Connected Families Podcast

Children experience grief in all different forms. If you’re walking through grief with your kids, tune in to this grace-filled chat with our guest, Stacey Rodenbeck. Stacey, a widowed mother of two young children, shares her personal experience of grief and how she has used the Connected Families Framework to navigate parenting while grieving. The conversation covers the unique circumstances of parenting grieving children, the importance of safety and connection, and the role of coaching and accountability in parenting. Stacey’s story and insights provide valuable guidance for parents who are navigating grief while raising their children. Mentioned in this podcast: Isaiah 43:1-3 Blog post: My Child’s Loved One Died; What Do I Do Now? Transform Bedtime Struggles Into Nighttime Snuggles ebook Was this conversation helpful to you? Share it with a friend, and rate and review the show on your favorite listening platform! Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Bridge the Gap! Donate to Connected Families by March 31st to make a meaningful impact for families in the coming year! Guest Bio: Stacey Rodenbeck is the widowed mother of Susan (almost 5) and Chris (3.5). The Rodenbecks live in Central Arkansas, where Stacey is employed as an Associate Professor of Biology at Harding University. Since the death of her husband in 2020, Stacey has focused on developing a robust relationship with her children that positions the three of them to operate as a team. They enjoy cooking and baking together as a family, reading aloud, and hiking, and they have recently delved into playing board games together. (Candyland is the family favorite right now!) Stacey is thankful to God for the new mercies of each new morning as she seeks to guide her children and fully embrace the people God created them to be. Transform Bedtime Struggles into Nighttime Snuggles Transform Bedtime Struggles into Nighttime Snuggles If bedtime feels like a battle zone, it’s time to change. This short and FREE ebook empowers you to transform the bedtime routine.

If your child has serious doubts or has walked away from their faith, it can be scary. Together with parent coaches Bonnie Williams and Chad Hayenga, we explore parenting through a child’s spiritual doubts or unbelief. Chad and Bonnie share the importance of fostering open dialogue through thoughtful questions and building a foundation of connection, emotional safety, and unconditional love. Tune in to this heartfelt discussion to equip yourself with the knowledge and encouragement needed to support your child’s faith journey, acknowledging that their doubts or unbelief can be an essential part of developing a resilient and personal faith. (Note: The use of “they/them” language is related to privacy, not identity.) Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Partnership Program Parent Coach Certification Program Power of Questions online course Ephesians 3:18-19 Luke 15:17 Bridge the Gap – Donate to support Connected Families today! Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Guest Bio: Bonnie Williams has a Master of Education in Special Education and is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. She is a wife and the mother of 3 young adults. Bonnie has supported students with learning and behavior challenges for over 25 years, specializing in working with parents with children ages 3 to 15. Helping families apply the Connected Families Framework is what Bonnie is passionate about. By doing this they can learn new strategies to grow in wisdom and help lead them in having peaceful, grace-filled homes. You can reach her by email at newpathways65@gmail.com. Less arguing. More wisdom. That’s what you get with the Power of Questions online course. $35 LEARN MORE

If your kids’ bickering ever drives you bonkers, you’ll want to hear this fresh perspective with our guest and certified parent coach, Megan Thorp. Stacy and Megan unpack the Connected Families’ approach to transform kids’ arguments into opportunities to build lifelong skills. You’ll learn the four-step process to help bring peace to your home and guide your kids toward true reconciliation. Mentioned in this podcast: Calming for Parents Free PDF Calming for Kids Free PDF Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches The Peace Process Diagram Ep 140 | Restoring Relationships: Empowering Kids to Want to Reconcile and Heal Ep 110 | Why “Calm Down!” Doesn’t Work Sibling Conflict online course Power of Questions online course Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Your donation fuels our work! Make a donation to Connected Families today. Guest Bio: Megan is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach as well as an instructor for coaches in training. She and her husband have been married for 18 years and have 3 kids. Megan loves to come alongside parents to help them gain confidence and equip them to lead their families. She is passionate about parents creating an environment in their home where everyone feels valued and connected and equipping parents with skills to build a relationship with their kids that will last long after they leave home. Seeing misbehavior and especially sibling conflict as a golden opportunity to show Christ’s love and disciple her kids has been a game changer for her in her parenting. You can connect with her for coaching at meganlthorp@gmail.com. Do you want more peace at home? And for your kids to enjoy each other? And to reconcile when they hurt each other? If peace is your goal, take the Sibling Conflict online course. LEARN MORE

