to help make asset management easier.

Ron Deal and Lore Ferguson Wilbert discuss the healing journey she's experienced as her husband's second wife. She suggests adopting a heart of compassion instead of competition.

As a second wife or second husband, have you ever felt second best? Ron Deal talks with Lore Ferguson Wilbert about how to combat the insecurities that naturally arise in second marriages.

Vaneetha Risner shares about the devastation she faced in divorce and how God used it to bring about something more wonderful than she could've imagined.

As a second wife/husband, have you ever felt second best? How can you be first in your spouse's heart when you're not the ONLY? Ron Deal talks with Lori Ferguson Wilbert about how to combat insecurities as you look to God for the source of your identity.

Sometimes, kids and parents just don't listen.

You know lukewarm doesn't taste so good.

Hey Ron, when do I introduce my dating partner to my kids?

Ron, because my children are adults, I thought me dating wouldn't be a problem. Boy was I wrong.

Dating for two is difficult. Dating in a crowd is downright complicated.

But Ron, I don't want to date someone who has kids." Well, good. I don't want you to either.

Ron, after the end of a relationship, how long should I wait before dating again?

If you're single and dating and at least one of you has kids, you need to do your homework.

If you're single and dating and at least one of you has kids, you need to do your homework.

With well over half of couples today living together before marriage there must be some really good benefits to doing so, right?

Yeah, I know we don't have a pilot, but let's fly anyway.

Ron, we get married in a couple of months...and now my son gets angry?

Stepfamilies have a few financial landmines: don't step on them.

Should dating and engaged couples talk about money?

Conversations about money and inheritances can be uncomfortable. But wouldn't it be better to talk about it with family members while you can? Ron Deal gives suggestions about how to make wise money decisions.

You can tell a lot about what a person values by the choices they make with money. Ron Deal says finances and personal values are especially complicated in blended families. He lists practical tools to help make asset management easier, on FamilyLife Today

How would you prepare to move to a foreign country?

Michelle Hill tosses tricky dating scenarios to Ron Deal who offers insight into whether the single-parent situation in question is a red light, a caution light, or a green light.

Single Parent Dating 101: How to do it successfully and what to avoid. Ron Deal offers a biblical perspective on this minefield of complex relationships. How to date wisely as a single parent.

Hey Ron, what's the best way to tell my kids I'm getting married?

How do you get ready to blend a new stepfamily? Drs. Jeff and Judi Parziale discuss with Ron Deal how they coach couples in pre-stepfamily work and the wisdom they have learned in their 20 year marriage.

Money matters can be a pain point in any marriage and family. However, stepfamilies can produce monetary minefields! Ron Deal, along with, Greg S. Pettys and David O. Edwards, discuss financial planning and how blended families can finance togetherness.

On Facebook, Amanda, a single mother of two, wants to know how she can date a man well and set her future stepfamily up for success.

Ron, I never thought I'd say this, but my 67-year-old mom has a boyfriend.

What would you do if the night before your wedding one of your children comes to you and says, "Please don't get married tomorrow?" On this episode, Mike and Kim Anderson discuss how they handled that as well as how they dealt with losing their daughter to her biological father's control.

Stepfamilies have a few financial landmines: don't step on them.

Shallow is fun, but you can't stay there forever.

How does it feel when one of your divorced parents remarries? Shannon Simmons and Lauren Reitsema share the stories of their blended family experiences.

Steve and Misty Arterburn talk about the unique way blended families function. Steve and Misty recall bringing three children into the early years of their marriage and what they did to build a firm foundation for their family.