Enjoying Your Blended Family

Season 2, Episode 1 Adult Kids Moving Back Home: 7 Things We Learned After almost two years away, we're back! In this first episode of Season 2, I'm sharing a life update and discussing something many blended families eventually face: adult children moving back home. Whether they're returning after college, navigating a breakup, saving money, or simply needing a fresh start, bringing adult childre...

In this episode, Jamee from Make it a Date joins me to discuss the importance of looking for the good in your husband. Connect with her here https://www.instagram.com/makeitadate_/ Join me for the next few weeks as we read our way through the book, Loving Him Well by Gary Thomas. https://a.co/d/07petDij This book will discuss some pretty serious issues, so be cautious if the kids are around. You m...

As Randall and I have been moving in and out of this empty-nester season, we have found it hard to prioritize each other. When we don't prioritize each other, the enemy can and will use it to cause division. I don't know about you, but I do not want a roommate for a husband, where we barely get to see each other much less have intimate conversations. We are both to blame for putting other things a...

This episode is really all about our current struggles. I thought I would share them with you because you might be walking through this season now or in the future. Even everyday life issues affect us differently in a blended family. We just want you to know, you are not alone! We want you to have your best Summer yet with your blended family this year, whether with your whole family or strengthen...

We want you to have your best Summer yet with your blended family this year, whether with your whole family or strengthening the relationships you can access. We know how it feels to be cut off from those you love. The good news is that we created something to help. We took what helped us connect and reconnect with each other and our kids and created the E.N.J.O.Y process.    This process not only...

235. The Blended Family Bucket List (Part 4 of 5)   We want you to have your best Summer yet with your blended family this year, whether with your whole family or strengthening the relationships you can access. We know how it feels to be cut off from those you love. The good news is that we created something to help. We took what helped us connect and reconnect with each other and our kids and cre...

We want you to have your best Summer with your blended family this year, whether with your whole family or strengthening the relationships you can access. We know how it feels to be cut off from those you love. The good news is that we created something to help. We took what helped us connect and reconnect with each other and our kids and made the E.N.J.O.Y process.    This process has helped not...

We want you to have your best Summer yet with your blended family this year, whether with your whole family or strengthening the relationships you can access. We know how it feels to be cut off from those you love. The good news is that we created something to help. We took what helped us connect and reconnect with each other and our kids and created the E.N.J.O.Y process. This process has not onl...

232.  Exploring Common Interest in Your Stepfamily | Part 1 of 5   We want you to have your best Summer yet with your blended family this year, whether with your whole family or strengthening the relationships you can access. We know how it feels to be cut off from those you love. The good news is that we created something to help. We took what helped us connect and reconnect with each other and o...

We want you to have your best Summer yet with your blended family this year, whether that be with your whole family or strengthening the relationships you have access to. We know how it feels to be cut off from those you love.    Over the next 5 weeks, we will post the videos that come straight from the E.N.J.O.Y the Journey Ultimate Guide which goes along with our book How to Enjoy Your Blended F...

I found some old videos from a challenge I did with a group of ladies in 2020 about taking our thoughts captive. This concept changed my life. The information is so valuable, that I wanted to share it with you. It's set up as a 5-day challenge so feel free to listen to it day-by-day or all at once. The key is putting these things to use.    Day 1: Take Your Thoughts Captive Challenge Let's get sta...

In this episode, I am sharing my best advice to a single mom or an alienated mom (someone who doesn't have contact with their children).    If you are in this season of life you are not alone.    Honestly, if you are an empty nester or struggling mom, this could help you too.    EPISODE RESOURCES:   If you're tired of waiting for your "STEP" family to "BLEND" try this... STEPFAMILY JUMPSTART: WAYS...

Do you desire a relationship with your stepchild but don't know how or where to start? Maybe you have been rejected in the past and stopped trying. Even if your stepchild has nothing to do with you, check this out. Who knows maybe it's just what you need to turn things around.  If you're tired of waiting for your "STEP" family to "BLEND" try this... STEPFAMILY JUMPSTART: WAYS TO CONNECT INSTANTLY...

