The gap in the greeting card market for cards created with non-traditional families in mind has been filled with the launch of Modern Family Cards at Life Instyle Sydney.
Nicole Lenord created the business as a way to support families that don’t fit the nuclear mold from her experience as both a mum and stepmum.
“While I feel blessed that my relationship with all my family members has always been solid, we have had to find our own language to explain our relationships, endure some viscous and cruel people who should know better, be on alert that our family is ‘different’ from others, and work around schedules, drop-offs and timetables that are just a way of life for a ‘modern family’,” she says. “So this range of cards is designed to share with those connected by love, not necessarily by blood.”
Cards in the Modern Family collection are designed by several different artists and cover step kids, step siblings, step parents, step grandparents, blended, surrogate, adopted, gay and foster families. There are plans to grow the range with boxed sets, cards for mums and dads and seasonal cards.
Lenord says Modern Family Cards was well received at Life Instyle. “My stall had a strong emotional response from people – many tears were shed as people unburdened their hearts about their own ‘modern family’ stories, people laughed at finally finding step cards, and others just wanted to say ‘thank you’ for providing empowering messages for families to share.
“Half of all adult women in the US will live with or marry a man with children, and Australia isn’t far behind. So the number of relationships in this space is growing by the day.”
