Blend: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family

Description

A wise and inspiring guide to creating a happy and healthy blended family by Mashonda Tifrere with contributions from her co-parents--Swizz Beatz and his wife, Grammy-Award winning singer and songwriter Alicia Keys. In January 2010, founder of ArtLeadHer Mashonda Tifrere and legendary record producer Swizz Beatz finalized their divorce. When Swizz married award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys, a new dynamic was born--three adults who loved and were deeply committed to raising Mashonda and Swizz's four-year old son Kasseem. In Blend, Tifrere draws on the insights they gained from their journey as well as advice from family therapists, parenting experts, and other blending families, to provide an invaluable resource for blended families. Statistics show that one in three Americans is now a step-parent, stepchild, step-sibling or other member of a blended family. The number of first time marriages or romantic relationships that end in divorce or breakups and the high percentage of remarriages and new relationships that involve children demand a unique, life-affirming approach to processing the end of one relationship and the rebirth of a new familial dynamic with the well-being of children at its center. In this book, Tifrere shares intimate details on how she and her co-parents used communication, patience and love to create an environment where they were able to work as a team and all the children involved could thrive. Blend will inspire a generation of families.

Mashonda Tifrere was raised by her grandmother in Harlem. At 18, she launched a music career, writing and recording hit singles with artists such as Jay Z, EVE, DMX, Snoop Dogg and LL Cool J, landing a record deal in 2004. Her first album, January Joy, was released in Asia in 2005. With a focus on empowering women through writing and education, she has contributed to outlets such as VibeVixen.com, The Amsterdam News, Jones Magazine, and GlobalGrind.com writing for and about women and the enrichment of their lives. In 2012, Mashonda launched LifeStyleHer, which brings together women of all races and beliefs, reinforcing their power through multiple platforms - articles, videos, social media communities, and events. Most recently LifeStyleHer partnered with Beyonce's BeyGOOD and Chime for Change to curate programs for the girls of Black Girls Rock and Lower East Side Girls Club. Mashonda serves on the board of directors at the Nurtured Parent Support Group, and Tournesol, an integrative health center based in NYC.

"Transformative! A paradigm-shifter for these families who are experiencing divorce or separation, this book shows parents how to reset their egos and enter their hearts. Blend reassures us: there is a way to reconfigure our families post-divorce in a way that is positive and life-affirming." -Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family