Resources

Episode 215. Does Your Relationship Feel Hopeless? Why Giving Up Might Not Be the Answer

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Episode 155. How to Easily Enjoy Meaningful Conversations and More Connection with Your Spouse [with Jennifer Zumbiel]

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Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call

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In this important episode, we’re talking to the spouse who feels stuck, discouraged, or even ready to throw in the towel. We get it. We’ve been there too.

We’re diving into a powerful resource: Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, Loving Your Spouse When You Feel Like Walking Away. We’ll unpack four painful myths that keep couples stuck and explore six powerful “realities” that can spark real change, starting with you. And yes, we’re sharing our own story of how we nearly gave up, what we did instead, and why we’re so thankful we didn’t walk away.

Whether you’re barely hanging on or just in a tough season, this episode is filled with vulnerability, truth, encouragement, and hope. We hope you know you’re not alone, and there is a path forward.

You'll Discover:

• Four common myths that keep couples stuck, feeling hopeless in their relationship
• Six powerful realities that can shift your mindset and help you move forward
• Why shifting your own attitudes and actions is the key to influencing your relationship
• How “reality living” helped us break destructive patterns in our marriage
• The difference between giving up and letting go with peace and clarity

Resources from this Episode:

• Loving Your Spouse When You Feel Like Walking Away by Gary Chapman
• Episode 138. How Relational Dysfunction Plagued Our Marriage and How We Finally Broke Free
• Episode 202. How to Break Free From Painful Cycles and Enjoy Deeper Levels of Intimacy [with Ron and Nan Deal]
• Episode 200. A Heart-to-Heart Conversation Exploring the Secrets to Lasting Love
• Episode 190. Where can you turn for help? Understand the Difference Between Counseling and Coaching
• Episode 65. 6 Simple Steps for Inviting Your Spouse to Get Help with You
• Episode 147. Do Sensitive Conversations End Up Creating Conflict in Your Relationship?
• Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences (The Stranded Stranger & Trapped Teammate Dynamic)
• Episode 120. 3 Valuable Lessons That Saved Our Marriage and Blended Family
• Episode 101. Are you overwhelmed because your marriage feels like too much work? (Part 1 of 2)
• Episode 51. Overcoming Discouragement (Part 1 of 3)

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession

Resources

Episode 214. Does Permissive Parenting Help or Hurt? Discover How to Know and Grow

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman

Love and Logic Parenting Method - Love and Logic is a research-driven, whole-child philosophy founded in 1977. This authoritative approach is used by parents and leading educators worldwide.

Episode 184. The Heart of Motherhood: Navigating Messy Moments with Empathy and Love

Episode 187. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 1 of 2)

Episode 205. 4 Facets of Parenting: What Bio Parents Need to Know to Achieve Best Outcomes (Part 2 of 2)

Episode 168. Actionable Steps for Helping Kids Navigate Through Difficult Emotions and Problem Solve

Episode 172. 2 Key Elements to Resolve Your Parenting Style Differences - And Get United

Episode 124. How to Effectively Parent Through Each Stage of Development - And Reduce Painful Interactions (Part 1 of 2)

Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question

Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know!

We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call

Subscribe or Follow the Show

Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Click here to follow on Spotify

Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts

If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

In this episode, we're getting real about something that so many blended family parents struggle with: permissive parenting driven by guilt, fear, or insecurity.

Kim opens up about her personal journey as a single mom, how her guilt and fear led her to parent from a place of pity, and how that impacted her daughter, Annika.

We’re also diving into the difference between pity and empathy and how embracing authoritative parenting—rooted in love and limits—can shift everything for your family.

