Blended Family Breakthrough
- Episodios
- 377
- Se publica
- cada semana
- Último episodio
- 10 Nov 2026
Sobre el podcast
We're Mike and Kim Anderson, and we believe in a world where blended families experience a future full of hope, connection, and peace. That's why we focus on helping couples in stepfamilies move from a place of confusion and conflict to a life of confidence and connection. Thanks for joining us to discover how you can live the blended family life you really want!
Not sure where to start? Learn more at https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com
Episodios 377
Simple Step: How to "Tap Out" Without Hurting Step Relationships
ResourcesEpisode 208. The Transfer of Power: A Smart Strategy for Stepparents Left in ChargeEpisode 204. 4 Facets of Stepparenting: Defining Appropriate Roles and ResponsibilitiesEpisode 108. 3 Unity Breakers …
Notas del episodio
Resources
Episode 208. The Transfer of Power: A Smart Strategy for Stepparents Left in Charge
Episode 204. 4 Facets of Stepparenting: Defining Appropriate Roles and Responsibilities
Episode 108. 3 Unity Breakers that are Detrimental to Your Connection and How You Can Avoid Them
Episode 230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family Division
Episode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended Family
Episode 183. What's the Difference between "coupleness" and "familyness" and why does it matter?
Episode 77. 3 Unique Differences That Make a Blended Family Marriage Challenging
Episode 141. Can my kids be emotionally harmed by blended family dynamics?
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
248. How to Plan Positive Family Celebrations Without So Much Tension [with Zach Brittle]
The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy and meaningful family memories. But when you're blending a family, competing traditions, conflicting expectations, and complicated relationships can …
Notas del episodio
The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy and meaningful family memories. But when you're blending a family, competing traditions, conflicting expectations, and complicated relationships can quickly turn this special season into a source of tension.
We've experienced these challenges ourselves, and we know how difficult it can be to balance everyone's needs and stay united as a couple.
In this episode, we're joined by marriage therapist Zach Brittle for an insightful conversation about navigating blended family challenges, especially during the holidays.
Zach offers helpful perspectives on how couples can stop fighting over competing preferences and start building a new family culture together. We explore two surprisingly simple questions that can transform how you approach holiday decisions, along with the importance of managing your own emotions and negotiating as a team.
You'll also discover why healthy conflict can actually strengthen your relationship and how to recover when your holiday plans don't go as expected.
Our hope is that you'll move through this holiday season with less pressure, greater unity, and more meaningful connection.
About Zach Brittle
Zach has spent nearly 20 years teaching, coaching, mentoring, and counseling couples. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a Certified Gottman Therapist (CGT), and a Relational Life Therapist. Zach is the host of Marriage Therapy Radio and the author of the bestselling relationship guides The Relationship Alphabet and The Marriage Therapy Journal. His work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Men’s Health, Real Simple, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Zach has been happily married to his wife, Rebecca, for 25 of their 28 years together. They live in Seattle with their two adult daughters.
You'll Discover:
- Why competing traditions and unspoken expectations create so much holiday tension in blended families.
- Two powerful questions to help you clarify your priorities, make better decisions, and create meaningful holiday memories.
- How to negotiate differences with your spouse, recognize parenting blind spots, and build a stronger parenting partnership.
- Why creating a new family culture requires flexibility, collaboration, and consideration for everyone's perspectives.
- How emotional maturity and healthy conflict repair can strengthen your marriage, even when things don't go as planned.
Resources from this Episode:
- Zach Brittle's Website
- Marriage Therapy Radio Podcast
- Stuff I Write — Zach's Substack
- Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes — Zach's upcoming book, releasing April 6, 2027.
Ready for some extra support?
We all need some extra support along the blending journey. 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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Safeguarding Kids as they Move Between Homes
ResourcesClick the link for helpful Co-Parenting Episodes: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/podcast/category/Co-Parenting/#filterEpisode 213. Discover How to Better Understand and Connect with Children …
Notas del episodio
Resources
Click the link for helpful Co-Parenting Episodes: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/podcast/category/Co-Parenting/#filter
Episode 213. Discover How to Better Understand and Connect with Children of Divorce [with Lauren Reitsema]
Episode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiances, and How to Help
Episode 232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's Wellness
Episode 161. How do Healthy Parent/Child Roles Help Avoid the Pitfalls of Parentification? [with Ron Deal & Lauren Reitsema]
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback.
247. When Kids Struggle Between Two Homes: How to Make Transitions Easier
Moving between two homes is simply part of life for many kids after a divorce. Have you ever stopped to consider how much physical and emotional energy each transition requires?Kids may be shifting between …
Notas del episodio
Moving between two homes is simply part of life for many kids after a divorce. Have you ever stopped to consider how much physical and emotional energy each transition requires?
Kids may be shifting between different routines, expectations, relationships, responsibilities, and environments, all while keeping track of clothes, schoolwork, sports gear, electronics, and everything else that needs to travel with them. Even when kids have healthy relationships with both parents, constantly adjusting can be exhausting.
We know this personally. When Annika moved between our home and her dad's, we didn't always recognize the toll this took on her. Sometimes our excitement to reconnect actually created more pressure when what she really needed was time and space to settle in.
In this episode, we’re inviting you to see regular transitions through your child’s eyes. What can look like irritability, withdrawal, forgetfulness, or resistance may actually be a child trying to manage the emotional and practical strain of moving between two different homes. When we understand what may be happening beneath the behavior, we can respond with more empathy, reduce unnecessary pressure, and create a smoother landing as kids move from one home to the other.
The goal isn't to make everything "perfect". It's to pay attention to your individual child and ask what helps them experience greater stability, security, and freedom while living between two homes.
You'll Discover:
- Why frequent transitions between two homes can create more stress for kids than adults sometimes recognize
- How connection before correction can help when kids arrive home irritable, withdrawn, resistant, or disrespectful
- Why lowering the pressure and practicing a little "subdued excitement" can give kids room to settle before reconnecting
- How biological parents can manage their own sadness with goodbyes without creating emotional burdens for their kids
- Practical ways to reduce the stress of clothes, school supplies, sports gear, electronics, and other belongings moving between homes
Resources from this Episode:
- Episode 84. How to Cope With Sadness, Anxiety, and Longing While Your Kids Are Gone
- Episode 226. How Two Homes Raise Kids that Thrive: A Co-Parenting Blueprint for Caring Parents [with Jay & Tammy Daughtry]
- Episode 168. Actionable Steps For Helping Kids Navigate Through Difficult Emotions and Problem-Solve
- Episode 222. Step-by-Step Guide: Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things Worse
- Episode 223. The Emotion Coaching Playbook: Handling Pushback and Building Trust
- Episode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How to Help
- Episode 210. Is Your Child Pulling Away? Here's How to Respond with Wisdom and Love
- Episode 103. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parents and their Bio-Kids
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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Keep Filling the Emotional Tanks
ResourcesBuilding Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal and Gary ChapmanSuggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us …
Notas del episodio
Resources
Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal and Gary Chapman
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
246. Adding an "Ours Baby"? How to Navigate Big Emotions and Shifting Family Dynamics
Adding an "ours baby" can be a beautiful new chapter, but it can also stir up emotions and family dynamics you didn’t expect. We experienced that firsthand when Annika (then seven), asked Kim (who was …
Notas del episodio
Adding an "ours baby" can be a beautiful new chapter, but it can also stir up emotions and family dynamics you didn’t expect.
We experienced that firsthand when Annika (then seven), asked Kim (who was pregnant), “Will you be closer to the baby than you are to me?” Her question revealed what many children in blended families wonder when a shared baby arrives: Where do I fit now, and do I still matter just as much?
In this episode, we explore how an "ours baby" can impact kids who move between two homes, older siblings who compare their childhood to the baby’s, stepparents becoming biological parents for the first time, and couples trying to balance competing needs, loyalties, and ideas about fairness.
The goal isn’t to convince everyone to feel happy about the new baby. It’s to create enough emotional safety for each person to be honest about the whole experience.
We’ll share practical ways to respond with curiosity, reassurance, emotion coaching, and teamwork. Most importantly, we’ll help you focus on one intentional strategy that can protect your family as it grows.
When everyone continues to feel seen, valued, and secure, your growing family has a stronger foundation for connection and belonging.
You'll Discover:
- Why kids can genuinely love a new sibling while also experiencing grief, jealousy, insecurity, or fear.
- How an "ours baby" can intensify existing blended family dynamics, including loyalty binds and the Trapped Teammate/Stranded Stranger dynamic
- Why thoughtful communication with an ex about a pregnancy can help keep kids out of adult emotions
- How becoming a biological parent can create new challenges for a previously childless stepparent
- One practical strategy to protect connection, security, and belonging by making intentional investments in every relationship in your family
Resources from this Episode:
- Episode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How to Help
- Episode 222. Step-by-Step Guide: Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things Worse
- Episode 161. How do Healthy Parent/Child Roles Help Avoid the Pitfalls of Parentification [with Ron Deal & Lauren Reitsema]
- Episode 211. 8 Warning Signs Your Ex is Manipulating Your Child's Heart and Mind
- Episode 218. How to Positively Influence Your Kids' Character When Your Ex Undermines Your Values
- Episode 123. How to Connect More and Rekindle Romance in Your Relationship - Even if You're Super Busy
- Episode 103. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parents and their Bio-Kids
- Episode 136. How to Intentionally Create Positive Family Time and Reduce Relational Tension
- Episode 39. How to Create Strong Bonds with Resistant Step kids
- Episode 19. How to Help Step-Siblings to Get Along Better
Ready for some extra support?
We all need some extra support along the blending journey. 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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
245. Considering an "Ours Baby"? 4 Questions to Help You Make a Wise Decision Together
Deciding whether to have an “ours baby” is deeply personal, and in a blended family, the decision can carry some unique complexities.We know because we’ve lived it.When we were building our life together, Mike …
Notas del episodio
Deciding whether to have an “ours baby” is deeply personal, and in a blended family, the decision can carry some unique complexities.
We know because we’ve lived it.
When we were building our life together, Mike felt certain that he wanted the opportunity to have a biological child, while Kim had already reached a place of contentment raising her one child. As our relationship grew, so did our conversations about what we each wanted, what concerned us, and what adding a baby might mean for our marriage and for Annika.
In this episode, we share four important questions that can help you navigate this decision with greater honesty and clarity. We also share some of our own journey of welcoming Phoebe and Jacob into our family. Their arrivals brought incredible joy, but they also reminded us that even careful preparation can’t predict exactly how the story will unfold.
The goal isn’t to rush toward a yes or a no. It’s to create enough safety and honesty for both of you to fully engage in the conversation, understand what’s at stake, and ultimately move forward as a united couple with realistic expectations, caring for everyone in the family.
