melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Setbacks are a part of life, but when they affect our blended family, they can feel insurmountable. This week, I have 5 tips to help you overcome setbacks with ease. Accept and acknowledge the issue Dont place blame Find your strength Give it time Find what you can learn from the experience Also enjoy some motivational quotes on overcoming setbacks! It doesn’t get easier you just get stronger I don’t pay attention to the world ending....
Oct 03, 2016•17 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Oftentimes, people can make us uncomfortable when it comes to their reactions to our blended families. Strangers can approach us with questions or stares. Simple outings to a park or restaurant can prompt reactions from others. Other times, an ex or even in laws can make us feel uncomfortable too. Some of this just comes with being part of a blended family, but we still need to know how to manage it, and how to not take it personally....
Sep 26, 2016•18 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Dealing with difficult people is a part of life. When a difficult person is part of your blended family, whether a partner, an ex spouse, a child or stepchild, things get more complicated. We cannot always cut that person from our life. Instead we need to learn methods of how to deal with them, and how to manage our own emotions. Also, another family interview! I speak with Matthew Cochran from Tampa Florida. He tells us all about his...
Sep 19, 2016•25 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Cassie Parks is a best-selling author, champagne lover and lifestyle design strategist. Her passion is helping her clients create a life they love quickly and easily. In this episode, she tells us how to use the law of attraction to create the blended family you’ve always dreamed of. Some topics we discuss What is the law of attraction (LOA) Cassie’s personal story of how LOA worked in her own life How we can use it to help our blende...
Sep 12, 2016•26 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Starting a new school year can be hard on kids, especially if they are starting a new school. There are ways we can help them ease into it, so they can have a successful year. My five top tips for this are Establish a routine Help them get organized Familiarize them with the school Monitor your own emotions Communicate regularly Also listen to a new family interview with our listener Amy Osowski! Join the Private Facebook Group Listen...
Aug 29, 2016•34 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Lauren Jean is a single momma, author, and podcast stylist. Thru her obsession with her own podcast and self development she discovered that teaching and connecting others are her superpowers. She is putting them to the test now through her signature program passion to pod which trains podcaster wanna be’s to voice their message through their very own podcast. Lauren is also a fellow listener, and joins the show to tell her personal b...
Aug 22, 2016•37 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com In blended families, it’s common to be concerned about how all of the children will influence one another. Even though this is normal behavior, you still want to control it, because bad habits are not what we want our children picking up. Also, listen in on our first family interview, where we learn more about one of our listeners and their blended family. This week we feature Debbie Harmon. If you are interested in participating in o...
Aug 15, 2016•26 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Julie joins me on the show to talk about her book How to raise an adult: Break free of the overparenting trap and prepare your kid for success Julie Lythcott-Haims served as Dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising at Stanford University, where she received the Dinkelspiel Award for her contributions to the undergraduate experience. A mother of two teenagers, she has spoken and written widely on the phenomenon of helicopter parenti...
Aug 08, 2016•39 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you ever feel like your children are ruining your life? Or do you feel like they are ruining your dream of a perfect blended family? Parenting is hard, and managing a blended family is a huge challenge. We all struggle with feelings like this. Some of the issues you might be dealing with are Sleep deprivation Lack of spontaneity Lack of a social life Lack of sex life Unorganized home Health problems Career struggles Financial strug...
Aug 01, 2016•26 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com It’s very common to struggle with insecurities in a blended family. Whether you are a bio parent, a stepparent, or a child, you all may experience some form of insecurity. In this episode, we will talk about the different types of insecurities, and what we can do to help eliminate them from our life. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions o...
Jul 25, 2016•20 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com We all tend to feel a little insane over the summer, especially when managing a blended family! In this show I’ve got some tips for you to help you keep the kids busy, keep yourself calm, and stay sane while the kids are out of school! Listen to my interview on the BadBoy Breakthrough Podcast here Check out Lorna’s Badboy Breakthrough podcast on itunes Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on...
Jul 18, 2016•21 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com It’s not discussed as often, but many blended families struggle with issues pertaining to their adult children. Whether about financial concerns, splitting time, wills, or mistreatment of a partner, the issues are very different than what we deal with when children are young. In this episode, I’ll discuss some common struggles and what to do about them. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me o...
Jul 11, 2016•16 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com There are things in our lives and blended families that frustrate us. Some of these things we have power to change, but many we do not. There’s no sense in focusing attention to the things we have no control over. In this episode I give you a simple exercise to help you determine what deserves your attention, and what doesn’t. Create a master list of everything in your life that you you wish you could change or improve. Then each item...
Jul 04, 2016•14 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Kate Anthony is the incredible mom, coach, and personal development superstar behind “How To Not F*ck Up Your Kids.” Kate uses her 20+ years of personal and professional experience to help moms uplevel their emotional intelligence, become better parents and raise happier, healthier kids. With both her group and 1:1 programs, Kate offers her clients a breadth of expertise, tools, and skills for customized results that make the greatest...