Is your stepchild being manipulative causing drama and division in your stepfamily, is it a misunderstanding, or is your child just hurting? In this episode, I will talk with my stepdaughter about her perspective.  EPISODE RESOURCES: If you're tired of waiting for your "STEP" family to "BLEND" try this… STEPFAMILY JUMPSTART: WAYS TO CONNECT INSTANTLY https://bfam.enjoyingyourblendedfamily.com/opt-...

Transition Day is rough in a stepfamily. Many different factors cause that. Today I'm talking with my stepdaughter who is now 25 about her thoughts and feelings when she was transitioning from house to house as a child. We might not have all the "right" answers, but we hope it stirs up conversations in your house. If you're tired of waiting for your "STEP" family to "BLEND" try this… STEPFAMILY JU...

Today Ryleigh (stepdaughter) and Scarlett (Stepmom) talk about menstrual cycles and how they affect mood, which puts a strain on their relationships. This was a hard conversation to have, because PMDD has taken Ryleigh down some dark roads, but we have seen God show up every time.    Follow Ryleigh and her musical journey on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTU0-Nd7DQXh_Bp4VEDEQXQ Her newe...

I have been getting messages lately from stepmoms asking how they can better support their stepdaughter during different seasons of life. Ironically Ryleigh (my stepdaughter) wrote a song about our stepmother/stepdaughter journey. I immediately asked her if we could discuss it on a podcast and if she would sing the song for you.    In this episode we discuss her feelings when her dad told her he w...

My stepdaughter has been in my life for 16 years. In the very beginning, our relationship was sweet. Then she quickly realized she wanted a life with just her and her dad and that didn't involve me. I tried my best to be who and what I thought she needed but it wasn't ever enough. It actually had the opposite effect.    Today our relationship is great. It didn't happen by chance though. I had to b...

222: What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting With Jyl Barlow One of my least favorite stepfamily comments is, "Well you knew what you were signing up for." That's like telling a new mom or dad, well you knew parenting was going to be hard so I don't want to hear you complain about it.  In both situations, you do not know what to expect until you are living it out in real-time. Mostly because eve...

If you are anything like me, and a lot of you are, I struggle to find rest. I get passionate about my work, I love to serve others, and then of course family things. Between all of that, I become overwhelmed and exhausted. Did you know that God commands us to rest? This is something many people in our culture now stopped practicing.  I loved Jen's perspective on this and wanted to earn more. Check...

220: Sharing Equal Custody Doesn't Make You a Bad Mom For so long I thought "GOOD MOMS" have full custody of their kids and anything less meant something was wrong. In today's episode, I talked to Jen Debrot about her approach to sharing custody.    Follow Jen at Jen Debrot on Instagram Check out Jen Debrot: Our Blended Journey  If you're tired of waiting for your "STEP" family to "BLEND" try this...

219: 14 Ways to Connect With Your Spouse In today's episode Jamee from Make It a Date shares 14 practical, low to no cost ideas to connect. Don't let another year go by without prioritizing your marriage. Your blended family needs you to have a happy, healthy marriage! Follow Jamee at Make It a Date on Instagram Check out Make It a Date Ideas on Etsy   If you're tired of waiting for your "STEP" fa...

In today's episode, we discuss a topic that most stepfamilies have not experienced, but I know several of you who are and I wanted to pull back the curtain of this forbidden topic and bring you and your family some hope. I brought in the co-host of the Husband-in-Law Podcast, Jessica Frew to talk about her blended family story and how she and her family learned to enjoy their blended family after...

Teaching our kids emotional intelligence will benefit them for the rest of their lives in all their relationships.  I love finding and sharing tools that will help your stepfamily blend smoothly. In this episode, I talked with Fiona Kong about this simple tool she used to help her young son express his feelings each day while living in 2 homes!  This simple little $2 planner from the dollar store...

Lately, we have had lots of people join our B. Fam community who are walking through the same storm we went through. Each of our kids went to live with their other parents when they became teens against our better judgment.  This was a heartbreaking and devastating season for our family. As hard as it was though it taught us all a lot about ourselves and our family.  In this episode, I share my st...