Blended Family Breakthrough

ResourcesLast week's episode :Episode 228. How 4 Simple Steps Can Transform Your Family's Struggles into Amazing Wins This Year Moving Beyond Fear:Episode 50: How to Openly Communicate What You Really Want Episode 147: Do Sensitive Conversations end up creating conflict in your relationship?Episode 179. Conquer Fear and Embrace Your Blend with Confidence and ClarityEpisode 98. Is fear of being vulnerable keeping you from loving your spouse wholeheartedly?Coping with Impatience:Episode 105. What powerful traits do you need to successfully blend and stay united?Episode 89. Feeling Stuck in the Change Process?  Change Isn't the Issue - Transition IsEpisode 72. The Best Way to Create Healthy, Bonded RelationshipsEpisode 159.  How to Stay Hopeful as a Stepparent When You're Continually Rejected and HurtOvercoming Limiting Beliefs & Excuses:Episode 120. 3 Valuable Lessons That Saved Our Marriage and Blended FamilyEpisode 165. How important is your mindset when it comes to blended family life?Episode 217. Feeling Overwhelmed and Powerless?  How to Regain Hope with Tools that Heal [with EJ & Tarah Kerwin]Episode 51. Overcoming DiscouragementManaging Emotional Pain:Episode 187. Basics for Blending:  How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and DistressEpisode 202. How to Break Free from Painful Cycles and Enjoy Deeper Levels of Intimacy [with Ron & Nan Deal]Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple ExperiencesEpisode 107. 3 Disheartening Realities That No Couple Want To Go Through - But We all Have ToEmbracing the Lone Ranger position:Episode 209. Breaking Free from Self-Doubt: 5 Habits to Build Confidence and Trust in YourselfEpisode 215. Does Your Relationship Feel Hopeless?  Why Giving Up Might Not Be the AnswerEpisode 65. 6 Simple Steps for Inviting Your Spouse to Get Help With YouEpisode 138. How Relational Dysfunction Plagued Our Marriage and How We Finally Broke FreeReady for some extra support?Schedule your FREE coaching call here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call

Those of us facing the common challenges of blending often feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or discouraged. It’s easy to drift into survival mode and settle for “not that bad.”In this episode, we'll share a clear plan to move forward in a simple way that's not about the pressure of big, dramatic New Year's resolutions.  Here's the truth: transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and there are no easy fixes to the complex dynamics stepfamilies face. But change can happen with small, faithful shifts practiced over time. You'll Discover:The difference between information vs. transformation and why “insight without action” keeps couples stuck How to set process goals (not vague intentions), and capture the “gold nuggets” you want to apply to your family's current struggles How to “work your plan” and experience real WINS in 2026!Resources from this Episode:CLICK HERE to schedule your FREE coaching call with usCLICK HERE to learn more about the Blending Together CommunityFind your Focus & Choose your Path:Bonding:For specific episodes on building healthy Bonds, CLICK HEREBuilding Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal & Gary ChapmanUnderstanding Kids' Perspectives:For specific episodes to gain insight & support your kids, CLICK HEREIn Their Shoes: Helping Parents Better Understand and Connect with Children of Divorce by Lauren ReitsemaSafeguarding your Relationship / Marriage:For specific episodes to grow a deeper connection and reduce conflict, CLICK HERESaving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts: Nine Questions to Ask Before -- and After -- You Remarry by Drs. Les & Leslie ParrotParenting  & Stepparenting:For specific episodes to develop your parenting partnership and align family expectations, CLICK HEREStepparenting:  Keeping It Sane by Dr. Charles FayParenting Under Fire: How to Communicate with Your Hurt, Angry, Rejecting, Distant Child by Dr. Amy J.L. BakerEffective Co-Parenting:For specific episodes to discover best practices and improve cooperation between homes, CLICK HERECoParenting Works!  Helping Your Children Thrive After Divorce By Tammy Daughtry

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 to 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!

Do you ever spend time reminiscing?We seem to think back a lot from our current empty next vantage point.  It can be great to recall some of those funny moments in our history.  And it's meaningful when we recount the tough seasons we've endured together as well.As we head into the holidays, we thought it would be fun to pull an interview with our kids out of the archives. So, in this episode, you'll listen in on a conversation with our family reminiscing over some of the ups and downs of our Holiday experiences over the past 20+ years. We wonder if it might stir up a bit of hope for your own future as you hear the authenticity straight from all three of our adult children.  We've experienced some high points and low points as a family over the years — and your family will too.  But as you navigate it together, we believe you can experience closeness, gratitude, and joy as a family.  We hope our discussion blesses you this season.In this episode, you'll discover how our kids answered these questions as they share their holiday experiences living in our blended family:What are your favorite memories (including funny ones)?What might have been a negative experience for you?What things made you feel sad, annoyed, or frustrated?What are you grateful for?What do you wish we (as parents) might have done differently?PLUS you'll catch some of their encouragements for YOU!Resources from this Episode:Episodes that focus on Kid's Perspectives:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/podcast/category/Kid%27s+Perspectives/#filterEpisode 71: How to Help Kids Cope with Painful Holiday DisappointmentEpisode 10. 8 Practical Tips for a Successful Holiday SeasonEpisode 149. How to "Blend" Holiday Traditions and Create Meaningful Connection this Season Episode 151. What Has The Potential to Steal Your Joy - And How You Can Hold Onto It  (Part 1)Episode 171.  How to Experience More Fun, Connection, and Joy this Holiday Season [with Rich and Stacy] Episode 173. Expert Guidance for Holiday Success [with Lauren Reitsema & Joneen Mackenzie]Episode 222. Step-by-Step Guide:  Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things WorseEpisode 224. Holiday Negotiations That Work:  5 Tips to Reduce Tension and Disappointment  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

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