Whether you're a parent stuck in emotional reactivity or a stepparent struggling to support your spouse, this episode is packed with encouragement, practical insight, and next steps to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

You'll Discover:

• The surprising ways guilt, fear, and insecurity can lead to permissive parenting and the negative impact on kids
• How pity and empathy differ and why it matters for your child’s development
• What authoritative parenting looks like and why it's the most healthy and effective style
• Real-life examples of how blended family dynamics impact parenting decisions and often create stress
• How to begin shifting your mindset and reclaiming your parental authority so that you can be the kind of leader your kids really need

Resources from this Episode:

• CLICK HERE to continue learning and growing in your parenting journey
• Parenting Style Quiz: What's Your Parenting Style?
• Episode 99. 3 Tips to Help You Move Beyond Painful Guilt and Regret
• Episode 179. Conquer Fear and Embrace Your Blend with Confidence and Clarity
• Episode 180. Break Free from Guilt and Blend with Authenticity and Security
• Episode 209. Breaking Free from Self-Doubt: 5 Habits to Build Confidence and Trust in Yourself
• Episode 189. Bring Hope to the Realities of Grief: A Path to Understanding and Healing [with Krista St-Germain]
• Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal & Gary Chapman

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession

Subscribe or Follow the Show

Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Click here to follow on Spotify

Resource

Episode 213. Discover How to Better Understand and Connect with Children of Divorce [with Lauren Reitsema]

Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question

Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know!

We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call

Subscribe or Follow the Show

Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you to do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Click here to follow on Spotify

Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts

If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

What a privilege to have Lauren Reitsema back on the show to dive deeper into how we can authentically bond and connect with kids who are navigating divorce and blended family dynamics.

Lauren’s passion for relationship skills began in middle school after her parents' divorce, leading her to pursue Communication Studies at TCU. She’s the author of In Their Shoes, helping parents connect with children of divorce, and Relationship Essentials, which offers tools for healthy communication and boundaries.

For over 15 years, Lauren has taught relationship skills to teens, adults, and professionals. As President of The Center for Relationship Education in Denver, she inspires others to value and invest in their most important relationships.

Lauren vulnerably shares from her own journey as a child of divorce and blending, offering practical guidance and real encouragement for both bio and step parents.

We explore why it’s critical to understand the identity crisis many kids face, lean into hard emotions like grief, and the power of empathy and patience to lower resistance and build genuine, lasting connections.

Join us as we unpack Lauren's wisdom. It's truly a game-changer for every blended family.

You'll Discover:

• The impact of broken family identity and why kids struggle to accept changing family dynamics
• Strategies for step-parents to manage rejection and disappointment with patience and perseverance.
• The critical difference between seeking compliance versus nurturing an authentic connection.
• How embracing the struggle rather than avoiding it can lead to transformative growth and healing.
• How to create and craft a relationship with your stepchild as you go, without expectation, while honoring the child's pace.

Resources from this Episode:

• In Their Shoes by Lauren Reitsema
• Episode 40. Uncover the Unspoken Feeling of Kids in Blended Families [Special Resource: In Their Shoes]
• Relationship Essentials by Lauren Reitsema and Joneen Mackenzie
• To connect with Lauren: lauren@myrelationshipcenter.org
• Past episodes with Lauren:
  • Episode 173. Expert Guidance for Holiday Success
  • Episode 161. How to Healthy Parent/Child Roles Help Avoid the Pitfalls of Parentification?
  • Episode 172. How do Healthy Step-Parent/Step-Child Dynamics Avoid the Pitfalls of Step-Parentification?

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession

Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question

Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know!

We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call

Subscribe or Follow the Show

Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Click here to follow on Spotify

Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts

If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

In this episode, we’re tackling one of the most emotionally charged challenges for blended families: navigating co-parenting dynamics and negotiating with an ex-spouse.

Whether things are civil or you’re experiencing high levels of tension, we share the three strategies that have changed everything for us and for the couples we coach — Clarity, Communication, and Consistency.

We'll share what’s worked (and what hasn’t), including stories from our co-parenting journey. You’ll hear how Kim learned to lead with respect, even when she felt disrespected, and how we helped one couple shift from chaos to calm by gaining clarity in the values and expectations of their own home.

If you’re ready to show up with more confidence, reduce co-parenting conflict, and build influence, this conversation is for you. You'll gain hope, practical tools, and encouragement.

You'll Discover:

• Why clarity in your home's values gives you confidence during tough conversations with an ex
• The unexpected power of respectful communication (even when it’s one-sided)
• How consistency in your tone and with your boundaries helps to build trust and increase your influence
• Actionable steps and communication tips to manage disagreements between you and your ex
• Why your kids’ emotional security starts with how you show up, not how your ex does

Resources from this Episode:

• CLICK HERE to continue learning how you can improve your co-parenting relationship

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession