Connected Families Podcast

Does it feel like your child just doesn’t care? Maybe even saying the words, “I just don’t care!” Does your child seem unmotivated in school, defensive about doing chores, maybe even withdrawn and depressed? It is so hard to know what to do when your child is discouraged. You may feel frustrated and hopeless. And a kid who doesn’t seem to care can really push all your buttons, which can cause even...

What do you do when you know you want something to be different in your family this year? Do you ever wonder if there is a more gracious and meaningful way to approach the new year, for you and your kids? How can you be more intentional in your parenting in the new year? If you are overwhelmed with all that hasn’t worked, and are looking for something different for your family, this is the podcast...

As 2021 soon comes to a close, we hope you will find good things–even something seemingly small!–to be grateful for this past year. And we pray you find encouragement and grace for the new year ahead. This year-end wrap-up will give you an exciting vision of what God might have for Connected Families in the future! In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Jim Jack...

“My child never sleeps!” Bedtime struggles can feel like a losing battle. Does bedtime leave you feeling completely drained? Your child wants another glass of water or another bedtime story. They’re afraid of the dark. Or overflowing with wound-up energy from the day.  You are exhausted. Frustrated . And if your child is struggling to sleep, you are struggling to sleep!  Slee...

As parents we long to build a connected family. Connection . We all long for genuine, connected relationships. It’s how God wired us. It makes sense that, when this element is lacking in our relationships, it can cause us to feel so many difficult and discouraged emotions. Especially in the relationships we value most. You want to feel connected to your kids and to the people you care about, but t...

Does your child get discouraged? Does it feel like your child’s misbehavior seems to drown out the positive things you might notice? And the more you notice misbehavior, the more it seems to happen. We tend to gravitate toward the things we feel need “fixing” in our kids, because our brains prioritize attending to anything wrong or threatening. This is normal!  As a parent you care deeply abo...

Ever feel like you’ve read all the parenting books and yet still feel overwhelmed? Or perhaps you struggle because so much parenting advice out there just doesn’t seem to fit your family situation. And you’ve discovered that traditional parenting just isn’t cutting it!  This can be especially true for parents who have children through adoption or foster care. In honor of National Adopti...

Many of the families in the Connected Families community were formed through adoption. This month, during National Adoption Awareness Month, we look more closely at how the Connected Families Framework can be applied to children who joined their family through adoption (or foster care). Whether or not you’ve adopted, you will not want to miss this podcast!  Note: In this podcast we are sharin...

Why is changing your parenting just so hard ? You’ve tried everything to get a better result in your parenting: You’ve read the books, watched the seminars, tried new methods. You know that you want a different approach to your parenting, but you just don’t know what to do or how to do it. And it’s hard!  It’s messy to rewire old patterns that have been established over many years . This is t...

Mom guilt is real and it feels so heavy. Moms, do you ever find your thoughts spiraling through these statements? “I’m such a mess!” “I can’t get it together and my kids don’t like me!” “I’m a bad mom” Stress, feeling overwhelmed, and lack of sleep can intensify all these feelings. It’s important to know you are not alone in the struggle with guilt and shame. And you don’t have to stay...

Does God require your kids to obey immediately? Immediate obedience is probably a familiar concept to you. And, to be quite honest, it’s a hot-button topic! If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I get my child to obey?” then this is the podcast for you! Or maybe you feel like your demands for first-time obedience seem to bring more tension and discouragement for both you an...

Your child is misbehaving and you just want it to, “Stop!” You want to bring some control to the situation. Emotions escalate. The key to unlocking a Christ-like identity, wisdom, and responsibility in your kids is not a method or a formula. It’s connection.

It’s normal to feel stuck in the frustration of trying to “fix” your child’s behavior. Despite exploring numerous parenting resources and methods, does your heart still feel unsettled? Like you, many other parents feel the same way. Patterns of control, yelling, blaming, and shaming only seem to bring greater disconnection in your relationship with your child. You want things to be different. You...

Ever feel alone or isolated as a parent? Between navigating your kids’ misbehavior in public, enduring other judgmental parents, and the demands of daily life, staying isolated can often feel easier than attempting social connection and events. Yet parenting without a solid community can bring feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Just like our kids, we as parents need to feel safety an...

If you’re like most parents, you want your child to be a responsible student. But you also want them to use their time wisely to they can have an active social life. (Aaaannnnd, it would be great if they were good at athletics, debate, excited about youth group every Wednesday night, AND could get their chores done without complaining. 😊) Whatever your child’s strengths and challenges are,...

Is your child struggling with anxiety about going back to school? How do you navigate the uncertainties of a new school year? If you and your child are feeling stressed about all the changes and upheaval surrounding school, you are not alone! Classroom anxiety is more common than you think. We have some super helpful information to get you and your kids on the right track for a more calm and conne...

What does the Bible say about connection in parenting? How do we work that out practically in everyday family life? Of course theology is important. But theology alone doesn’t always tell you how long your kids should play a video game, or how to specifically respond when your child asks tough questions.  That’s where scientific research comes in! We’ve heard from countless people the reason...

Are you longing for practical parenting resources that address both the spiritual and the scientific? Why are they both important? God created our souls, brains, and bodies, and He wants us to understand His creation. Research affirms the biblical truth that you and your kids are hardwired to connect. The science of connection combined with the wisdom of God’s Word are the heartbeat of all we do a...

Have you heard the buzz about having a “growth mindset” * versus a “fixed mindset”? How can you teach your child to have a growth mindset? When our kids lack the skills to do what we are asking them to do it can create discouragement in your home. Maybe you’ve even asked yourself the following:  “Why isn’t my kid motivated to clean their room?” “How many times do...

Your child keeps unbuckling their seatbelt in a tantrum while you are driving down a busy road. One of your kids spits at his sibling when he gets angry. What do you do when your child has big emotions and actions, and despite your best efforts to implement connection and correction, the behavior doesn’t seem to improve? Maybe you’ve experienced challenging situations like these, and you don’t eve...

As a parent you might feel overwhelmed with the mountain of resources available to you regarding Christian discipline. From podcasts, to books, to seminars, there is no shortage of available content you could access. But, when you are Christ-follower AND you are tuned into the latest in research and attachment-based parenting, you are looking for something more. Something that combines heart, soul...

“My kid is looking at porn! What should I do?” Have you experienced this? Or maybe you are concerned about how to prepare your child for future encounters with something inappropriate. Pornography is highly accessible in today’s culture. Marketers seem to sexualize everything to sell products. In a world where we are unable to shield our children from this, how do we respond? Today’s podcast is th...

“My kid is obsessed with gaming! Are they addicted? What should I do?” If you’ve found yourself making these kinds of statements you are not alone.  It’s amazing how something small on a screen can have such a big impact. And screens are everywhere . How do you set boundaries when you think your child is addicted to screens? There are real solutions and we are going to dig into them. Today’s...

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “legacy”? We feel inspired when we hear stories about the legacy of someone who has made an impact in the world.  Hearing these stories may inspire you to want to leave a valuable legacy of your own. OR maybe that idea feels painful to you. You might have regrets and wonder if it’s too late to leave the legacy you had hoped for.  Whatever yo...

You ask your child to do something simple and they respond with violence. Your five-year-old comes at you forcefully with a toy and is going to hit you. Maybe your teenager is physically fighting and things are getting out of hand. You start to realize your child is violent. Now what? As a parent in this situation, you may feel discouragement, fear, anxiety, or even shame. It’s hard to know what t...