Dive into the trials and triumphs of parenting teens with CF Certified Parent Coaches, Katie Wetsell and Julia Rupp and our host, Stacy Bellward. They examine teen anxiety, independence, and the art of calm communication. They also unpack ways to stay available and connected through teen struggles, especially with a sensitive or intense child. We know this conversation will encourage you to parent your teens with wisdom and hope. (Note: Stories are shared with permission from their teens, and the use of “they/them” language is related to privacy, not identity.)  Mentioned in this podcast: Carlie Dorsey, OT and Owner of Motorvate Kids in Murrell’s Inlet, SC Calming Strategies For Parents PDF Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – 30% off! Ep 153: A Circle Of Support: What Can a Mentor Do for a Child? Ephesians 6:4 Romans 5:8 Research cited by Katie Wetsell: When is Parental Monitoring Effective? Parenting Styles or Practices? Parenting, Sympathy, and Prosocial Behaviors Among Adolescents The role of relatedness: Applying a developmental-relational view of compassion in adolescence Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with a friend! Or take a minute to rate and review our show. Your donation fuels our work! Donate to Connected Families today. Guest Bio: Julia Rupp is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. They experienced a significant breakthrough in their parenting while partnering with a Connected Families coach and utilizing the parenting Framework. Because of the incredible impact that Connected Families made in their lives, Julia now desires to walk alongside other families and equip them with perspective and tools so that they might experience that same change and restored hope. Whether you are struggling with toddler meltdowns or teenage rebellion, she would love to encourage you. You can find her at Always Hope Parent Coaching. Katie Wetsell is the Connected Families online course moderator. She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, pediatric nurse, and mom of four through birth and adoption. She is passionate about encouraging and empowering parents to love their families with confidence and connection. Building on her bedside experience, she has also been trained in SPACE treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to help parents support their children in overcoming anxiety. Her website is www.parentwithhope.org. Do you have a child with EXTRA needs? Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder. The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos. LEARN MORE

Listen in as Stacy talks with Julia Rupp and Katie Wetsell (Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches) about strategies you can use to calm yourself in emotionally charged situations with your kids. Whether you’ve already blown it and need to repair, or you’re trying to proactively remain calm, this conversation offers practical ideas to pause and reset so you can parent with wisdom and grace. The way we show up matters so much, so we’re offering a FREE PDF with all 14 calming strategies you can post as a visual reminder for when you need it most. Mentioned in this podcast: Calming Strategies For Parents PDF Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – 30% off! Galatians 6:9 Hebrews 12 Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with a friend! Or take a minute to rate and review our show. Your donation fuels our work! Donate to Connected Families today. Guest bio: Julia Rupp is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. They experienced a significant breakthrough in their parenting while partnering with a Connected Families coach and utilizing the parenting Framework. Because of the incredible impact that Connected Families made in their lives, Julia now desires to walk alongside other families and equip them with perspective and tools so that they might experience that same change and restored hope. Whether you are struggling with toddler meltdowns or teenage rebellion, she would love to encourage you. You can find her at Always Hope Parent Coaching. Katie Wetsell is the Connected Families online course moderator. She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, pediatric nurse, and mom of four through birth and adoption. She is passionate about encouraging and empowering parents to love their families with confidence and connection. Building on her bedside experience, she has also been trained in SPACE treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to help parents support their children in overcoming anxiety. Her website is www.parentwithhope.org. Do you have a child with BIG feelings and BIG needs? The Sensitive & Intense Kids online course is a game changer. It’s for YOU. LEARN MORE

In this episode on calming for kids, Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) talk with Stacy about what role parents play in helping their kids calm down. This conversation especially has sensitive or intense kids in mind, and the principles shared are paired with practical examples and stories from parents who’ve tested the ideas. Plus, we’ve got a free PDF for you: 50 Calming Activities (with ideas for engaging each of the senses). Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – 30% off! 50 Calming Activities PDF Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with a friend, and leave us a review! Your donation fuels our work! Donate to Connected Families today. Do you have a child with BIG feelings and BIG needs? The Sensitive & Intense Kids online course is a game changer. It’s for YOU. LEARN MORE

Listen in as Stacy chats with parent coaches Jarrett & Luisa Wendt about the parenting course that has equipped them to understand and help their sensitive children. In today’s episode, Jarrett & Luisa Wendt (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) talk with our host, Stacy Bellward, about the daily meltdowns, sleep issues, stress, and discouragement their family has experienced. Then, they share how they found hope and healing through the Sensitive & Intense Kids online course. Jarrett & Luisa discuss the tools they’ve learned to help their kids regulate and how they’re sustaining positive progress. If you have a sensitive or intense child, you’ll be encouraged by their story and inspired by their persistence to build a safe, connected family with Christ as the foundation. Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – 30% off! Rocks in the Backpack video Rocks in the Backpack PDF Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Your donation fuels our work! Donate to Connected Families today. Guest Bio: Jarrett and Luisa Wendt are Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches. They have a beautiful family of six children, three in Heaven and three on Earth. Two of their precious children were born into their family through adoption. During a very challenging season, Connected Families led them (and continues to lead them) toward hope, grace, and truth. Together, they have a ministry called Built on Rock Parent Coaching which was born out of the deep desire to pass on that same hope, grace, and truth to as many families as God leads them to! Luisa was joyfully promoted to becoming a stay-at-home Mom after more than a decade of teaching music in the classroom, while Jarrett serves the church in theology and pastoral ministry. For more about their story, ministry, and cute photos, head to their website: www.builtonrockparentcoaching.org Do you have a child with EXTRA needs? Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder. The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos. LEARN MORE

