The Bonus Family Handbook

Jann Blackstone, PsyD, coined the term “bonus” in lieu of “step” almost 30 years ago to describe the growing phenomenon of combined families. Since then, she has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show promoting the term and how to better improve relationships within blended or “Bonus” families. She has written numerous books chronicling her life experience as a co-parent, including Ex-etiquette for Parents, Ex-etiquette for Holidays and Special Occasions, and Co-parenting Through Separation and Divorce. Currently in private practice as a child custody mediator and co-parenting counselor, Dr. Blackstone also runs a weekly column, Ex-etiquette: Good Behavior After Divorce or Separation, syndicated by Tribune Content since 2004. Today, it runs in hundreds of newspapers and websites all over the world.