Connected Families Podcast

In this second week of our Don’t Stay Stuck series, we’re shifting our focus to parents who are “stuck” at the bottom of the Connected Families Framework™. Being naturally bent toward compassion is a God-given superpower, but what happens when parents are consistently overly permissive? Setting boundaries with kids can be challenging at times. Listen in as Stacy chats with Katie Wetsell, a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, to encourage you to be kind and firm.

Key Takeaways:

How our parenting defaults can actually come from God-given gifts

What does it look like to get stuck at the bottom of the Framework: Am I too soft?

How balance helps kids build wisdom and resilience in their long-term relationships

Concrete examples you can use to add more firmness to your parenting

Mentioned in this Podcast:

Free Parenting Assessment

Helpful Truths and Hurtful Beliefs PDF download

Katie Wetsell – Connected Families Certified Parent Coach

Ep. 98 – Can You Parent Well When You’re Anxious?

Ep. 99 – How Can I Identify Anxiety In My Child?

2 Timothy 1:7

Blog Post – Am I Too Soft? Finding The Strength To Be Both Kind and Firm

Blog Post – First-Time Obedience: Should I Require Immediate Obedience from My Child?

The Table Monthly Giving Program

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

Guest Bio:

Katie Wetsell has always had a calling on her heart to care for children. She has worked as a pediatric oncology nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. After experiencing the benefits of parent coaching through Connected Families, Katie later resigned from nursing and became a Certified Parent Coach. She and her husband have four children (three boys and a girl) through birth and adoption. Katie is also trained in SPACE treatment to help parents learn how to support their children struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. You can learn more about Katie at parentwithhope.org, and on Facebook @parentwithhopecoach and Instagram @parentwithhopecoach.

© 2025 Connected Families

.stk-059b2f5-inner-blocks{justify-content:center !important}.stk-059b2f5{background-image:url(https://connectedfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pexels-kindel-media-7978483-1.jpg) !important;padding-top:64px !important;padding-right:64px !important;padding-bottom:64px !important;padding-left:64px !important}.stk-059b2f5:before{background-color:#000000 !important;opacity:0.1 !important}.stk-059b2f5-container{background-color:rgba(41,50,65,0.5) !important}.stk-059b2f5-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important}.stk-059b2f5 .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:500px !important;max-width:400px !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-left:0px !important}
.stk-3f6d6d5 .stk-block-heading__text{color:#FFFFFF !important}Dare to dream of peace again.

.stk-e7e3470 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important;color:#FFFFFF !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-e7e3470 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important}}It’s not hopeless. You can ENJOY YOUR KIDS AGAIN.

.stk-12f93b8 .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-12f93b8 .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-12f93b8 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-12f93b8 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}CONNECT WITH A PARENT COACH

Ever wonder why you keep defaulting to the same old parenting habits? Stacy Bellward and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Lori Menikheim explore what causes parents to get stuck, and how to find their way forward. Join us as we begin this 3-part series, Don’t Stay Stuck, and gain some practical insights for developing balance in your parenting journey.

Key Takeaways:

Hear stories of what getting stuck looks like

Learn about the 4 messages of the Connected Families Framework and how it helps to move forward

Learn how developing balance transforms the parent-child relationship

Mentioned in this Podcast:

Free Parenting Assessment

My Child Refuses to Listen: A Compassionate Approach to PDA | Ep. 282

Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program

Luke 1:17

Power of Questions Online Course

Ebook – What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity

Lori Menikheim – Connected Families Certified Parent Coach

The Table Monthly Giving Program

Book – How to Grow a Connected Family

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

Guest Bio:

Lori Menikheim is a wife, mom of two strong-willed teenage girls, and Kids Ministry leader with over 15 years of experience. When she discovered Connected Families, she finally found the language, tools, and hope to parent well and lead ministry well. Now she loves connecting with parents and ministry leaders who want to partner with God in reaching the next generation.

© 2025 Connected Families

Ready to dive in and learn more about the Framework?

Our 8-session online course, Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart will guide you through each level of the Framework. If you’re looking for a grace-filled way to parent, this course is for you!

.stk-be55ccb-inner-blocks{row-gap:0px !important}.stk-be55ccb{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important;background-image:url(https://connectedfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Optimized-Dad-Kissing-Crying-Daughters-Cheek.jpg) !important;padding-top:0px !important;padding-right:0px !important;padding-bottom:0px !important;padding-left:0px !important}.stk-be55ccb:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important;opacity:0.3 !important}.stk-be55ccb-container{background-color:#00000080 !important}.stk-be55ccb-container:before{background-color:#00000080 !important}.stk-be55ccb .stk-block-hero__content{max-width:35% !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-left:0px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-be55ccb .stk-block-hero__content{max-width:259px !important}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-be55ccb .stk-block-hero__content{max-width:205px !important}}
.stk-71fc858 .stk-block-heading__text{color:#FFFFFF !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-71fc858 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:23px !important}}.stk-71fc858.stk-block-heading{white-space:normal !important;overflow-wrap:break-word !important;word-wrap:break-word !important;max-width:100% !important}Parent with Confidence
Discipline with Love

.stk-e113227 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important;color:#FFFFFF !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-e113227 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important}}Take the 8-session online course Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart .

.stk-6882ae6 .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-6882ae6 .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-6882ae6 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-6882ae6 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:16px !important}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-6882ae6 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:14px !important}}REGISTER NOW!

Happy New Year! Welcome back to another year of exciting content that we pray will leave you equipped and ready for the unique calling of parenthood you’ve been gifted with this year.

You may be wondering, “What is pathological demand avoidance (PDA)?” When your child refuses to listen, it may not be defiance but rather a dysregulated nervous system. In this most-downloaded episode of 2025, hear from Connected Families Content Manager, Laura Way, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and homeschooling mom, Lydia Rex, as they unpack PDA. Learn how to partner with your child through these challenging moments, using a graceful approach and practical tools from the Connected Families Framework.

Key Takeaways:

How the Connected Families Framework applies to parenting a sensitive or intense child

Simple things you can do now to support your child

Discover ways to shift your perspective and view your experience as a gift

Mentioned in this Podcast:

Connected Families Sensitive & Intense online course

Connected Families Power of Questions online course

Hebrews 4:15

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

Guest Bio:

Lydia Rex is a registered nurse turned Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner and parent coach to families with young kids, especially those who have sensory needs or developmental trauma. No stranger to the challenges of parenting, Lydia offers empathy, encouragement, and a deep commitment to walking alongside parents through the Connected Families Framework. It’s her joy to see God’s grace healing the hearts of parents and children. Lydia, her husband Kyle, and their two kids live in Iowa, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books.

Laura Way felt like she was drowning as a young mom overseas. She thinks that God provided Connected Families for her when she needed it most. She’s thrilled to be on the team, offering hope & help to others! Laura and her husband live in Florida with their two elementary-aged daughters. In her free time, Laura loves to read in her hammock or have coffee with friends.

© 2025 Connected Families

.stk-nzsrixd-inner-blocks{justify-content:center !important}.stk-nzsrixd{background-image:url(https://connectedfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pexels-kindel-media-7978483-1.jpg) !important;padding-top:64px !important;padding-right:64px !important;padding-bottom:64px !important;padding-left:64px !important}.stk-nzsrixd:before{background-color:#000000 !important;opacity:0.1 !important}.stk-nzsrixd-container{background-color:rgba(41,50,65,0.5) !important}.stk-nzsrixd-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important}.stk-nzsrixd .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:500px !important;max-width:400px !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-left:0px !important}
.stk-8cw3fdj .stk-block-heading__text{color:#FFFFFF !important}Dare to dream of peace again.

.stk-jgth85q .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important;color:#FFFFFF !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-jgth85q .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important}}It’s not hopeless. You can ENJOY YOUR KIDS AGAIN.

.stk-208qfnt .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-208qfnt .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-208qfnt .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-208qfnt .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}CONNECT WITH A PARENT COACH

In this heartfelt year-end episode, Connected Families team members Stacy Bellward, Chad Hayenga, and Joe Dewey gather to reflect on a transformative year and share exciting plans for 2026 to continue to encourage you on your journey with intentional parenting. Along the way, they open up about their own families’ rhythms for reflecting on the year past and looking ahead. This episode has practical ideas you can try with your own family. Whether you’re curious about what’s next for Connected Families or looking for fresh ways to close out the year together, this episode has something for you.

Key Takeaways:

Ideas for family rhythms for year-end reflection

Connected Families highlights from 2025

Looking forward to 2026

Mentioned in this Podcast:

The Heart of Jesus, Dan Orland Book

Connected Families Impact Stories

Donate to Connected Families

Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

Guest Bio:

Joe Dewey is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. He has a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and has served in full-time ministry with Cru in Leader Development and Human Resources since 2010. He has been a certified life coach since 2017. These experiences and more have molded him to lead with solutions. Whether it comes to ministry or parenting, he finds clarity in the midst of complexity, providing win-win solutions.

Chad Hayenga joined Connected Families in 2005. He is married to Carma and has three adult daughters and two sons-in-law. Chad oversees coaching and the Parent Coach Certification Program, which continues to grow in its reach across North America and worldwide.

© 2025 Connected Families

What does it look like to live out the Connected Families Framework? What does it look like to live it out in your own heart and relationships? In this final episode of our 3-part series, Hope for the Long Haul, Jim and Lynne Jackson share how the Framework has shaped their lives over time: from finding their identity in Jesus, to marriage, to navigating the joys and challenges of parenting adult children. If you’re wondering whether this stuff really helps in the long term, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

How and what the Connected Families Framework has looked like in their marriage

Learning that Jesus is our “report card”

What it looks like to keep the connection alive in marriage and in parenting

How gifts gone awry and “Foundation” messages impacted their working careers

Mentioned in this Podcast:

Genesis 12:1-3

Book mentioned – Connecting: Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships by Dr. Larry Crabb

The Entitlement Fix online course

Donate to Connected Families

Trash, Truth, Treasure online mini-course

The Connected Families Framework

Podcast – Payoffs & Accidental Rewards: How to Focus on the Right Stuff

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

Guest Bio:

Jim and Lynne Jackson are the Co-Founders of Connected Families in Plymouth, MN. With over 50 combined years of professionally helping families and a love for working in the church, Jim and Lynne have been dedicated to bringing reliable, God-centered, research-based parenting resources to all families since 2002.

© 2025 Connected Families