You'll Discover:
- Four important questions to explore before deciding to have an “ours baby”
- Why a baby shouldn’t be expected to fix marital struggles or automatically unite a blended family
- How finances, fertility, support systems, family logistics, and previous parenting experiences can shape the decision
- Why couples need to talk honestly when their hopes don’t align
- How the emotional security of your current children should factor into how you prepare to grow your family
Ready for some extra support?
We all need some extra support along the blending journey. 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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: The Super Strength of Consideration
ResourcesSimple Step: Managing Loyalties & Priorities in Your HomeEpisode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended FamilyEpisode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfall to …
Notas del episodio
Resources
Simple Step: Managing Loyalties & Priorities in Your Home
Episode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended Family
Episode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfall to Ensure a Successful Partnership
Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences (Trapped Teammate / Stranded Stranger dynamic)
Episode 77. 3 Unique Differences That Make a Blended Family Marriage Challenging
Episode 160. A 4-Part Framework for Achievable Expectations and How to Live Them Out
Episode 130. How to Build Trust that Nurtures Bonds with Your Kids and Stepkids
Episode 214. Does Permissive Parenting Help or Hurt? Discover How to Know and Grow
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
244. More Than the Struggle: 4 Super Strengths that Emerge in Blended Family Life
It’s easy to look at the unfinished parts of your blended family and wonder if something is wrong.Maybe relationships haven’t developed as quickly as you hoped. Your stepchild still keeps their distance. A …
Notas del episodio
It’s easy to look at the unfinished parts of your blended family and wonder if something is wrong.
Maybe relationships haven’t developed as quickly as you hoped. Your stepchild still keeps their distance. A biological parent feels caught in the middle. Or shifting schedules, transitions, and circumstances outside your control continue to create tension.
When reality doesn’t match the family you imagined, discouragement can creep in. But the truth is, blending a family is a process, and a family 'in process' isn’t necessarily an unhealthy family. Sometimes, it’s simply still growing.
In honor of National Stepfamily Day, we’re shifting our focus from the challenges of blended family life to some of the unexpected strengths that can develop as you learn to navigate the challenges over the years.
After more than 25 years in our own blended family, we’ve seen acceptance, resilience, and flexibility grow in ourselves and our kids. We’ve also discovered that a healthy remarriage can give children a new picture of what love, conflict resolution, forgiveness, trust, and commitment can look like, which will have an impact on their future relationships.
None of these strengths develop automatically, and celebrating your family doesn’t mean pretending the hard parts don’t exist. It means recognizing meaningful progress while allowing everyone to experience the family honestly.
Your family may still be “in the crock pot.” Some relationships may still feel awkward or unfinished. But slow progress is still progress.
This National Stepfamily Day, we invite you to notice how far you’ve come, celebrate the wins, and hold onto hope for what’s still developing.
You'll Discover:
- Why an unfinished blended family isn’t necessarily an unhealthy family
- How acceptance can reduce blame and create more empathy and emotional safety
- How kids and adults develop resilience by moving through difficult experiences rather than simply “getting over” them
- Why healthy flexibility doesn’t mean abandoning boundaries or allowing chaos to take over
- How your marriage can offer kids a new and healthier vision for committed relationships
Resources from this Episode:
- Episode 141. Can my kids be emotionally harmed by blended family dynamics?
- Episode 27. How to Set Clear Boundaries and Safeguard Relationships
- Episode 187. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress
Ready for some extra support?
We all need some extra support along the blending journey. 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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Why Stepparents Need a Strong Sense of Identity
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 …
Notas del episodio
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
243. How Stepparents Can Thrive by Protecting Their Heart, While Still Showing Up [with Laura Petherbridge]
Stepparenting can be deeply meaningful, but it can also leave you feeling rejected, exhausted, and unsure of your place in the family. We know how painful it is to care about a child, invest your heart, and …
Notas del episodio
Stepparenting can be deeply meaningful, but it can also leave you feeling rejected, exhausted, and unsure of your place in the family. We know how painful it is to care about a child, invest your heart, and still feel pushed away.
In this episode, we sit down with Laura Petherbridge to talk honestly about the expectations that often set stepparents up for disappointment and the pressures that can eventually lead to burnout. Laura reminds us that thriving as a stepparent starts with understanding how blended families are different, recognizing what is and isn’t within your control, and learning when to step back without stepping out.
Laura is an author, speaker, chaplain, and life coach who presents on relationships and marriage, stepfamilies, co-parenting, divorce prevention, and divorce recovery. She has written several books, appeared on countless TV, radio, and podcast segments, and spoken across the U.S., Australia, and South Africa. She also offers a practical and encouraging monthly newsletter. (You can sign up using the link below!)
Some additional things we explore with Laura include why a stepparent’s influence matters more than forcing authority or closeness, how biological parents can unintentionally intensify burnout, and why protecting your identity outside the stepparent role is especially important for childless stepmoms.
If stepparenting has worn you down, this conversation will help you release unrealistic expectations, protect your heart, find healthy support, and move forward with greater clarity and hope.
You'll Discover:
- Why realistic expectations are essential for preventing stepparent disappointment and burnout
- How to distinguish healthy “stepping back” from emotionally checking out of the family
- Why influence is often a healthier goal for a stepparent than authority, control, or forcing connection
- How the biological parent can either reduce or intensify the pressure a stepparent experiences
- Why maintaining your own identity, relationships, and support system is especially important for childless stepparents
Resources from this Episode:
- CLICK HERE to sign up for Laura's newsletter
- CLICK HERE to join Laura's private FB group for childless stepmoms
- Screens and Teens: Connecting with Our Kids in a Wireless World by Kathy Koch PhD
Ready for some extra support?
