Blended Family Breakthrough

Questions to Ask YourselfAm I continuing to engage in “first-family” activities with my ex (even though we’re divorced), mainly because I’m trying to guard my children from experiencing any disappointment or discomfort?Have I noticed any confusion or resentment from my children when they observe our Perfect Pal relationship and compare it to what’s actually happened in their lives?Do I feel compelled to continue as Perfect Pals because I’m worried that if I don’t, my ex will react poorly, possibly lash out, turn the kids against me, or punish me in some way?  And so I keep showing up as a close friend and confidant just to avoid retribution? Because of our Perfect Pal dynamic, do I sometimes abdicate or agree with my ex, even when I have a different opinion?Do you (or your new partner) harbor resentment toward your ex because they seem to have a lot of power and control over parenting decisions? Do you end up feeling unheard, devalued, or dismissed?  Does maintaining your Perfect Pal relationship seem like it's more important than having an equal voice in your children's lives?What's your next step in moving toward 'Cooperative Colleagues'?ResourcesEpisode 226.  How Two Homes Raise Kids that Thrive:  A Co-Parenting Blueprint for Caring Parents [with Jay & Tammy Daughtry]Episode 71. Helping Kids Cope with Painful Holiday DisappointmentCo-Parenting Works! Helping Your Children Thrive After Divorce by Tammy DaughtryConnect directly with Jay and Tammy:  CoParenting InternationalCLICK HERE to get FREE resources from CoParenting InternationalCLICK HERE for more Episodes on Healthy Co-ParentingSuggest 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/shareReady 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-callSubscribe 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 PodcastsClick here to follow on SpotifyLeave a Review in Apple PodcastsIf 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 s

If you’re co-parenting between two homes, you already know: your kids are watching everything.  How you talk about their other parent, handle handoffs, respond to schedule changes, and react when the ex sends that text.  These everyday issues impact and shape your children’s well-being.In this episode, we sit down with co-parenting experts Jay & Tammy Daughtry, who are both adult children of divorce and co-parents themselves. They share their TEAMM mindset: The End Adult Matters Most.  It's a powerful reminder that your co-parenting relationship today is shaping the adult your child will become tomorrow.As marriage and family therapists, Jay and Tammy deeply understand the long-term impact of post-divorce dynamics on kids.  They offer compassionate guidance to help you move from feeling stuck, reactive, or alone and instead adopt a calm, intentional, “business partner” approach to co-parenting.  You’ll walk away with hopeful, real-life tools to steady your own emotions, protect your kids from unnecessary emotional burdens, and take small, intentional steps toward a healthier co-parenting partnership so your kids experience stability, security, and are free to love both of their parents.You'll Discover:Practical ideas for building alignment, handling hand-offs, and honoring your child’s divided heartWhy “The End Adult Matters Most” changes everythingWhy “emotionally baby-proofing” is essential for children of divorce The benefits of a business-meeting approach to co-parenting (TEAMM meetings)How to approach an uncooperative exResources from this Episode:Co-Parenting Works! Helping Your Children Thrive After Divorce by Tammy DaughtryConnect directly with Jay and Tammy:  Co-Parenting InternationalCLICK HERE to get FREE resources from Co-Parenting InternationalEpisode 84. How to Cope with Sadness, Anxiety and Longing While Your Kids Are GoneCLICK HERE for more Episodes on Healthy Co-ParentingReady 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/freesessionLeave a Review in Apple PodcastsIf 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!

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/shareReady 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-callSubscribe 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 PodcastsClick here to follow on SpotifyLeave a Review in Apple PodcastsIf 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!

You want this season to feel special for your blended family. But instead of joy, you’re feeling grumpy, anxious, or even a little hopeless. Schedule changes, empty chairs at the table, tension with an ex, and slow bonding in step-relationships can make gratitude feel out of reach. Deep down you might be wondering, “How am I supposed to be thankful when life really hurts?”In this episode, we'll sit with you in that question. And we'll introduce three simple “gratitude lenses” that will help you focus on what’s good without denying what’s hard. Through honest stories from our personal journey, including Kim’s long season of walking with Annika through addiction and into recovery, you’ll see how gratitude can keep you anchored so that you can show up well as you face tough realities.   You’ll also learn how to hold grief and gratitude at the same time while guarding against three common negativity traps that quietly drain hope and resilience. By the end, you’ll have one small, clear next step to begin practicing gratitude in real life, right where you are, in this season and beyond.You'll Discover:Three gratitude lenses tailored for real life, you can start using todaySimple gratitude habits that can make a positive difference How to hold grief and gratitude simultaneously - without having to pretendThe 3 “P” traps that crush resilience—and how you can resist themResources from this Episode:Episode 42. Our Challenging Story of Parental Alienation - And 6 Tips for YouEpisode 84. Coping with Sadness, Anxiety, and Longing when the Kids are GoneEpisode 154. What practical and Emotional Shifts Can You Expect as You Blend a Family? Episode 14. 3 Helpful Steps to Overcome Your 'Perfectionist' Ideals and Disappointments Episode 202. How to Break Free From Painful Cycles and Enjoy Deeper Levels of Intimacy [with Ron and Nan Deal] Episode 189.  Bringing Hope to the Realities of Grief:  A Path to Understanding and Healing [with Krista St-Germain]Episode 187.  Basics for Blending:  How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 1 of 2)Episode 51. Overcoming Discouragement (Part 1 of  3)Episode 99. Moving Beyond Painful Guilt and RegretEpisode 160. A 4-Part Framework for Achievable Expectations and How to Live Them OutEpisode 220. From Marginalized to Mainstream:  How to Reclaim Confidence Episode 215. Does your Relationship Feel Hopeless?  Why Giving Up Might Not be the Answer?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

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/shareReady 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-callSubscribe 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 PodcastsClick here to follow on SpotifyLeave a Review in Apple PodcastsIf 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!