Tips for talking about finances in a blended family

Financial issues even rank among the top five reasons for divorce in the United States. For my husband and I, it was important for us to get on the same page about our finances so our marriage didn’t end up as one of these sad statistics.

I’d love to tell you it was easy, but that would be a lie. While we were honest about our financial statuses, we only had the narrow perspective of a typical household or a stressed single parent. Managing our money as a blended family was a whole new ballgame.

Read this piece for a few tips from our lived experience as a blended household that we have learned along the way.

Jessica Janssen WolfordNovember 18, 2021Parenting, Co-Parenting, Step-parents, Finances, Blended Family

How Dia de los Muertos became a cherished tradition in our blended family

It wasn't until I became part of my husband's family that I started to personally understand and experience the beauty of Dia de los Muertos. My husband's maternal cultural heritage is Mexican, and the celebration of Dia de los Muertos is one that my mother-in-law, Suzanne, introduced me to through their family's tradition. The holiday has truly become a day I look forward to every year.

Jessica Janssen WolfordOctober 30, 2020Dia de los Muertos, Holiday, Tradition, Blended Family, Omaha World Herald, Moma

What my husband and I have learned about marriage — the second time around

I never really understood those big law firms that claim "200 years combined experience" — when everyone in the photo is clearly under 50 — until I got married the second time around.

June 2nd was our second wedding anniversary, and it truly feels like we have been married for decades. My husband, Eric, and I laugh that it feels that way because we have 21 years combined experience. There was no honeymoon phase. We said "I do" and found ourselves building a family from somewhere in the middle.

We sat down a few weeks ago to reflect on our first two years together and what we've learned about marriage over time and this time around.

To read what we feel we’ve learned (the second time around), visit Momaha.com.

Jessica Janssen WolfordJune 3, 2020Momaha, OWH, Omaha World Herald, Marriage, Second Marriage, Blended Family

COVID-19 Is the Worst, But I Want To Make the Best of This Time Together

Let me first say that the COVID-19 pandemic is a horrible, confusing, and challenging time for families across the globe. Each person, and family is facing unique and shared challenges that we could have never anticipated and are not prepared for. Our family is fortunate, and while my husband and I have had to wrestle with the impact of COVID-19 on our respective jobs, we still have jobs. While all of a sudden needing to coordinate new schedules within our blended family, and homeschooling three kids presents new obstacles, our family is healthy and we are together. We very clearly recognize and acknowledge our privilege during this time.

I'm going to share something that's possibly horrible to say during this time of a global pandemic: I'm actually really enjoying a number of unexpected realities of having to stay at home, and I don't want to take these opportunities for granted.

Jessica Janssen WolfordApril 17, 2020Blended Family, Co-Parenting, COVID-19

Baby Loop

What I’ve struggled with the most beyond the challenges of whether or not a baby is possible, is the question of, what is the “thing” that we build together in this life and marriage if it’s not a baby? Babies often bring couples and families together and permanently link two people in ways that are unmatched by anything else in this life.

Jessica Janssen WolfordApril 27, 2019Baby, Infertility, Second Marriage, Blended Family