We all need some extra support along the blending journey. 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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us read to too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Get on the Same Page
ResourcesEpisode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended FamilyEpisode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfalls to Ensure a Successful PartnershipEpisode 139. The Most Common …
Notas del episodio
Resources
Episode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended Family
Episode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfalls to Ensure a Successful Partnership
Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences (Trapped Teammate / Stranded Stranger dynamic)
Episode 77. 3 Unique Differences That Make a Blended Family Marriage Challenging
Episode 160. A 4-Part Framework for Achievable Expectations and How to Live Them Out
Episode 130. How to Build Trust that Nurtures Bonds with Your Kids and Stepkids
Episode 214. Does Permissive Parenting Help or Hurt? Discover How to Know and Grow
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
From <https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/561523/episodes/19584937-simple-step-get-on-the-same-page>
242. Stepparent Burnout? 4 Steps to Reduce Resentment and Rebalance Roles
Stepparent burnout doesn't start in a dramatic moment. It develops quietly as a stepparent keeps giving, serving, adjusting, but ends up with this increasing feeling of being invisible, rejected, or …
Notas del episodio
Stepparent burnout doesn't start in a dramatic moment. It develops quietly as a stepparent keeps giving, serving, adjusting, but ends up with this increasing feeling of being invisible, rejected, or alone.
A stepparent may believe that loving their family means doing more. But when healthy investment turns into over-functioning, the result is often resentment or emotional withdrawal. Then burnout can set in.
In this episode, we help stepparents recognize the warning signs of burnout and invite biological parents to listen with curiosity (not defensiveness). The goal is simply to understand the difficult dynamics that tend to create pressure on a stepparent and consider a more sustainable family structure.
We’ll walk you through four practical steps that can help. And we'll explore the difference between healthy disengagement and emotional abandonment.
Stepparent burnout doesn’t mean you’re failing. It may simply mean your current strategies aren't working. With honest communication, realistic expectations, healthy limits, and stronger teamwork, couples can reduce resentment and build a home where everyone has room to breathe.
You’ll Discover
- The often-overlooked warning signs of stepparent burnout
- Why feeling like an outsider can cause a stepparent to over-function
- How to distinguish healthy investment from self-erasure
- Four practical steps for reducing resentment and rebalancing family roles
- What healthy disengagement looks like without withdrawing from the family
Resources from this Episode:
- Episode 235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong Turns
- Episode 204. 4 Facets of Stepparenting: Defining Appropriate Roles and Responsibilities
- Episode 230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family Division
- Episode 157. 3 Seasoned Stepmoms Share How They've Survived and Thrived in Their Blended Family Journey
- Episode 236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]
- Episode 203. How to Make Better Decisions and Solve Problems as a United Team
Ready for some extra support?
We all need some extra support along the blending journey. 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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Managing the Motivational Gap
Resources:Episode 241: Before you Take it Personally: Why the Backlash to Accept a Stepparent?Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal and Gary ChapmanEpisode 85. How to Uniquely Build More Love …
Notas del episodio
Resources:
Episode 241: Before you Take it Personally: Why the Backlash to Accept a Stepparent?
Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal and Gary Chapman
Episode 85. How to Uniquely Build More Love and Connection in Your Blended Family [with Ron Deal]
Episode 213. Discover How to Better Understand and Connect with Children of Divorce [with Lauren Reitsema]
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
241. Before You Take It Personally: 5 Reasons Kids Resist a Stepparent
When we got married, we both wanted our new family to feel safe, connected, and secure. But good intentions didn’t prepare us for the painful tension that sometimes hit between Mike and Annika (Kim's …
Notas del episodio
When we got married, we both wanted our new family to feel safe, connected, and secure. But good intentions didn’t prepare us for the painful tension that sometimes hit between Mike and Annika (Kim's daughter).
If you’re a stepparent who feels ignored, criticized, rejected, or kept at a distance, it’s easy to take your stepchild’s behavior personally. And if you’re the biological parent caught between your spouse and your child, you may feel pressured to keep everyone happy while you're wondering how to support them both.
But a child’s resistance may not mean what you think it means.
In this episode, we explore five common reasons kids struggle to accept a stepparent and why pushback is a common reaction to blending.
Understanding these dynamics doesn’t mean excusing disrespect or allowing kids to control the home. It means slowing down long enough to look beneath the behavior so you can respond with wisdom rather than reacting from hurt.
We’ll also give you two simple questions that can help you step into your child’s emotional world and approach difficult moments with greater curiosity and empathy.
You don’t have to force connection or find the perfect strategy. Instead, patience, maturity, and pressure-free love will help you to create the safety and trust that allow healthy step-relationships to grow over time.
