163: Cutting the Tension: Building Trust Between a Stepmom and Stepdaughter
The stepmom-stepdaughter relationship often includes competing loyalties and confusing dynamics and can be the hardest relationship to navigate when blending a family. Ron Deal talks with stepmom Jessica Pickens and her bonus daughter, Jayla, about their ongoing struggles, cutting through tension, which began early and continued for years, and how they finally built a loving, trusting relationship with one another. Jayla explains how her position as a “Daddy’s girl” and her relationship with her own mother impacted her desire for a bonus mom. She didn’t respond well to Jessica’s nurturing, and tension escalated as she got older. In time, Jessica began to understand the complexity of their relationship, change her expectations, and parent Jayla differently. Slowly, their relationship moved toward understanding and love toward one another. Show Notes and Resources New To Our Community? Here's a gift for you! Watch Women & Blended Families on YouTube Learn about Jessica and Blended Family Matters and their podcast Jessica and Jayla's podcast with Ron. Give a tax-deductible gift. Check out Ron's events. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
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53:05
162: One Family's Journey to Blended Unity: Looking Back to the Teenage Years
Tim and Olivia Smith brought six kids into their blended family in 1997. In their conversation with Ron Deal, they share the joys and challenges of melding together two families, how to encourage relationship building between siblings, and how stepparents can move from a place of isolation to a place of belonging in a stepfamily. Tim’s daughter, Christie, joins the conversation with her perspective as a teenager from the early years of their blended family. Although the stepmom—stepdaughter relationship is often the hardest to connect, Christie shares how Olivia’s small actions of moving toward her and allowing her to engage at her own pace created a loving, long-lasting relationship that she treasures today as an adult. Show Notes and Resources Get a copy of The Mindful Marriage. Get your copy of Blending-100 Day Guide for Step-Parents. Learn about Blended Not Broken Get our monthly newsletter See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
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55:12
161: Growing Up Blended, and Navigating the Maze to Build Strong Blended Bonds
Robert and Jennie Lord both grew up in blended families. They share their stories with Ron Deal about the residue left behind from the maze of parental divorce, multiple stepparents, challenges in relationship building, unwanted transitions, and ongoing instability. They’ve sought healing from those experiences and now want to share what they’ve learned with others. Married with a family of their own, they are committed to their marriage and want to provide an upbringing for their children that is vastly different than what they experienced. They teach and model a life built on faith and seek to provide stability and build strong bonds with their children. Show Notes and Resources Get the Blended & Blesses All-Access Digital Pass Blended resources for you! Learn more about Chosen and the work that Jenni does. Get a copy of The Mindful Marriage. Support FamilyLife Blended with a gift. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
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42:10
160 From Shame to Strength: A Single Mom's Journey to Healing and Hope
Jennifer Maggio shares her story with Ron Deal of her challenges as a single mom that propelled her to begin a national ministry, serving over 1,000,000 single moms. Now married in a blended family, she continues the mission that no single mom walk alone. Show Notes and Resources You can still register for Blended & Blessed! Learn more about Jennifer Maggio and her ministry. Get a copy of the book, Preparing to Blend. Support FamilyLife Blended with a gift. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
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42:40
159 The 3-Step Guide to Navigating Hard Feelings in Your Blended Family
What do you do with feelings like anger, jealousy, hurt, or rejection in your blended family? Listen to Ron Deal’s conversation with Dr. Alison Cook, who offers a three-step process to work through hard feelings and find healing and hope for your journey. Show Notes and Resources Register for Blended & Blessed Look for blended ministries and events in your area. Learn about Dr. Alison, get her books, and listen to her podcast. Listen to the show on grief with Diane Fromme Support FamilyLife Blended with a gift. Blended resources See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
FamilyLife Blended® provides timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families and those who love them. Join Ron L. Deal, LMFT, LPC as he and his guests discuss a wide variety of marriage, family, and relationship topics related to blended families.
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