FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

Laurel Slade-Waggoner, a licensed counselor and expert in navigating relationships affected by narcissism, offers invaluable insights. She discusses recognizing the signs of narcissism and its impact on blended families. Strategies for coping with manipulative behaviors like gaslighting and blame-shifting are explored, along with the importance of self-care. Laurel also shares ways to effectively co-parent with a narcissist, emphasizing the need for firm boundaries and clear parenting plans to protect children's well-being. Tune in for practical advice on navigating these complex relationships!

Does your family have a designated Sabbath? How do you spend that day? Author Kathi Lipp shares with Ron Deal her suggestions for reimagining Christian Sabbath that is a meaningful day with the Lord and one another as you prioritize rest and share a meal together. On Sabbath, we want to focus on who God is and His provision for us as we rest and connect with one another. Lipp suggests that food provides the platform to linger in relationships, and feeding your family shows you care for them. She shares recipes from her new book, Sabbath Soup, and offers ideas on preparing for Sabbath and creating a special day each week. Show Notes and Resources  Watch Women & Blended Families! Join us for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!  Learn more about Kathi and get her new book: Sabbath Soup  Thank you for supporting FamilyLife Blended with a donation! See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

In this engaging discussion, Gayla Grace, a stepparent author and speaker, shares her insights on navigating the complexities of blended families. She highlights the importance of teamwork between biological parents and stepparents to overcome parenting disagreements. The conversation dives into emotional challenges, like feelings of rejection from stepchildren and the need for clear communication to build trust. Listeners can also discover upcoming resources and events dedicated to supporting blended families on their journey.

As a blended family couple, it’s not uncommon to experience sexual pitfalls that bring additional stress to your relationship. How do you prevent physical intimacy issues and work through those that have shown up? In this episode, Ron Deal and Gayla Grace talk about how to build trust and emotional safety to overcome common pitfalls such as: the comparison trap, fear and insecurity from "ghosts" of marriage past, unlearning old rhythms of sexual practice and learning new ones, and lingering messages from prior sexual experiences that can inhibit healthy physical intimacy in marriage. In addition, you’ll understand more about the biblical view of healthy sexuality and why God established boundaries around it. Show Notes and Resources Make plans to join us at the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!  Check out where Ron will be speaking.  Listen to or watch episode 30, 66, or 131 of the FamilyLife Blended Podcast Send a donation and get a copy of The Smart Stepfamily Marriage  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

The dynamics of blended family life can bring hopelessness, and we lose the ability to see a future where God can make our situation better. But there’s always hope for a brighter tomorrow. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Lee Warren, a neurosurgeon who has experienced personal trauma and loss, and explains the difference between our mind and our brain and how to use our mind to face hard things in a constructive manner. As we transform our thoughts and consider our feelings against the Truth of what God’s Word says, we find hope again for healing, for purpose, for change. Show Notes and Resources  Send a gift and receive The Smart Stepfamily Marriage  Learn more about the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry Get Dr. Lee's book, HOPE IS THE FIRST DOSE  Dr. Lee Warren's website and podcast  Email us for a chance to win a hard copy of Hope Is The First Dose! blended@familylife.com Ron's list of Smart Stepfamily therapists.  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Ghosts of marriage past—triggers from past hurt that we carry into a new relationship—are common for blended family couples. But emotional ghosts don’t just appear from relationship baggage. We can be triggered by childhood wounds, grief, or other hurts that leave a residue on our heart and create hypersensitivity to getting hurt again. As a result, we guard our heart and resist vulnerability in our relationships. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Gayla Grace about how to recognize our ghosts and take responsibility to move past our fears. Ron and Gayla both share ghosts they’ve wrestled with and how to have conversations with your partner that build trust in your relationship. Show Notes and Resources Register for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry! Get your copy of The Smart Stepfamily Marriage Make a tax dedecutible donation and get a free gift! Watch Women & Blended Families on YouTube Call and leave a message with your podcast suggestions: 407-826-2606   See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

How do we help kids who are struggling with addictive behaviors? Ron Deal speaks with Dr Adrian Hickmon, who says we start by understanding the pain and void underneath their addiction, and then we must face the facts and determine the help they need. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry.  Learn about Capstone.  Watch the Brain, Heart, World documentary.  Get In Their Shoes with any gift amount!  Email us a review or a comment! blended@familylife.com See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Stepparenting myths have been around a long time, and they can negatively impact stepparents if not understood well. Although there might be some truth to them, the non-truth messages create tension and confusion for us. Ron Deal talks with Gayla Grace about how to sort through the reality and false messages of myths such as: All stepmothers are wicked and all stepfathers are abusive, stepparents can easily take on a high parental role, stepfamilies can behave as traditional families, we will love biological and stepchildren the same, and if you call them "my children," they will like being your children. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry.  Get a copy of In Their Shoes for a gift of any amount!  Check out books and resources for Blended Families!  Email us a review or a comment! blended@familylife.com See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

After losing her husband in a tragic accident, Sabrina McDonald looked forward to her young kids having a dad again. But she wasn’t prepared for the challenges that followed. Her kids felt threatened by her new spouse and competed for her attention. Her dream of being part of a family again didn’t happen quickly. And stepparenting felt awkward and unfamiliar in the beginning. In this episode, Sabrina shares her lessons of love and loss with Ron Deal and how God met her in the wilderness, showed her that brokenness didn’t mean ugliness, and encouraged her to keep going despite her fears and uncertainty about the future. Today, she rejoices to have found familyness again after remarriage. Show Notes and Resources Get your copy of A Home Built from Love & Loss. Learn about Sabrina.  Donate and receive the book: The Smart Stepdad!  Learn about The Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!  Leave us a voicemail with a review! 407-826-2606 See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Growing up blended often includes hard transitions and isolation for those involved. But Marshall West's story is different. He shares with Ron Deal the beauty of God's provision for two families coming together after loss, giving him a dad he never had and two brothers who were never considered “step.” Marshall was 12 when his mom married his stepdad, a pivotal point for him. Marshall had been praying to have brothers join his family, and his stepdad had been praying for a Mom for his two boys. Marshall credits the Lord and His goodness for bringing two broken things together and creating a family. Show Notes and Resources Get the donor premium gift!Events and resources for you.Join us for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!Watch Women and Blended Families on You Tube See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy