KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Being in quarantine can be difficult for many, especially if that includes working from home and rarely leaving the house.
41 Action News caught up with one family facing those challenges as a newly blended family.
Tiffany and Andy Kesinger got married on March 28, 2020.
Tiffany and her teenage daughter Rachel, 15, then moved in with Andy and his two teenage children, Kendall, 17 and Keegan, 14.
Kerry Scott, a child and family therapist at Jewish Family Services shared some of the challenges newly blended families might face during the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders.
For new relationships and families that haven't quite formed those relationships and connections yet, this is going to require a lot of patience and a lot of empathy
"As difficult as it might be when we're all stuck at home, but for teenagers to have their own private space and their own private time," Scott said.
Another challenge blended families might face is how discipline is enforced.
"One of the most important things is for all of the parents involved to be on the same page in terms of discipline and to have standard and consistent expectations for all the kids in the household," Scott said. "I would also say in terms of discipline, going back to the idea of empathy, just kind of choosing your battles right now."
The Kesinger family told 41 Action News that they have discovered the peace in alone time, and they make sure they all have their own quiet spaces.
Each teen in the family is different, which Scott said is important for parents to remember.
It has only been two weeks that the Kesinger family has lived together, so it is still new for them.
The family added that it has been a good thing to be together during this time, but they know there will be struggles.
The Kesingers bond by eating dinner together and dancing in TikTok videos for fun.
"Don't sweat the small stuff right now," Scott said. "Kind of cut them a little slack right now and understand that this is a really anxious situation, but especially for a family that is just sort of getting to know each other this could provide some extra challenges."
