Connected Families Podcast

New Course Now Available: Find Confidence in Crisis Today!

If you have an angry child whose aggressive behaviors keep surfacing, it can be hard to know how to respond with both steadiness and care. In part two of this conversation, guest host Chad Hayenga is joined again by Connected Families coaches Lydia Rex and Katie Wetsell to offer practical support for parents navigating these kinds of behaviors.

They explore how a thoughtful plan can help you respond rather than react. This includes inviting trusted supporters into your family’s care, recognizing early signs of stress, and adjusting for the right level of engagement. You’ll hear why calming your child’s nervous system comes before teaching, why practicing skills during low-stress moments matters, and how celebrating small signs of growth builds hope over time.

If aggression is a frequent challenge in your home, the new Confidence in Crisis: Navigating Aggressive Behaviors mini-course was created to support you. For $28, Lydia and Katie guide you through a practical, faith-filled process that integrates the Connected Families Framework™, Trust-Based Relational Intervention®, and Nonviolent Resistance. You’ll create a personalized safety plan, learn research-informed strategies for difficult moments, and gain confidence that God can meet your family with grace and wisdom through hard things.

Key Takeaways:

Why inviting trusted supporters into your child’s growth can bring care, accountability, and connection

Learn about the four levels of engagement

Why practicing a plan in low-stress moments prepares your family for harder ones

How noticing and affirming even small steps of growth can strengthen new skills over time

Mentioned in this Podcast: 

Confidence in Crisis online course NEW!

Connected Families Parent Coaching

ABC’s of Affirmation – Blog Post – Are You Unintentionally Encouraging Bad Behavior? Here’s How to Switch That

The Table Monthly Giving Program

Galatians 6:9

Psalm 46:1

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

Guest Bio:

Lydia Rex is the Director of Family Support for Bien Aimé (bee-ehn eh-MAY) Farm, where she works with families who have adopted children. She is a registered nurse, Connected Families certified parent coach, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner, and co-hosted the Sensitive and Intense Kids online course with Lynne Jackson. No stranger to the challenges of the parenting journey, 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 Minnesota, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books. You can learn more about Lydia’s work at Bien Aimé Farm and get in touch at bienaimefarm.org. 

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, an adaptation of Nonviolent Resistance, that helps 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.

Want to keep this conversation going?

Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

👉 Join the cf community today

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

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!

© 2026 Connected Families








When big behaviors feel scary, you have real hope.



In this mini-course, you’ll be equipped to handle aggressive behaviors with grace, confidence, and wisdom.
 
Using practical, evidence-based tools alongside the Connected Families Framework™, you’ll come away with a personalized safety plan and the deep reassurance that God has equipped you for this.






Get Equipped Today

New Course Now Available: Find Confidence in Crisis Today!

When a child’s aggressive behavior fills your home, it can stir up intense feelings in you, too. In this mini-episode, Stacy Bellward, and Certified Parent Coaches Katie Johnson and Amy Nyvall offer a grace-filled starting point for parents facing intense emotional moments at home.

Hear a hopeful perspective on what may be happening beneath a child’s anger. You’ll also find practical ways to prepare your own heart and body so you can bring greater calm, connection, and wisdom into difficult moments. Listen for practical encouragement rooted in God’s grace and the Connected Families Framework™.

Key Takeaways:

How to identify your own physical signs of stress

How empathy can build safety and connection before correction

Why small micro shifts in your response can shape a difficult moment

Encouragement for looking beneath your child’s aggressive anger

Mentioned in this Podcast: 

cf community

Confidence in Crisis: Navigating Aggressive Behaviors online course

Proverbs 18:10

The Table Monthly Giving Program

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

Guest Bio:

Amy Nyvall is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach who lives near Portland, Oregon, where she homeschools her kids ages 14,11, and 9 and leads a vibrant Charlotte Mason Education Community and Co-op. Contact Amy at amynyvall@gmail.com or learn more about her here. Amy is available for coaching and speaking on the Connected Families Framework. You can even find her contributing to events on the CF Community in Mighty so you can interact with her there too. 

Want to keep this conversation going?

Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

👉 Join the cf community today

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

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!

© 2026 Connected Families








When big behaviors feel scary, you have real hope.



In this mini-course, you’ll be equipped to handle aggressive behaviors with grace, confidence, and wisdom.
 
Using practical, evidence-based tools alongside the Connected Families Framework™, you’ll come away with a personalized safety plan and the deep reassurance that God has equipped you for this.






Get Equipped Today

New Course Now Available: Find Confidence in Crisis Today!

When your child hits you, kicks you, or says something that takes your breath away, and a single thought takes over: I have to make this stop. In this honest conversation, host Chad Hayenga sits down with coaches Lydia Rex and Katie Wetsell to explore what’s really happening beneath a child’s aggressive behavior, and why the goal isn’t to fix it magically, but to become the steady, faith-filled presence your child needs in their hardest moments. What they share might just change the way you show up on the car ride home. 

If this conversation hits home for you, there’s a next step made for exactly this.

Lydia and Katie built a brand-new mini course, Confidence in the Crisis: Navigating Aggressive Behaviors, for parents who feel shaken by their child’s big behaviors. For just $28, they walk alongside you, weaving the Connected Families Framework™  together with Trust-Based Relational Intervention® and Nonviolent Resistance into one practical, faith-filled experience. You’ll leave with a personalized safety plan for your family, evidence-based strategies you can use right away, and deeper trust that God has equipped you for this very moment. With a plan, what once felt unsettling can become an opportunity to anchor your family in faith and grow closer through the hard things.

