If the father has one set of rules and the mother has another set of rules, it will cause open conflict between the new parent and the child or children. Sell as much stuff from the former life as possible and then replace it with stuff chosen by the new family. Carryover stuff has a tendency to become more like a shrine of the absent parent rather than an important piece of property. Those plans might have made sense in the former relationship but they may be unrealistic in the present family. All change takes time.
Families take time.
Bonding, real bonding takes time. Roger A. Rhoades, D.Min., is a licensed professional counselor, a therapist for more than a decade who is nationally known for his considerable skills in the field. Dr. Rhoades has extensive training in marriage and family therapy and is considered an authority on relationships. You might have seen Dr. Rhoades' appearances on national television shows such as The Montel Williams Show, The Rolanda Watts Show, and Biggers and Summers. Most recently a regular on the Jenny Jones Show, he is America's most popular talk show counselor.