Jun 27, 2016•29 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com My husband Shawn joins me on this episode to discuss the recent Pulse shootings in our home state of Florida. We also discuss Father’s Day, and Shawn gives some advice to other dad’s, and mom’s too! To Donate to Pulse victims GoFundMe #OrlandoStrong Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send ...
Jun 20, 2016•19 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Dealing with conflict is a life skill that has less to do with resolving the problem, and more to do with how we handle it. Sometimes we can fix things, but when we can’t, we need to know how to cope and live our life. We can’t control others, only ourselves and how we deal with things. Blended families can be full of conflict, especially when dealing with exes. Learn some ways to manage conflict in this episode. Join the Private Face...
Jun 13, 2016•18 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com My husband Shawn joins the show to discuss wedding details. We talk all about the recent nuptials including our most favorite and least favorite parts, our exes involvement, how we included the children in the ceremony, and much more. Plus Shawn helps me answer a listener question! Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melis...
Jun 06, 2016•24 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Celebrities are just like us! Many of them are balancing blended families, and on this show, I’ve got a list of ten for you. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Steve Harvey and Marjorie Bridges Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen Brad pitt and Angelina Jolie Terry and Rebecca Crews Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher Kris and Bruce Jenner Huffington post artic...
May 23, 2016•13 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com We all make mistakes in blended families, and it’s important to learn how to grow and move past them. It’s never too late to start over. Some common mistakes we make in our family relationships are Thinking you’re always right Trying to change someone Pleasing others at the expense of yourself Expecting others to know what we want Not managing anger Not giving ourselves time Neglecting relationships Feeling guilty Three steps for succ...
May 16, 2016•20 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com In honor of Mother’s Day, I am joined with Ami Brown, who is Shawn’s ex wife. We talk about all kinds of things, such as Her personal story What it was like when we met Jealousy, and why it’s not helpful Her advice for bio moms Lessons she learned over the years Some listener questions Her career Ami is an inspiring woman and a true example of what it should look like to be a bio mom in a blended family. My hope is that her story (and...
May 09, 2016•43 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com JODI WOMACK is the CEO of the Get Momentum Leadership Academy and the founder of No More Nylons, a coaching program providing women business leaders with professional networking expertise. She co-founded Get Momentum with her husband, Jason so they could work together from anywhere in the world. Her firsthand experience in business management, marketing, and customer service gets put to good use through their training and coaching fir...
May 02, 2016•30 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Bringing a new baby into a blended family home is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider when you choose to expand your family. There are steps you can take to make sure it is a smooth transition for everyone involved. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast....
Apr 25, 2016•19 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Abuse can be very damaging to a blended family, because there are more lives at stake. Instead of worrying about one family, we now have two we have to be concerned about. There are different types of abuse, which are physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual. There are many factors that determine why people become abusers, and why others become victims. Getting help is essential in order to live a happy peaceful life, and to ensure tha...
Apr 18, 2016•18 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Back in September we did the perspective series, a month long series focusing on the perspective of people in the blended family. However, we never took into account the perspective of a child in the blended family home. Oftentimes we overlook a child’s feelings because we are too busy worrying about our own relationship and situation. Some common feelings a child may experience while being part of a divorce or a blended family are Fe...
Apr 11, 2016•20 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com This week, I answer some listener questions. If you want to send me a question for a future show, please email to me, message me in facebook, or send me an audio file via speakpipe. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypo...
Apr 04, 2016•19 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you want to create more peace in your home so that your blended family can live with ease? Learn how in this episode. I’ll give you some tips on how to become the peacemaker in your family, and how to help your children as well. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at ...
Mar 28, 2016•15 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com It’s essential to be supportive to you partner in any relationship, but it’s needed even more in a blended family. There are four key areas where support is important, which are parenting, work, lifestyle, and personal development. Parenting Always backup your partner and be their teammate Support them emotionally through painful parenting moments Help with general parenting responsibilities Work and business life Get interested in yo...
Mar 21, 2016•21 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Blended families have been portrayed in TV and film for many years. I’ve compiled a list of the most popular movies and shows you should check out with your own blended family! In Television Brady Bunch Who’s the Boss Full House Drake and Josh The Foster’s Modern Family Life with Derek Step by Step Sister Sister Two and a half Men Different Strokes In Film Brady Bunch Yours, Mine, and Ours Stepmom The Parent Trap Mrs. Doubtfire Step B...
Mar 14, 2016•13 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Many adolescents struggle with their sexual identity. If they identify as bisexual, lesbian, gay, or transexual, it can be much easier for them if they come from a home that is sex positive. Blended families can be harder for a child to reveal their sexual identity to, as there are more people involved, each whom may have a differing opinion. It’s important for the entire family to come together and support the child in the coming out...
Mar 07, 2016•22 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you have a home that is sex positive? Do you even know what that means? Raising children comes with lots of questions, especially when it comes to sex. How much are we supposed to say? Should we tell the truth? We are living in quite a different world now than when we were young. Homes that are blended have a bit more of a challenge, as both sides need to decide what is right for their family. There are many benefits to being a sex...
Feb 29, 2016•21 min
