There are few things as challenging and rewarding as being a stepparent. It’s a role that comes with its own unique set of difficulties.
However, you can be a proud stepparent in a happy stepfamily with time, patience, and understanding. Such an occasion is worth celebrating!
National Family Day in the United States is September 26th each year. But what about stepfamilies?
Shouldn’t they have their day to celebrate too? Christy Tusing-Borgeld thought so, and it’s why she began a campaign to create National Stepfamily Day.
Background
In an interview with The Stepmom Project, Christy Tusing-Borgeld describes how National Stepfamily Day came to be.
She became a stepparent in 1992 when she married her husband, Jim. One day, while looking for aid and resources specific to stepfamilies, Tusing-Borgeld noted she couldn’t find much.
She recalled seeing president Bill Clinton declare “National Parents Day.” According to Tusing-Borgeld,
But having the idea and getting Congress to recognize it were two entirely different things. Tusing-Borgeld researched the founder of Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, and “took her lead.” From there, she sent letters, made long-distance phone calls (which cost extra back then), and faxed documents to various governmental agencies.
Driven by her belief in second chances and supporting the family and children, Christy Tusing-Borgled succeeded in creating National Stepfamily Day. The first year it was recognized was 1997, so this year’s National Stepfamily Day will be the 25th anniversary of its founding.
Ways to Celebrate
There are many ways you can celebrate this year’s National Stepfamily day. Autumn is coming, so you should take advantage of seasonal activities no matter where you live.
Autumn Activities
Labor Day just came and went, marking the unofficial end of summer. For National Stepfamily Day, you could consider some fall activities like apple picking, going to a pumpkin patch, or entering a haunted house.
You could also check out local farmer’s markets in your area. They’ll likely have some pumpkin or apple-flavored treats this time of year.
Outdoor Activities
You can still get outside even if your activities aren’t explicitly geared around the autumn season. If you live in an urban area, you could find a local city park to walk with your stepfamily or bring along lunch and have a picnic.
Reconnecting with nature could be just what you and your stepfamily need. If you live in a more rural area, you could visit one of your local, national parks for a relaxing nature hike.
Doing this will not only bring your stepfamily together, but it could also offer mental health benefits like decreased stress and improved mood.
Create Something at Home
If you’re tired from work, you don’t need to go anywhere to bond with your stepfamily. You can stay at home and create something together.
This could be anything from a craft project like using painted hand prints to make a family tree to building a Lego set. It could also include cooking a family dinner together.
There are legitimate mental and emotional benefits from creating things. Thus, engaging in coordinated teamwork activities can bring everyone closer together.
In the same way, each stepfamily was created, you can create something memorable and meaningful together on National Stepfamily Day.
