In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that hits close to home for every parent— social wellness for kids and step-kids. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to guide your children through the ups and downs of friendships, bullying, or personal boundaries, you’re not alone. We’ve been there, too, and we’re sharing some of our own experiences—both the wins and the missteps—as we supported our kids’ social growth. This is the third episode in our wellness series, and today we’re focusing on th...
Nov 26, 2024•37 min
Resources: Episode 198. How do sleep habits impact the health and wellness of your kids? [with Jessica Bryant] Reach out to Jessica for a Free 15-minute sleep Audit if you have questions about sleep The Better Sleep Counsel Episode 178. Surviving the Turbulent Teen Years: Expert Insight and Strategies for Today's Parent [With Dr. Michael Bradley] Book by Dr. Michael Bradley: Crazy Stressed - Saving Today's Overwhelmed Teens with Love, Laughter, and the Science of Resilience Episode 197. Conquer ...
Nov 19, 2024•5 min
Are your kids ever irritable, anxious, or just "off"? Maybe they aren't getting enough sleep. You might be surprised how inadequate or inconsistent sleep habits can negatively impact your kid's ability to focus, tolerate stress, and manage relationships. Lack of sleep increases fatigue, affects mood, and decreases overall wellness. In fact, our guest Jessica Bryant says there really isn't any health concern we might have for our kids that isn't impacted by sleep — particularly their mental healt...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 17 min
Resources Episode 20. 4 Big Myths About Parenting When an Ex Has Different Rules Episode 197. Conquer Digital Overload: Parenting Tips for Raising Tech-Savvy Kids [with Steve Arterburn] Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're h...
Nov 05, 2024•6 min
In today's screen-saturated world, parents are facing a unique challenge that previous generations never had to navigate… …how to raise tech-savvy kids! Screens are everywhere. Your children may wake up to the morning news on TV. They might work on a laptop or even a government-issued tablet while at school. Throughout the day and into the evening, they may play a game on their tablet, text friends on a smartphone, or watch a movie with the family—maybe even all three at once! Your children’s 24...
Oct 29, 2024•47 min
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: ...
Oct 22, 2024•9 min
The holidays can be a time of excitement and high hopes for family "togetherness". You probably want to plan fun, festive activities so that you're able to enjoy memorable moments as a family. But nothing can rob you of all that fun like struggling to negotiate some details about scheduling or other logistics with your Ex. We've been there more times than we've wanted to be. Over the years, we've discovered 5 simple things that can reduce the headaches and avoid the heartaches that often come wh...
Oct 15, 2024•40 min
Resources Episode 195. Connecting with Kim's HARD Child - Facing the Challenges of Parental Alienation Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might h...
Oct 08, 2024•6 min
Do you ever stop to think about what it will be like 15 years from now? What will your relationship with each of your children be like? Maybe you've got a HARD kid (Hurt, Angry, Rejecting, Distant) who's putting up walls and seems to have turned against you - and it feels like this painful season will never end. The tension in your relationship with your child has robbed you of the connection you really want — and you aren't sure how to respond. That's exactly what we were experiencing 16 years ...
Oct 01, 2024•36 min
Resources: Episode 194. Powerful Tips for Effectively Connecting with Your Angry or Distant Child [with Dr. Amy J.L. Baker] Book by Amy J.L. Baker: and Paul R. Fine Parenting Under Fire Article by Amy J.L. Baker: Five Things to Never Say to an Alienated Child Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra su...
Sep 24, 2024•8 min
Children of divorce who are hurt, angry, rejecting, and distant (HARD) are challenging to parent. They can be rude, uncooperative, and disagreeable. It's difficult to relate to or connect with them, and they can appear hardened against the love and guidance you want to provide. When conflict between two homes intensifies, children often become entangled in loyalty conflicts or sometimes victims of parental alienation. Whatever the reason might be, parents need help! If it feels like you've been ...
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Resources: Episode 193. The Advantage of Learning The Basics BEFORE You Blend CLICK HERE to receive a curated podcast list to help you learn the Basics of Blending Episode 109. Preparing to Blend: The Couples Guide to Becoming a Smart Stepfamily [with Ron Deal] Book by Ron Deal: Preparing to Blend: The Couple's Guide to Becoming a Smart Stepfamily Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy...
Sep 10, 2024•5 min
Most of us start off on the blending journey with some ambiguity about how to deal with the complex dynamics that will come as families merge. It usually doesn't take long before you're blindsided by the reality that there's SO MUCH MORE to blending than first anticipated. Feelings of overwhelm, frustration, and disappointment might hit and you realize you're not as prepared as you thought. If you're seriously dating, contemplating marriage, engaged, newly married or getting ready to merge and m...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Resources: Episode 172. 2 Key Elements to Resolve Your Parenting Style Differences - And Get United Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help...
