FARMINGTON – The challenges of living in a stepfamily will be the topic of a workshop series offered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Franklin County.

A four-part discussion series, “Building Strong Stepfamilies,” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 11, 18, 25 and Nov. 1, at the Franklin County Extension Office, 147 Farmington Falls Road, next to the town office.

The series will focus on recognizing unrealistic expectations, adjusting to new family members and dynamics, resolving conflicts and communicating effectively with all players.

“Although a stepfamily may look like a traditional family with parents and children, the actual differences between step and traditional families are striking,” said Wendy Legg Pollock, Extension educator and leader of the workshop.

“Anyone living in a stepfamily knows how challenging and confusing stepfamily life can be, yet they may be blaming themselves or thinking something is wrong’ with their family rather than realizing how typical these struggles are for most stepfamilies. A valuable feature of the series is the support participants receive from each other as they learn more about these common struggles and ways of dealing with them,” Pollock said.

The cost of the series is $10 a person or couple. Scholarships are available. Registration and fees are due by Oct. 6. Make checks payable to OCEA (Oxford County Extension Association) and mail to UM Cooperative Extension, 147 Farmington Falls Road, Office 2, Farmington, ME 04938-4603.

For more information, call the Extension Office at 778-4650 or 1-800-287-1478.