Hello from Ella’s Blended family: Get to Know Us!

Who is Ella’s Blended Family?

Hello, we’re a blended family of six. Blending two families with children from previous relationships into one can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. On our page, we share tips, advice, and positive strategies designed to help blended families, stepmoms, and stepdads navigate these unique experiences. We hope to provide support and encouragement as we all work through the joys and challenges of our blended family journeys.

Hello from ELLA

Hi there! I’m the youngest member of our wonderfully imperfect blended family of seven, and I’m thrilled you stopped by! Here’s a little about us: I joined the family in January 2020, and my arrival was met with a lot of excitement. I’m a female King Charles Cavalier Spaniel with big, soulful eyes and a beautiful Blenheim coat. My mom, Cecile, often says that I’ve completed our blended family. With four boys in the house, things can get pretty lively and full of adventure. Let me share the story of how our blended family came together.

Our On Going Journey.

Our journey began in January 2014, at a cozy little coffee shop where my mom and dad first met. At that time, my mom had two young sons, Benjamin (6) and Nicholas (4), from her previous marriage, while my dad had two sons, Xavier (9) and Jacob (7), from his own previous marriage.

It was clear from the start that my mom was deeply in love with my dad. Faced with the complexities of blending two families, she dove into research, reading countless books and articles to understand and navigate the challenges of our new family dynamic. Both my parents were new to this whole process and had to learn how to handle the ups and downs of our unique situation.

Despite the statistics that suggest a high failure rate for blended families, especially those involving children from previous marriages, my mom was determined to make it work. She believed in the possibility of finding love and happiness in our imperfect blended family, and the effort has been deeply rewarding for all of us.

To share what they’ve learned along the way, my mom, Cecile, started this blog. It’s filled with tips, advice, and positive strategies for stepfamilies like ours. We invite you to join us on this journey.

Since our story began seven years ago, my mom has been documenting our experiences and insights. You’ll find her writings in the tips and support section, while I’ll keep you updated on all the exciting things happening in our lives.

Meet our Blended Family!

Meet Cecile!

My mom, Cecile, is the writer behind Ella’s Blended Family. She spent over 15 years as a Registered Nurse before pursuing her passion for entrepreneurship by purchasing a local ice cream shop in February 2019. Cecile loves coffee and chocolate, and she takes great joy in giving back to our community. She is dedicated to helping other blended families thrive and has recently published an e-book titled The Art of Successfully Blending Families: A Guide to a Happy Blended Family.

Mom was the one who wanted me to be part of our big family. Despite her many strengths, she can get overwhelmed at times, but don’t worry—my dad is always there to help keep things on track.

Meet Frank!

My dad, Frank, has been a Game Producer for over 15 years. He loves tackling renovation projects around the house and staying busy. He puts his heart and soul into everything he does. While the boys say he’s the strictest one in the house, I can’t say I’ve experienced that side of him—he tends to spoil me a lot! Convincing him to welcome me into the family was a challenge, but thankfully, my mom managed to change his mind. I’m so glad she did!

THE BOYS

Meet Nicholas!

Nicholas (Number 4) is the youngest of the boys and has a real knack for building and creating with Legos. My mom keeps me out of his room because there are Legos everywhere, and I might get into mischief with them! Nicholas has a big, warm heart and boundless energy. He takes great care of me and always makes sure I’m well looked after.

Meet Benjamin!

Benjamin (Number 3) is truly an old soul in a young body. He faced significant health challenges as a toddler, including heart surgery at just 16 months old. My mom says he matured quickly due to his time in the hospital, but the great news is that he’s now thriving and living life to the fullest. Benjamin is incredibly empathetic and has a talent for making people smile. He enjoys the outdoors and loves riding his mountain bike.

Meet Jacob!

Jacob (number 2): He’s fiercely independent and knows exactly what he wants—and what he doesn’t. A true rule-follower. He’s been a vegetarian for nearly 8 years now, which I didn’t fully grasp at first, but it means no meat for him. He loves making puny jokes and playing around with words.

Meet Xavier!

Xavier (number 1): I don’t see him much since he spends most of his time in his room downstairs. My mom says that’s just what teenagers do. But when he comes upstairs—usually for food—I get SO excited! He knows exactly where to scratch me. All the dogs love him, and I totally get why—there’s just something about him. He’s really into science, technology, and board games. I’m pretty sure he’ll work with computers when he’s older.

Now that you’ve gotten to know us a bit, we’d love for you to join our community. We’re excited to connect with you!