Marrah Muhr is an author, speaker, and mother of five. Her 25 years of experience leading in Fortune 100/500 organizations, as well as her formal background in Change Management and Six Sigma Data Analytics, make her a credible leader with the ability to influence healthy, sustainable change. Marrah is a passionate advocate of the blended family community, and has spent a lifetime utilizing the principles of truth and hope to rewrite the step family narrative.
“hope” is not a four-letter word
Another blended family resource? Ugh!
If you’re anything like me, you may be a bit skeptical about yet another blended family resource. If the sheer volume of books, blogs and videos weren’t overwhelming enough, it seems there is almost no consistency in either the data or advice being provided.
Even more discouraging is the general tone of the content available. Resource after resource sharing desperate and painful tales of blended family trials. A quick internet search on “leading blended families” will quickly supply you with links to: identifying red flags, failure rates, and specifically, “Don’t expect to love your step-kids.”
Um, what?!
I admit I am a textbook optimist, but it seems to me that leading with the negative robs us of the potential joy we could experience. Non-traditional families may have more challenges than mainstream, but that doesn’t mean you can’t claim a future of love, prosperity, growth, and…HOPE!
My heart’s desire is that this resource will enable just that promise for you and your family.
A peek behind the curtain: My husband Dan and I met on a dating app and were married in 2019. He was the tall, handsome computer nerd who loves all things Star Wars. And I was the Type-A ball of energy with strong opinions. Yet, somehow we felt we understood each other. It didn’t take long to realize we would share our lives together!
We currently reside in Minneapolis, MN and love spending time at the family cabin when we can get away. We are active members at Grace Fellowship Church in Brooklyn Park, and most importantly: we share a passion for proclaiming love and hope to our blended family community!
Dan and I have had our share of trials. We’re not leading our family of seven with blind naivety. But we equally see and experience the promise of hope in our lives. Hope is not a four-letter word that we should be wary of because we don’t want to get hurt! Instead, it’s a beacon to help guide our families to a peace-full life!
It is possible to have HOPE in a blended family!
-Marrah
My Family
From tween to young adult, artist to mathematician, athlete to scholar, today our family encompasses a wide variety of personalities, talents and preferences. But one thing remains constant: we are a unit. We support each other in the good times and the bad, make it a priority to spend quality time together, and find opportunities to laugh and grow. WE AREN’T PERFECT. But we’re who we’re supposed to be.
When Dan and I first met, our kids ranged in age from five to 12. Throughout the years, we’ve experienced five kids at five different schools, too many extra-curriculars to count, and numerous growth opportunities (think: first time driving, dating, academic struggles, medical or mental stresses, COVID!…and more!).
We’ve had our fair share of navigating new family expectations, co-parenting agreements, evolving traditions, and so…much…healing.
While our story is not an illustration of how to nimbly avoid pain in your family’s journey, it is honest and relevant. Our mission is to share our journey (all of it) as an example of vulnerability, and ultimately…hope.