You'll Discover:
- Five common reasons kids may resist or reject a stepparent
- Why resistance often has more to do with confusing dynamics than difficult people
- How grief, insecurity, pressure, and loyalty conflicts tend to influence a child’s behavior
- Two questions that can help you respond with greater curiosity, empathy, and wisdom
Resources from this Episode:
- Episode 130. How to Build Trust that Nurtures Bonds with Your Kids and Stepkids
- Episode 222. Step-by-Step Guide: Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things Worse
- Episode 235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong Turns
- Episode 159. How to Stay Hopeful as a Stepparent When You're Continually Rejected and Hurt
- Episode 187. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress
- Episode 158. An Effective Stepparenting Approach Focused on What Works - and What Doesn't
- Episode 72. The Best Way to Create Healthy, Bonded Relationships
- Episode 219. From Chaos to Clarity: A Proven Strategy for Leading Your Blended Family
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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Click here to subscribe on YouTube
Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
A Short Summer Pause and What’s Coming August 4th
We’re popping in with a short summer update before taking a brief pause from releasing new episodes throughout July 2026.But don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere!We’re using July to prepare some fun and …
Notas del episodio
We’re popping in with a short summer update before taking a brief pause from releasing new episodes throughout July 2026.
But don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere!
We’re using July to prepare some fun and helpful new things we’ll begin sharing August 4th, including new podcast episodes in both audio and video.
Before we talk about what’s coming, we’re also taking a few minutes to reflect on something every blended family experiences: change. Whether it’s a shift in schedule, a new family rhythm, a move, or a parenting adjustment, change can stir up more than we expect.
That doesn’t mean change is wrong. It simply means healthy change needs clarity, patience, communication, collaboration, and room for everyone to adjust.
During July, we’d love for you to stay connected by revisiting past episodes, taking or retaking the updated Blended Family Breakthrough Quiz, and checking out our free audio course, The Five-Minute Blended Family Reset, inside the Blended Family Breakthrough app.
Then we’ll be back August 4th with new episodes, including important conversations about stepparent burnout and the complex question of having an “ours” baby.
You’ll Discover
- Why we’re taking a short pause from releasing new episodes throughout July
- How change can impact kids, parents, stepparents, and couples in blended family life
- What’s coming when the podcast returns in both audio and video on August 4th
- How the updated Blended Family Breakthrough Quiz and The Five-Minute Blended Family Reset can help you keep growing during July
Resources Mentioned
- The updated Blended Family Breakthrough Quiz
- Download the Blended Family Breakthrough app in the App Store or Google Play
- Check out the Five-Minute Blended Family Reset audio course right inside the app!
- Subscribe to the Blended Family Breakthrough Podcast on YouTube
Other Resources
- Episode 89. Feeling Stuck in the Change Process? Change Isn't the Issue - Transition Is
- Episode 18. How to Help Kids Navigate Transition and Change
- Episode 222. Step-by Step Guide: Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things Worse
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: How Patience and Persistence Create Space for Bonding
ResourcesEpisode 240. Energize Family Bonds One Meaningful Conversation at a Time [with Ashley Noelle]Order your Blended Bond Deck here: blendedbond.com (be sure to use Promo code: BREAKTHROUGH20 to receive 20% …
Notas del episodio
Resources
- Episode 240. Energize Family Bonds One Meaningful Conversation at a Time [with Ashley Noelle]
- Order your Blended Bond Deck here: blendedbond.com (be sure to use Promo code: BREAKTHROUGH20 to receive 20% off your purchase)
- Episode 136. How to Intentionally Create Positive Family Time and Reduce Relational Tension
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
240. Energize Family Bonds One Meaningful Conversation at a Time [with Ashley Noelle]
In blended family life, it’s easy for kids, parents, and stepparents to feel unsure, unseen, or disconnected as everyone adjusts to new relationships, new rhythms, and new expectations.We know how hard it can …
Notas del episodio
In blended family life, it’s easy for kids, parents, and stepparents to feel unsure, unseen, or disconnected as everyone adjusts to new relationships, new rhythms, and new expectations.
We know how hard it can be to want deeper connection, but not know what questions to ask or how to create the kind of safe space where honest conversations can happen.
In this episode, we talk with Ashley Noelle, the founder of Blended Bond, a conversation-based tool designed to help blended families, co-parents, and single-parent households build stronger connection through meaningful dialogue. Rooted in her own lived experience within a blended family, Ashley created Blended Bond to support families navigating complex dynamics, transitions, and emotional barriers.
With a background in co-parenting coaching and a deep understanding of modern family structures, Ashley now focuses on creating tangible resources that help families communicate, connect, and feel less alone in the process.
Together, we explore how intentional questions can help kids feel seen and heard, why “safe zone” conversations matter, and how parents and stepparents can keep showing up with patient persistence, even when kids shut down or resist.
Ashley also reminds us that every blended family is unique. You don’t have to force your family into someone else’s mold. You can build trust, strengthen bonds, and create meaningful connection one honest conversation at a time.
You'll Discover:
- Why open-ended questions can help kids feel seen, heard, and understood
- How to keep showing up with patience when kids shut down, roll their eyes, or say “I don’t know”
- Why “safe zone” conversations can build trust, honesty, and emotional security
- How shared activities and fun prompts can create teamwork and help kids feel included
- Why every blended family gets to build its own unique identity, instead of trying to fit a cookie-cutter model
Resources from this Episode:
- Order your Blended Bond Deck here: blendedbond.com
- And be sure to use Promo code: BREAKTHROUGH20 to receive 20% off your purchase
- Connect with Ashley at instagram.com/theblendedbond
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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Healthy Boundaries that Protect Relationships
ResourcesClick here to schedule your FREE COACHING CALL239. Feeling Responsible for Everyone? How Codependency Hinders Family Relationships and How to Heal [with Michelle Farris]To connect with Michelle Farris …
Notas del episodio
Resources
- Click here to schedule your FREE COACHING CALL
- 239. Feeling Responsible for Everyone? How Codependency Hinders Family Relationships and How to Heal [with Michelle Farris]
- To connect with Michelle Farris, CLICK HERE
- Episode 138. How Relational Dysfunction Plagued our Marriage and How We Finally Broke Free
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
239. Feeling Responsible for Everyone? How Codependency Hinders Family Relationships and How to Heal [with Michelle Farris]
Codependency can be tricky to recognize because it often looks like love, generosity, or “just trying to help.” But when our giving turns into fixing, rescuing, controlling, or sacrificing ourselves to earn …
Notas del episodio
Codependency can be tricky to recognize because it often looks like love, generosity, or “just trying to help.” But when our giving turns into fixing, rescuing, controlling, or sacrificing ourselves to earn love and approval, it can quietly create tension in our marriage, parenting, co-parenting, and stepfamily relationships.
In this episode, we’re joined by therapist Michelle Farris for a practical and hope-filled conversation about how codependency shows up in blended families and how to heal it.
Michelle is a psychotherapist, codependency expert, and anger management specialist with a passion for helping people break free from toxic relationships. Her YouTube channel has over 3 million viewers, where she’s known for her practical tips and expertise. She’s written several ebooks and courses for creating relationships that work.
Michelle helps us understand the difference between healthy care and over-functioning, why some parents struggle when their kids are hurting or moving between homes, and how our desire to protect or please can sometimes blur important relational boundaries.
We also talk honestly about how codependency can impact the parenting partnership in a blended family. When a bio-parent feels caught between their child and spouse, the pressure can intensify. When a stepparent feels responsible for things they don't have authority over, resentment sets in. But there is a healthier way forward. Michelle shares how couples can take small steps toward clearer boundaries, stronger self-awareness, and more secure connection without becoming rigid, reactive, or disconnected.
If you’ve ever felt responsible for keeping everyone okay, struggled to set limits with your kids or ex, or wondered why you feel resentful after “helping,” this conversation will give you language, clarity, and hope.
You'll Discover:
- The difference between being kind and being codependent
- How codependency can show up with your children, with an ex, or inside your marriage
- How over-functioning, fixing, rescuing, controlling, and people-pleasing can create ongoing resentment and disable others
- How to identify your non-negotiable boundaries without becoming rigid or reactive
- Three key areas of codependency and how you can move toward relational health and wellness
Resources from this Episode:
- To connect with Michelle Farris, CLICK HERE
- Michelle's free guide: 7 Steps to Healing One Sided Relationships
- Relationships That Work with Michelle Farris (YouTube)
- Episode 138. How Relational Dysfunction Plagued our Marriage and How We Finally Broke Free
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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Assertive Communication
ResourcesEpisode 50. How to Openly Communicate What You Really Want Episode 179. Conquer Fear and Embrace Your Blend with Confidence and Clarity Episode 98. Is fear of being vulnerable keeping you from loving …
Notas del episodio
Resources
Episode 50. How to Openly Communicate What You Really Want
Episode 179. Conquer Fear and Embrace Your Blend with Confidence and Clarity
Episode 98. Is fear of being vulnerable keeping you from loving your spouse wholeheartedly?
Episode 180. Break Free from Guilt and Blend with Authenticity and Security
Episode 187. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 1 of 2)
Episode 237. Communication Frustration? Gain Powerful Tools & Insight to Help Reduce Conflict & Stay Connected
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
238. Co-Parenting Conflict? 4 Tools for Effective Communication to Increase Cooperation and Create Boundaries
Co-parenting conversations can escalate fast, especially when an ex is reactive, manipulative, dismissive, or unreasonable. It’s tempting to defend yourself, fire back, or make a quick decision just to escape …
Notas del episodio
Co-parenting conversations can escalate fast, especially when an ex is reactive, manipulative, dismissive, or unreasonable. It’s tempting to defend yourself, fire back, or make a quick decision just to escape the pressure. But that kind of response rarely moves things forward, and it can leave kids carrying the emotional weight of adult conflict.
In this episode, we share practical tools to help you communicate with an ex in a way that is calm, clear, and solution-focused. You’ll learn our 5 A’s Framework for navigating hard co-parenting conversations, along with strategies for handling pressure, staying grounded, and setting healthy boundaries with confidence.
We also open up about a painful moment in our own blended family story, when Kim felt pressured by her ex into making a major decision before she had time to think clearly or consult with Mike. From that experience, we share what we wish we had known then, and how these tools can help you protect your marriage, create greater stability for your kids, and build more peace in your home.
Be sure to grab the free downloadable worksheet for this episode to help you plan your next hard conversation and put these tools into practice.
You’ll Discover:
- Why reactive communication with an ex often fuels ongoing conflict
- How to use the 5 A’s Framework for clearer, more cooperative co-parenting conversations
- Three strategies for handling pressure-filled moments with greater steadiness
- A simple tool for setting healthy boundaries with an ex
- How consistency can build trust, influence, and greater stability for your kids
Resources from this Episode:
- CLICK HERE to grab your free co-parenting communication worksheet
- Episode 211. 8 Warning Signs Your Ex is Manipulating Your Child's Heart and Mind
- Episode 218. How to Positively Influence You Kids' Character When Your Ex Undermines Your Values
- Episode 207. 4 Big Myths About Parenting When an Ex Has Different Rules and How to Build Consistency
- Episode 232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's Wellbeing
- Episode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance and How to Help
- Episode 175. 8 Tips to Protect Kids From Stress and Tension When Moving Between Homes
- Episode 161. How do Healthy Parent/Child Roles Help Avoid the Pitfalls of Parentification [ with Ron Deal & Lauren Reitsema]
- Episode 112. 3 Dangerous Dynamics That Can Destroy Co-Parenting - And Hurt the Kids
- Episode 42. Our Challenging Story of Parental Alienation - and 6 Tips For You
- Episode 91. Is Your Husband's Hostile Ex-Wife Invading Your Life, Stealing Your Joy and Confidence?
