The Nacho Kids Podcast: Blended Family Lifesaver

In this insightful episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, host Lori sits down with a unique duo - a biomom and stepmom who have successfully navigated the challenges of a blended family to become good friends. With over 11 years in their blend, the stepmom and the biomom discuss how they overcame early co-parenting hurdles, managed shifting visitation schedules, and built a friendship rooted in mutual...

Navigating back-to-school season in a blended family? 🎒 In this Nacho Kids podcast episode, hosts Lori and David dive deep into the real-life challenges and lessons learned when sharing school supply costs, managing homework stress, and setting healthy boundaries between bio and step-parents. They share why splitting school expenses can be tricky, discuss the importance of clear agreements, and o...

In this must-listen episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, hosts Lori and David Sims chat with guest Billie Tarascio, a family law attorney and now full-time stepmom. Billie gets real about the challenges and surprises that come with blending families, such as unexpectedly gaining full-time stepkids and managing life with seven kids in the house. Listeners will gain practical step-parenting tips on se...

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David dive into the topic of therapists and their understanding of/lack of understanding of Nacho Parenting. After a member of their Facebook group shares a story about being "fired" by a therapist for following the Nacho Kids method, Lori and David break down the misconceptions therapists may have about stepfamilies and the Nacho approach. They...

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori is joined by the renowned "Smart Stepmom," Laura Petherbridge, to discuss her latest book, Step Families of the Bible. Laura shares powerful insights into how stepfamilies of the Bible mirror the struggles of today's stepfamilies. Drawing on biblical stories, she reveals how universal emotions like jealousy, loyalty, and anger shaped stepfamily dynam...

Are you struggling with codependent behaviors between your partner and their ex, especially when it affects your blended family? In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, hosts Lori and David tackle a listener's question about how to handle situations where her partner's ex relies on him for trivial tasks related to the kids. Discover practical tips on communicating concerns with your partner usi...

Welcome to another episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast! Today, Lori and David are joined by returning guests Crystal and Mike, who open up about blending their family over the past nine years. With two teens of totally opposite temperaments, Crystal and Mike share their experiences juggling an ambitious daughter and an unmotivated son, while trying to balance structure, independence, and support. Th...

Explore the complexities of blending families, including navigating different parenting styles, sibling rivalry vs. bullying, and the challenge of being fair with both biological and stepchildren.  Lori & David share practical advice on empowering kids to handle conflicts, the realities of "fairness" in stepfamily life, and why adult behavior matters just as much as the kids'.  Tune in for relatab...

On this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori welcomes Daryl Potter, a Canadian banker and published author, for a conversation that takes us far beyond the typical stepfamily story. Daryl isn't a member of a blended family himself, but his experience raising a child with two extremely rare medical conditions has given him a unique perspective on navigating "irregular" family dynamics and findin...

Welcome back to the Nacho Kids Podcast! In today's episode, Lori and David dive deep into the realities of sacrifice within stepfamilies. Lori shares a heartfelt personal story about giving up a long-awaited lunch with a friend to help her stepson, Ethan, navigate buying a car, a perfect example of the countless everyday choices stepfamilies make for each other. Together, Lori and David discuss ho...

On today's episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori sits down with Chad Bignac, transformationist, consultant, author, and coauthor of the new book "Blend, Don't Break." Drawing from over 22 years of blended family experience, Chad opens up about the challenges he and his wife faced merging their families after personal tragedies, including the loss of his first wife and his current wife's ex-husba...

Welcome back to another episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast! In today's show, Lori and David dive into a challenge faced by many blended families: What happens when one partner feels that their stepchild is being disrespectful, and the biological parent doesn't step in? Kicking things off with a listener's heartfelt question, Lori and David unpack the complexities of stepkids shouting or insulting t...

On today's episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori sits down with  "Bookworm Stepmom," for a heartfelt and engaging conversation about navigating the highs and lows of blended family life. Stepmom opens up about her journey from single and childless to stepmom of two girls and mom to two more young children, one of whom is autistic. They dig into the realities of co-parenting with an ex, maintaini...

