melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Many of us know someone who suffers from mental illness. Whether it’s a partner, a child or stepchild, or an ex spouse, it can be difficult navigating that terrain, especially in a blended family. My guest today, John Cordray is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor and he owns a private practice in St. Louis, Missouri. John is also very active as a Mental Health advocate on social media and his podcast,...
May 15, 2017•45 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Happy Mother’s Day! For this Mother’s Day special, I am featuring three mom podcasters that I think are making a big impact in the world! Shawn Fink is the founder of The Abundant Mama Project and the author of “The Playful Family” and “The Abundant Mama’s Guide to Savoring Slow.” She is the mother of twin girls, Jadyn and Liana, and a family wellness coach for mothers around the world. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, Mi...
May 08, 2017•1 hr 12 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Linda Ricci, another special listener, also reached out to me in the efforts of sharing her story of abuse. Both her and my last guest, Lisa Paige, met through our private facebook group, where they discovered they had a similar experience. Linda also feels it is her calling to help others, and she feels getting her story out is the first step. In this interview we discuss: Her marriage How the abuse started How religion played a role...
May 01, 2017•45 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com One of my special listeners, Lisa Paige, has reached out to me in the hopes that I would share her story. This is a personal story of abuse, but she has persevered! Lisa now has a better relationship and a blended family! In this interview she shares: About her family How the abuse started Why she stayed for so long What triggered her decision to leave How she decided to let her husband know she was leaving him What happened after the...
May 01, 2017•30 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com As an alienated parent and victim of family court corruption, Wendy Perry (formerly Archer) became motivated to bring awareness and education about parental alienation out of the shadows. Her advocacy work has included coordinating and hosting the annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day event in Dallas/Fort Worth Texas and other large events such as the Parental Alienation Symposium drawing attendees from around the world, hosting mo...
Apr 24, 2017•38 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Every blended family has to deal with transition days, and every child deals with transitions in a different way. Most parents and step parents dread this, as they know they are in for some behavior that can be out of character. In this episode I’ll talk about Transition day behaviors Why transitions are hard for our children Why transition days are hard for parents What parents can do to make things easier for both themselves and the...
Apr 17, 2017•22 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com When you’re a parent in a blended family, you don't have time to get sick. Unfortunately, it happens, and it’s never convenient. It’s important to learn some tips to prevent illness, but I also have tips for when find yourself under the weather. Don't be afraid to ask for help Seek medical help if necessary Do the bare minimum Let go of perfectionism If your home with the kids, make it easy on yourself Let go of the guilt Join the Pri...
Apr 10, 2017•18 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Elle Martinez is the creator of Couple Money, a personal finance site and podcast focused on helping spouses build their marriage and wealth together. She shares tips, advice, and stories from her own journey and others about dumping debt, taking care of family, and dealing with sticky situations that many marriages encounter. She joins me for a discussion of finances and blended families. In this interview we discuss Her personal sto...
Apr 03, 2017•46 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Most divorced couples lack great communication skills, which makes co parenting much harder than it needs to be. Healthy communication with your ex creates a peaceful environment for your children, and also sets a great example for them that they will model when they grow up. My 15 tips for better communication with your ex are Never use the kids as a go between Never argue in front of the kids Learn to pick and choose your battles Av...
Mar 27, 2017•23 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Our children get enough negativity in the outside world. At home, we need to counteract that by building them up. A healthy self esteem is so important for children to have, and it is our job as parents to help them have a positive self image. We can change their story, and teach them how to change their own. Some ideas to help are Notice when they do something right Tell them you are proud of them Compliment them every day Tell them ...
Mar 13, 2017•13 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Rachel Grant is the owner and founder of Rachel Grant Coaching and is a Sexual Abuse Recovery Coach. She is also the author of Beyond Surviving: The Final Stage in Recovery from Sexual Abuse. She works with survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are beyond sick and tired of feeling broken, unfixable, and burdened by the past. She helps them let go of the pain of abuse and finally feel normal. Her program, Beyond Surviving, has been s...
Mar 06, 2017•34 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com It’s hard enough dealing with divorce as it is. When you have an ex who makes it harder by telling stories about you, it can seem unbearable. Especially when it results in your children or other people turning against you. Unfortunately we cannot control others or what they do, but we can learn how to cope, to save our sanity. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me ...
Feb 27, 2017•21 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com One of the issues many stepparents face, is the inability to really love their stepchild. It’s rarely spoken of, as those who feel that way are ashamed to admit it. After tons of emails from listeners who struggle with this, it’s evident that this is an issue that people really need help with. In this show, you’ll learn how to deal with these feelings, how to determine where they are coming from, and how to understand things from your...
Feb 20, 2017•22 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Intimacy is an essential part of every relationship. Parents can be so caught up with raising children, that they allow the intimacy to fall away. There are three important elements of intimacy in a romantic relationship, which are sexual, emotional, and physical. All three are important and a couple should learn how to create a balance of all three. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on F...