Key Takeaways:

What aggression really is, and the deeper emotions often driving it

The physical and brain-body factors parents often overlook: sleep, nutrition, neurodivergence, pain, and more

Why the Connected Families Framework still applies, even when bigger struggles are at play

How to move from “I have to make this behavior stop” to “God has equipped me for this moment”

Mentioned in this Podcast: 

Confidence in Crisis online course NEW!

2 Timothy 1:7 

Malachi 4:2 

Psalm 4:4 

Blog Post – Why Is My Child So Angry? The #1 Unexpected Reason & Practical Steps to Take

The Table Monthly Giving Program

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

Guest Bio:

Lydia Rex is the Director of Family Support for Bien Aimé (bee-ehn eh-MAY) Farm, where she works with families who have adopted children. She is a registered nurse, Connected Families certified parent coach, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner, and co-hosted the Sensitive and Intense Kids online course with Lynne Jackson. No stranger to the challenges of the parenting journey, 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 Minnesota, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books. You can learn more about Lydia’s work at Bien Aimé Farm and get in touch at bienaimefarm.org. 

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, an adaptation of Non Violent Resistance, that helps 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.

Want to keep this conversation going?

Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

👉 Join the cf community today

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

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!

© 2026 Connected Families








When big behaviors feel scary, you have real hope.



In this mini-course, you’ll be equipped to handle aggressive behaviors with grace, confidence, and wisdom.
 
Using practical, evidence-based tools alongside the Connected Families Framework™, you’ll come away with a personalized safety plan and the deep reassurance that God has equipped you for this.






Get Equipped Today

Ready to start a small group this Fall? Explore Connected Families small groups here.

The best parenting support often comes from something simple: walking alongside one another instead of carrying the hard moments on our own.

That’s the heart of today’s conversation, as host Stacy Bellward sits down with Dr. Cindy Wilson (Director of Education, Equipping, and Research) and Lori Menekheim (Ministry Partnership Manager) to explore why growing in community makes such a difference. Whether you’re a parent craving encouragement, a friend wanting to gather a few neighbors, or a church leader hoping to support families well, there’s something here for you.

Much of that community can grow through Connected Families small groups, and Cindy and Lori make the case for why this Fall is the time to start one. Along the way, they share their own journeys, share a story of one group’s transformation, and practical answers about the courses, registration, and the support leaders receive. 

And if the thought of leading makes you nervous, they have good news: perfection isn’t the point. Transparency and a willingness to grow together are. As Fall approaches, consider whether God might be nudging you to gather a few parents and grow in grace, wisdom, and confidence together. Listen to the full episode for the encouragement and next steps to get started.

Key Takeaways:

Growth happens best in community, and walking alongside other parents builds wisdom, peace, and confidence on the hard days

You don’t have to be an expert to lead. Your honest, imperfect moments are often what free others to grow

Practical tips for starting a group of your own, from choosing a course to the support leaders receive from Connected Families

Mentioned in this Podcast: 

Connected Families Small Groups

Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Training Program

Ministry Partnership Program

Virtual Small Groups Hosted by CF Coaches

The Table Monthly Giving Program

cf community Membership

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

Guest Bio:

Cindy Wilson is a CF-Certified Parent Coach and a Certified Family Life Educator with 20+ years in children & family ministry and academia. As Director of Education, Equipping, and Research for CF, she helps churches, schools, and other organizations use CF resources to equip and support families in their community. She is also helping collect data to show the impact of CF resources on parents and families. Cindy lives in Florida with her husband of over 30 years. She has three adult children, one son-in-law, four grandchildren, and a farm full of animals.

Lori Menikheim is a wife, mom of two strong-willed teenage girls, and Kids Ministry leader with over 15 years of experience. She is CF’s new Ministry Partnership Program Director, where she helps churches, schools, and other Christian organizations use CF resources to equip and support parents in their communities. 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. 

Want to keep this conversation going?

Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

👉 Join the cf community today

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

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!

© 2026 Connected Families







Ready to bring parents

together?






Start a small group in your home, church, or community.











Browse Small Group Courses

Have you ever felt like your child just doesn’t care about their bad grades on their report card, no matter how much you push, remind, or worry? In this audioblog, adapted from two of our blog posts, guest host Chad Hayenga closes out our four-week back-to-school series with one of the most freeing questions a parent can ask: “Whose problem is it, really?” Discover why pushing harder often backfires, how the 4 messages of the Connected Families Framework™ can break the anxiety-nagging cycle, and how to trade the role of manager for the hopeful role of mentor. 

Key Takeaways:

Discover the “anxiety-nagging cycle” 

Learn how the 4 messages of the Connected Families Framework can breathe life back into a relationship strained by report-card tension

Learn one simple question to ask yourself to free yourself to become your child’s encourager instead of manager

Mentioned in this Podcast: 

Blog Post – Your Child’s Grades Don’t Matter (To You)

Blog Post – Whose Problem Is It? Teaching Kids Responsibility

Ep. 311 – Toddler Separation Anxiety: Why Does My Toddler Cry at Drop-Off?

Connected Families Parenting Coaching

The Table Monthly Giving Program

Matthew 12:34

Philippians 3:3-4

Galatians 6:7

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

Want to keep this conversation going?

Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

👉 Join the cf community today

Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

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!

© 2026 Connected Families