Bringing a potential partner into the picture can be a challenge for you, your family, and the new arrival. It can take time for children of any age to get used to this new development.

How best to manage the situation depends on the age of your children, parenting style, culture, and, sometimes, concern about responsibility for and accountability to family. It is common to feel torn between loyalty to family and a desire for love and intimacy. Some families can talk frankly with one another. For others, deep feelings, past hurts, and being at different places in grief may prevent open discussion.

Whatever the situation, it is important that you do not feel responsible for resolving all the complexities. If you are finding it difficult to include someone new, family therapy may be helpful.