Feb 13, 2017•20 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Dr. Jennelle is a PhD Psychologist and Relationship Advisor working with individuals and couples who want to improve communication, collaboration, and harmony in their relationships. Dr. Jennelle focuses on nontraditional relationships and family structures (i.e., female same-sex couples, divorced/remarrying couples, and blended families), helping to navigate the challenges in these complex dynamics by developing skills that lead to s...
Feb 06, 2017•32 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Maintaining a good attitude in a blended family is something that is difficult, but not impossible. Bad attitudes can trickle down to everyone in the family, so it’s very important to learn how to manage our own. We also need to help our children manage their attitudes. There are some way to help you lift yourself up out of a bad state of mind, such as breathing, stopping the negative self talk, or finding something to do that brings ...
Jan 30, 2017•20 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com This show, I’ll share with you what’s been going on in my life, and why parenting hurts for me right now. Also, a fabulous family interview with Alex Thompson, who seems to know some tips on how to successfully manage a blended family! 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...
Jan 23, 2017•31 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Casey O’Roarty is a wife, mother, Certified Positive Discipline Trainer and ICF Certified Coach. Casey facilitates parents in how to build stronger, more authentic relationships with themselves and the children in their lives. She encourages grown ups to recognize and embrace the challenges of parenting as opportunities to model, teach and practice the skills we want our children to learn to embody. Casey lives in the Pacific Northwes...
Jan 16, 2017•54 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Many blended families cause feelings of overwhelm. Not only are blended families more complex, there is usually so much more to do and handle. In addition, many of the challenges blended families face add to the overwhelm. Although these feelings are magnified during the holiday season, they really can carry on all year long. My top ten tips to deal with overwhelm are Get in the present moment Put it all down on paper Only handle what...
Jan 09, 2017•18 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Holidays can be crazy! Battle the boredom with some ideas to keep the kids busy over the break. Plus a family interview! 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.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Schedule an inter...
Dec 19, 2016•26 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Maureen Blaha is the executive director of the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), an organization with the mission to keep America’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. She joins me to talk about about this very important topic. Some of what we cover is below. What exactly is the National Runaway Safeline What does NRS do to help children and their parents Blended families and runaway youth Warning signs to loo...
Dec 12, 2016•28 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sometimes we forget to consider the feelings of other people. We make assumptions about what they think, and why they act the way they do. We tear people down because we think our way is better. We judge and criticize. These behaviors aren’t going to help you or your blended family. 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 meli...
Dec 05, 2016•21 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Straying from the regular format, this show is on a more personal note. I open up about some of my own struggles this Thanksgiving. We also talk about some of our activity in the group. I answer a listener question about the holiday season, and then talk about how to make the holidays work. Not my usual but I hope that you can take something from it! Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on F...
Nov 28, 2016•19 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Brad is an international expert in affair recovery. He sees couples exclusively and has helped many couples through the blended family process. Brad and Morgan own and operate Marriage Solutions a group marriage counseling practice with locations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK. In this interview, we discuss Their personal story How does a divorced couple move past an affair Helping children heal Healing from a previous divorce so it d...
Nov 21, 2016•46 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Living in the present moment is so hard to do. With the chaos of a blended family and the stress of the modern world, it can feel impossible at times. In this show, some ideas to help you become more present, so you can enjoy life a little more. Meditate Stop worrying Stop dwelling on the past Forgive past hurts Stop overthinking Focus on each day as it comes Be mindful Yesterday is history Tomorrow is a mystery Today is a gift That’s...
Nov 14, 2016•31 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Many children suffer from low self esteem. As parents, it is our job to recognize these signs, and help our kids develop a better sense of self worth. My ten ways to help are Give positive reinforcement Compliment them often Allow them choices Put them in a sport or hobby Give them responsibilities Help them set goals Work on your own self esteem issues Help them with their self dialogue Teach them about mistakes Show unconditional lo...
Nov 07, 2016•23 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Very special celebration of my 100th episode! Just an overview of what I have to offer, plus a special announcement and contest! 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.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Schedule ...
Oct 31, 2016•14 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Are you a people pleaser? I’m here to tell you that you can’t please everyone! I know all too well the struggle that you are going through, which is why this episode is dedicated to helping you! I’ll tell you what it means to be a people pleaser, why it is, and how it relates to your blended family. Also my ten tips to help you overcome it, which are below Set your boundaries Learn how to say no Don’t apologize Learn how to place valu...
Oct 24, 2016•22 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com A great conversation with Carrie Ellis-Berg, who has been an elementary school teacher for ten years. Together as a blended family, she and her husband have four children. After realizing the need for children’s books on blending, she felt called to share fun and exciting stories that would help parents and children learn, grow, and adapt in their new family structure. She hopes that her stories will foster and strengthen relationship...
Oct 17, 2016•23 min
melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com In life, there are givers and takers. When we deal with takers, we often feel like they drain our energy. We feel frustrated with their lack of concern for our own needs and wants. Sometimes takers naturally gravitate towards us because we are givers. What should you do if you are dealing with a taker in your life, or in your blended family? Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook C...
Oct 10, 2016•16 min