- Episode 194. Powerful Tips for Effectively Connecting with Your Angry or Distant Child [with Amy J.L. Baker]
- Episode 226. How Two Homes Raise Kids That Thrive: A Blueprint for Caring Parents [with Jay & Tammy Daughtry]
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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
237. Communication Frustration? Gain Powerful Tools & Insight to Help Reduce Conflict & Stay Connected
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our 25 years of marriage, parenting, and blended family life, it’s this: communication problems aren’t about bad intentions more often, they’re about lacking the right …
Notas del episodio
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our 25 years of marriage, parenting, and blended family life, it’s this: communication problems aren’t about bad intentions more often, they’re about lacking the right tools.
In this episode, we share the painful, unproductive patterns we got stuck in and the communication shifts that changed everything for us, helping us strengthen our marriage and build a healthier parenting partnership.
We unpack a simple communication styles model, then share two practical frameworks that help couples handle sensitive issues with more wisdom and less reactivity. We also share about the impact of emotional dysregulation (one of the biggest obstacles to healthy communication), and touch on four of the most common unhealthy patterns that keep couples stuck.
This episode will offer practical tools to build trust and connection, reduce conflict, and communicate more like a united team. Even when you each have different perspectives.
If we can do it, you can too! Listen in and learn these pivotal tools so you can break free from unhealthy communication patterns and make a real difference in your relationship!
You'll Discover:
- How different communication styles can quietly create friction, even when both of you mean well
- A simple framework for talking about sensitive issues, especially conversations about each other’s kids
- How to use the FAQ approach to start hard conversations without blame or escalation
- Why emotional dysregulation can quickly derail communication
- How to recognize Gottman’s Four Horsemen and replace them with healthier patterns that build connection and teamwork
Resources from this Episode:
- CLICK HERE to schedule your free call and learn more about our Relate Strong coaching focused on regulating painful emotions when it matters most.
- FREE DOWNLOAD: Communication Toolkit Worksheet
- Episode 202. How to Break Free from Painful Cycles and Enjoy Deeper Levels of Intimacy [with Ron & Nan Deal]
- Episode 203. How to Make Better Decisions and Solve Problems as a United Team
- Crucial Conversations by K. Patterson, J. Grenny, R. McMilan, A. Switzler
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step: Navigating Mother's Day
ResourcesEpisode 236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]Episode 157. 3 Seasoned Stepmoms Share How They've Survived and Thrived in Their Blended Family …
Notas del episodio
Resources
- Episode 236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]
- Episode 157. 3 Seasoned Stepmoms Share How They've Survived and Thrived in Their Blended Family Journey
- Women & Blended Families: Mother's Day/Stepmother's Day (Gayla's interview with Laura Petherbridge)
- CLICK HERE Mother's Day Tips for Husbands
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]
In this episode, we sit down with our friend Gayla Grace for a deeply encouraging conversation about what it really takes to build a strong blended family over time. Gayla candidly shares about the challenges …
Notas del episodio
In this episode, we sit down with our friend Gayla Grace for a deeply encouraging conversation about what it really takes to build a strong blended family over time. Gayla candidly shares about the challenges she and her husband faced while blending "hers", "his", and "ours". From parenting conflict to grief and unexpected setbacks, Gayla shares how those hard seasons pushed them to seek help, grow in humility, and fight for unity in their marriage.
Gayla is an author and international speaker with the FamilyLife Blended® team, where she encourages and equips blended families. She has a master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling, and she hosts the livestream Women & Blended Families.
Throughout our conversation, we explore three powerful truths that every blended couple needs to hear: expect challenges, expect the process to take longer than you want, and commit to playing the long game. Gayla offers practical wisdom, hopeful mindset shifts, and a refreshing reminder that your efforts matter, even when you don't see immediate results.
Listen in and be encouraged as our guest Gayla Grace shares from more than 30 years of personal experience, and reminds us that blended family life is rarely easy or quick, but it can absolutely be worth it.
You'll Discover:
- Why blended family couples need to expect challenges and meet them with both grit and grace
- Why playing the long game can lead to deep rewards in your marriage and step relationships
- How community and the right kind of support can help you move forward when you feel stuck
- Why making your marriage the foundation of your home creates greater stability for the whole family
Resources from this Episode:
- Beautifully Blended: 101 Devotions to Encourage Couples in Blended Families by Gayla Grace
- CLICK HERE to connect with Gayla
- Women & Blended Families: Mother's Day/Stepmother's Day
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: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
You don't need to navigate blended family life alone. Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies. Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
Give a review over on Apple Podcasts . Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” . Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
Simple Step. The Value of 1 on 1 Bio-Time
Resources from this episodeEpisode 235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong TurnsEpisode 103. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parents and their Bio-Kids (Part 1 …
Notas del episodio
Resources from this episode
Episode 235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong Turns
Episode 103. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parents and their Bio-Kids (Part 1 of 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 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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong Turns
When we got married, we stepped into blended family life with a lot of hope, but also a lot of unrealistic expectations. We thought connection would come quickly, parenting would feel natural, and our new …
Notas del episodio
When we got married, we stepped into blended family life with a lot of hope, but also a lot of unrealistic expectations. We thought connection would come quickly, parenting would feel natural, and our new family would settle into place easily. Instead, we ran into disappointment, resistance, and the painful realization that blended family life does not work like a first family experience.