In today’s episode, parent coaches Lynne Jackson and Lydia Rex answer questions from parents about sensitive and intense kids. We’re excited to share another Q & A conversation with you today. The new questions came straight from parents in the CF community, and you’ll likely relate to the scenarios. Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) offer answers and suggestions based on their combined experiences in occupational therapy, nursing, coaching, and parenting their own sensitive and intense kids. You’ll gain insight into your child and find realistic suggestions for challenging situations. And, as always, you’ll receive God’s grace and truth for you and your child. Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – 30% off! Rocks in the Backpack PDF Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Your donation fuels our work! Donate to Connected Families today. Do you have a child with BIG feelings and BIG needs? The Sensitive & Intense Kids online course is a game changer. It’s for YOU. LEARN MORE

Listen as parent coach Lydia Rex shares about building hope and strength for parenting when you’re feeling discouraged. In this episode, Stacy and Lydia discuss current factors that contribute to overwhelm in parents. Lydia goes on to offer strategies that can help you overcome challenges and experience freedom on difficult days or in the midst of trying seasons. We know you’ll find hope and practical ideas as she shares relatable parenting moments from her life as a mom and parent coach. Today’s conversation is based on a workshop given at a recent Connected Families Parent Summit hosted in our home state of Minnesota. In the next few months, we’ll share content from all of the Parent Summit workshops, so stay tuned! Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting. Your donation fuels our work! Donate to Connected Families today. Mentioned in this podcast: FREE downloadable and printable PDF self-coaching worksheet to help you move from discouragement to freedom. Ep 158 with Mandy Arioto Do you have a child with BIG feelings and BIG needs? The Sensitive & Intense Kids online course is a game changer. It’s for YOU. LEARN MORE

Have you ever been perplexed by the intensity of your child’s big emotions or the frequency of their anger? You really want to help your child! But it can feel confusing and overwhelming, and you may even unintentionally spark more anger. It’s likely that your child’s anger is protecting some softer emotions, such as feeling anxious, alone, or discouraged. Listen to this podcast to gain insight and practical tools to help your child understand and work through their anger! In this podcast, Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder and Occupational Therapist) and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and RN) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about anger and anxiety in children. Drawing on their experience supporting families, Lynne and Lydia share how you can look beneath your child’s anger to get out of a stress cycle and into a healing pattern. Other popular Connected Families podcasts in 2023 Episode 121: Teaching Kids the Framework In this podcast, Jim and Lynne Jackson (co-founders of Connected Families) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss ways parents can model and teach each principle of the Framework: Foundation, Connect, Coach, Correct. This podcast includes a downloadable, 5-session mini curriculum developed by Jim and Lynne to help teach the Framework to children in interactive and hands-on ways. Episode 122: How To Know If Your Child Needs a Diagnosis or Extra Support All children go through more challenging developmental seasons, but some children are wired differently altogether, also known as neurodiverse. These kids often benefit from the understanding and support of professionals. In this episode, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) and Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) are joined by Mandy Cuda, MD. Listen in on a profound conversation to help parents navigate the choice to seek a diagnosis or support for a struggling child. Episode 123: Advocating for Your Sensitive or Neurodiverse Child Communicating with teachers, coaches, and other adults about how to support your sensitive or neurodiverse child may feel difficult to navigate, but thankfully, other parents have also walked that journey and have some practical wisdom to share. In this podcast, Marni Love (former public school teacher, home educator, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) and Taylor Irby (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to share their experiences about advocating for a sensitive child. Taylor and Marni offer practical ideas to empower you so your child can receive the support they need in any environment. Episode 124: Empowering Your Differently Wired Child Do you have a child who is wired differently? You’ve probably felt frustrated or discouraged at times about how to support your child through daily routines or going to school. Knowing what your child needs and offering that at the right time may be challenging. In this podcast episode, Katie Wetsell and Corrie Thetford (Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about empowering your uniquely and wonderfully wired child. Do you have a child with EXTRA needs? Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder. The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos. LEARN MORE