Aug 27, 2024•8 min
What's one of THE most challenging "feats" for blended couples to successfully master? Building a healthy, collaborative parenting partnership! What makes this so difficult? The sensitive topic of parenting can naturally kick off an emotionally-charged conversation, ending in disagreement, conflict, and disconnection. If you're anything like us, you've probably experienced painful, unproductive interactions around parenting that left you at risk… …at risk of shutting down or shutting each other ...
Aug 20, 2024•39 min
Resources Episode 191. Achieve Financial Harmony: Expert Guidance for Blending Your Finances [with special guests Ron Deal & Greg Pettys] Book by Ron Deal, Greg Pettys & David Edwards: The Smart Stepfamily's Guide to Financial Planning: Money Management Before and After You Blend a Family Click here to connect with Greg Pettys for a FREE consult regarding basic estate planning (wills, trusts, power of attorney, and guardianship) Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to disc...
Aug 13, 2024•6 min
Money is emotional. That's why it can be a touchy subject for couples — whether they're preparing to blend or if they've been blending for a while. Discussing finances can lead to very real challenges. The process of "merging money" can easily become complicated and overwhelming for blended family couples. The complexities tap into deeper emotions tied to things like fear, trust, loyalty, security, and stability. But "complex" and "impossible" are two different things. The emotional nature of mo...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Resources: Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences (Stranded Stranger / Trapped Teammate Dynamic) Episode 5. How to Get Over the Hurts and Triggers From Your Past Dr. Patricia L. Papernow - Stepfamily Relationships Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra s...
Jul 30, 2024•8 min
I (Mike) have had so many moments of just feeling stuck. I wondered how we would ever move forward and I figured out pretty early on that I wouldn't be able to sort out all the complex chaos without some support. The problem was, I had no idea what kind of support we needed. And when we were stuck in unhealthy patterns that kept leading to disconnection and pain, it was challenging to sort out how to move forward. That's a frustrating place to be. It can sometimes feel confusing or even hopeless...
Jul 23, 2024•42 min
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here:...
Jul 16, 2024•7 min
It's hard to accept that grief is simply a part of every blended family's journey. But that's your reality because everyone in your family has experienced some kind of loss along the way. If you aren't able to acknowledge grief and create a safe space to process through it, you'll miss out on valuable opportunities that lead to healing. In this episode, you'll discover a few truths about grief that you probably haven't considered before — plus the positive impact of allowing yourself and your ki...
Jul 09, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Resources: Episode 20. 4 Big Myths About Parenting When an Ex Has Different Rules Episode 187. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 1) Episode 188. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 2) Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for som...
Jul 02, 2024•8 min
Discomfort and distress are common experiences for those of us navigating blended dynamics. One key to learning to manage discomfort and distress well is practicing some simple strategies that acknowledge what you're actually experiencing and then choosing clear, healthy responses. Now, we know what you're probably thinking… …"I've done everything possible to cope with my discomfort and distress, but when it comes to this specific person or certain challenging circumstance, I just get so frustra...
Jun 25, 2024•41 min
What if every moment of blended family life felt fun, connected, and peaceful? It's pretty hard to imagine. We all know the struggles and challenges that barrage us each day. It might seem like there's way more discomfort and distress than there is fun and connection. We've navigated countless seasons of discomfort over the past couple of decades and struggled through intense moments of distress as well. One thing we've discovered is that these difficult experiences don't have to rob us of the p...
Jun 18, 2024•42 min
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here:...
Jun 11, 2024•7 min
Hey Stepdads — ever wonder if you're "winning or losing" in your role at home? Most stepdads I meet genuinely want to build trust with their stepkids and influence them toward success in life. But sometimes it feels like there's a bit too much chaos in the home — or you're not quite on the same page with your wife. The typical challenges of blending families often feel like they get in the way of you making the impact you really want to make. I get that feeling, and so does Gil Stuart, our guest...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr
Join our Blending Together Community https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you...
May 28, 2024•9 min
Have the challenges of blending a family ever left you feeling alone? Maybe you've felt like you're the only one experiencing the unique realities of blended family life. Maybe you're struggling with parenting complexities and your friends just don't get it. Or communication is tense in your couple relationship and your extended family can't seem to understand why. Maybe the kids are acting out or shutting down and it's hard to explain to everyone around you. Or maybe there's ongoing chaos stirr...
May 21, 2024•29 min
Resources Check out our Blending Together Community Episode 157. 3 Seasoned Stepmoms Share How They've Survived & Thrived in Their Blended Family Journey Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect...
May 14, 2024•5 min
Hey Moms and Stepmoms! As this episode drops, I'm betting that Mother's Day is on your radar. If you're anything like me (Kim), you're looking forward to being celebrated. But as wonderful as it is to be appreciated on Mother's Day, it might just feel like a drop in the bucket… …because being celebrated and appreciated on this one day of the year, might not help you get through all the other difficult days of your motherhood journey. Those days when you feel unappreciated, disappointed, insignif...
May 07, 2024•37 min