In this episode, we share one of the most important truths that changed everything for us: stepparenting is a two-person job. That shift helped us stop putting pressure in the wrong places and start building with more wisdom, patience, and teamwork.
Our hope is that this conversation helps you let go of unrealistic expectations and take wise next steps toward real trust, genuine connection, and healthier family dynamics.
Resources from this Episode:
Strategy #1: Encourage relational growth in wise, helpful ways and reduce pressure:
- Episode 213. Discover How to Better Understand and Connect with Children of Divorce [with Lauren Reitsema]
- Episode 72. The Best Way to Create Healthy, Bonded Relationships
- Episode 130. How to Build Trust that Nurtures Bonds with Your Kids and Stepkids
- Episode 37. Why do kids struggle to accept their stepparent?
Strategy #2: Help a resistant child bring down walls in ways they can receive:
- Episode 229 The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How to Help
- Episode 222. Step-by-Step Guide: Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things Worse (Part 1 of 2)
- Episode 132. How do loss and grief impact blended family integration?
- Episode 159. How to Stay Hopeful as a Stepparent When You're Continually Rejected and Hurt
- Episode 92. At a loss and feeling defeated because the kids stubbornly refuse to blend?
Strategy #3: Build your parenting partnership and reduce negative interactions:
- Episode 219. From Chaos to Clarity: A Proven Strategy for Leading Your Blended Family
- Episode 204. 4 Facets of Stepparenting: Defining Appropriate Roles and Responsibilities
- Episode 208. The Transfer of Power: A Smart Strategy for Stepparents Left in Charge
- Episode 205. 4 Facets of Parenting: What Bio Parents Need to Know to Achieve Best Outcomes
- Episode 230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family Division
Ready for some extra support?
CLICK HERE to schedule your free coaching session
CLICK HERE to join the Blending Together Community
Simple Step: Outlaw Words that Drive Negativity
ResourcesEpisode 234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope Episode 106. How to Avoid "Outlaw Words" [with Mark Warren]Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to …
Notas del episodio
Resources
Episode 234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope
Episode 106. How to Avoid "Outlaw Words" [with Mark Warren]
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you to do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope
The reality is, blended family life gives us plenty of painful moments to get caught up in: tension with an ex, a hard interaction with a stepchild, a family activity that goes sideways, or marital conflict …
Notas del episodio
The reality is, blended family life gives us plenty of painful moments to get caught up in: tension with an ex, a hard interaction with a stepchild, a family activity that goes sideways, or marital conflict. And it is easy for one negative moment to become the headline.
In this episode, we unpack negativity bias, our tendency to notice the negative faster, feel it deeper, and replay it longer. When it goes unchecked, it can shape how we make decisions and relate to the people we love. And it can steal your joy and leave you feeling hopeless.
This conversation is personal for us. As we reflected on our own journey, we were reminded how easy it would have been to let negativity define our marriage and our family years ago. But real (imperfect) progress became possible when we chose to refocus on the small wins along the way and hold onto hope. That made all the difference for us, and we want to equip you to do the same.
You'll Discover:
- What negativity bias is and why it can make one hard moment feel louder than all the good ones combined
- How negativity bias impacts your marriage, your connection with step kids, and even relationships between homes
- Practical ways to reframe painful moments, interrupt negative self-talk, and move toward a growth mindset
- How to capture the good and cultivate belief so you can protect your emotional wellness and lead your family with greater hope and courage
CLICK HERE to join the Blending Together Community
Resources on this topic:
- Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff
- Episode 117. Harness the Power of Positive Affirmation with Your Kids and Step-Kids
- Episode 105. What powerful traits do you need to successfully blend and stay united?
- Episode 220. From Marginalized to Mainstream: How to Reclaim Confidence for Your Blended Family
- Episode 165. How important is your mindset when it comes to blended family life?
- Episode 156. The 3 Super Strengths of a Blended Family Marriage
- Episode 187. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 1 of 2)
- Episode 136. How to Intentionally Create Positive Family Time and Reduce Relational Tension
- Episode 219. From Chaos to Clarity: A Proven Strategy for Leading Your Blended Family
- Episode 225. Gratitude Superpower: How to Boost Hope and Connection Through Challenging Seasons
- Episode 159. How to Stay Hopeful as a Stepparent When You're Continually Rejected and Hurt
- Episode 231. When Your Ex Starts Dating: How to Handle Their New Partner and Protect Your Kids
Simple Step: 3 Financial Questions with Brian K. Peterson
ResourcesGet your FREE copy of Blended Family Finances (limited offer) by Brian K. PetersonTo connect with Brian, CLICK HERE (Endurance Financial Group / Blended Family Financial)Episode 233. Building a Life …
Notas del episodio
Resources
- Get your FREE copy of Blended Family Finances (limited offer) by Brian K. Peterson
- To connect with Brian, CLICK HERE (Endurance Financial Group / Blended Family Financial)
- Episode 233. Building a Life You Love: How to Reduce Stress and Create a Unified Financial Vision [with Brian K. Peterson]
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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Click here to follow on Spotify
Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts
If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!
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