A new kind of family

To borrow the slogan from ABC family, we live in a world with a "New kind of family" family has taken on a new definition as society has changed. the traditional roles of father, mother daughter son, are being replaced with the roles of stepfathers and stepmothers, half brothers and sisters, adopted children and step children. our society is changing so quickly as the population practices cerial monogamy, and multiple marriages. Conflict and confusion soon follow when families do not have defined roles. Blended families often face difficulties attatched to the separation of power in a marriage. with these concerns of the "new family" in mind experts suggest a few tips to ease the stress involved in a blended family.
First they suggest that the biological parent takes the role of administering all serious punishments. when a new parent figure takes on the role of disciplinarian, children and biological parents take sides and create subgroups to exclude the new parent.
another tip is to have the step parent take on the role of an involved aunt or uncle. They are trusted to care for children but they are not the ultimate authority figure, and they must stay in good close terms with the biological parent.
Lastly experts say that decisions and rule should always be made by both parents and those parents need to support the other to the point of owning the policy. you can not say that a step father or mother has made the rule, but that you made the rule together. 
It is important to find the expectations of the role you are filling in a blended family and be patient to do so, it often takes two to three years to come to a state of normalcy in the new familiar model.