Welcome back to the Nacho Kids Podcast! In this heartfelt and relatable episode, hosts David and Lori dive into the annual struggle of graduation ticket allocations. With only a handful of coveted seats for high school and college ceremonies, blended and extended families are often left negotiating who gets a spot in the audience—and who doesn't. Through personal stories and a bit of humor, David...

In this enlightening episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, we explore the fascinating world of stepfamilies in American history with our special guest, Lisa Wilson, the esteemed author of "A History of Stepfamilies in Early America." Lisa shares her journey of uncovering the untold stories and patterns of stepfamilies, reflecting on her personal experiences as a member of such a family. Delving into...

Welcome to this episode of the NK Podcast, where hosts Lori and David dive into the intricacies of celebrating Easter within stepfamilies. The holiday season can be a delightful time, but it also brings unique challenges when navigating custody schedules and traditions in blended families. In this episode, Lori and David share personal anecdotes and practical advice on how to manage these situatio...

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast! In today's episode, hosts Lori and David welcome the insightful Karen McNenny, also known as the Good Divorce Coach. Karen joins us to challenge the traditional narrative of divorce as a conflict-ridden process. She introduces the concept of a 'good divorce,' presenting it as a tool, rather than a weapon, to transform family dynami...

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, hosts Lori and David dive into the often misunderstood concept of "nacho parenting." They start by addressing a common question: Does nachoing mean ignoring your stepkids? Lori shares her own journey of using nacho parenting to navigate difficult dynamics with her stepchildren, emphasizing that it's more about choosing not to engage rather than ignoring....

Hey, Nacho Parents! In this episode, we dive into the whirlwind story of a step couple who faced some major challenges blending their families. They've got a history that goes way back, but things got complicated when their relationship rekindled as an affair. Now, they're dealing with the fallout, especially with one of the kids knowing about the affair. The catch? This kid has no idea that her m...

Welcome back to the Nacho Kids podcast! In this episode, titled "Mother's Day Doesn't Have To Suck For Stepmoms/Stepfamilies," hosts David and Lori dive into the complex dynamics of navigating Mother's Day as a stepparent. With Mother's Day just around the corner, they tackle the often-sensitive issue of unmet expectations and the potential for hurt feelings. Lori and David offer practical advice...

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori Sims welcomes Mae, a stepmom navigating the challenging dynamics of her blended family. Mae lives with her partner, their two-year-old child, and her partner's kids—a 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. Mae shares the trials she's faced stepping into a maternal role, dealing with stepchildren full-time due to their mother's sporadic involvement....

In this milestone episode of the NK Podcast, we're celebrating our 300th episode! Join hosts Lori and David as they reflect on five and a half years of podcasting, sharing their journey and the valuable lessons they've learned along the way. From the challenges and joys of blending families to the unexpected twists and turns of stepfamily life, Lori and David dive deep into their personal experien...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the NK Podcast, we're joined by stepmom Whitney, who revisits her story after first appearing on the podcast three and a half years ago. Whitney shares an incredible journey that showcases resilience, compassion, and the power of relationships in the midst of adversity. As a stepmom with no biological children and a 17-year-old stepdaughter, Whitney recou...

Welcome back to the Nacho Kids Podcast! In today's episode, Lori and David dive into a critical conversation about the challenges and misconceptions faced by stepparents. They explore three common phrases that should never be uttered to a stepparent. First, the hosts debunk the idea that stepparents knew what they were getting into when joining a blended family, emphasizing the unexpected trials i...

In today's episode, host Lori welcomes Raffi Bilek, a marriage counselor based in Baltimore and the author of "The Couple's Communication Handbook: The Skills You Never Learned for the Marriage You Always Wanted." Raffi shares his experiences working with couples and emphasizes the importance of effective communication in relationships. He discusses cultural differences in communication, how child...