Typical stepfamilies and intact biofamilies are composed of unique adults and children with talents, limitations,  needs, friends, responsibili-ties, wounds, bonds, losses, conflicts, values, boundaries, histories, an-cestors, dreams, fears, successes, and failures; and both...
   are managed by adults, who (usually) try to nurture dependent kids toward successful independence;
   follow predictable human and family developmental stages;
   acquire, use, and maintain dwellings, vehicles, and physical and fi-nancial assets;
   depend on clear thinking and effective communication to get their needs met;
   work to stabilize family roles, rules, rituals, boundaries, and goals; and...
   both kinds of family system interact with human and Earthly environ-ments as contributors and consumers.

   Family adults and supporters who focus mainly on these similarities risk seriously underestimating the impacts of over 60 differences be-tween typical stepfamilies and intact biofamilies. Co-parent  Project 3 and Project 4 help to guard against this. 

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