This concept was created in response to the author's frustration with negative labels that generally described her family of "variously accumulated" children, such as non-traditional, dys-functional, un-blended.  Does that mean it's a second rate family?  No.  It's a good family!  What about many other families who were experiencing distress due to the guilt of not being able to "blend?"  If negative images lead to negative energy, then it was time to do something about this!  Everyone deserves a positive, supportive family.  We became creative and asked this question:  What image offers a ,metaphor for "family?"  How about a patchwork quilt? Soft, warm, attractive ... Yes!

In a PATCHWORK FAMILY(R) each person is like an individual patch in a patchwork quilt.  Each one is whole itself, and the patch stands for a person's unique self and life story.  When a person enters a family -- by birth, adoption, or due to divorce and remarriage -- the individual "patch" is not altered or blended.  Instead, the patches are joined together to define the family.

Each person is celebrated as a special contributor, and the family is strengthened by the "stitching" made up of communication, tradition, spiritual life, community service and other "threads."  When the stitching becomes weak, attention is placed on repairing the connections, not on fixing a person. 

We acknowledge the importance of treatment for individual mental and physical health issues, and we recommend referrals to appropriate professionals for any individual concerns.  THE PATCHWORK FAMILY (R) concept for family strengthening maintains a focus on positive connections in a positive environment.

A number of our products address the methods for identifying and strengthening the "threads."    ****Watch for news of a very special major product to be 
published soon.