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  • Your Angry Child Needs a Plan, Not a Perfect Parent

    Your Angry Child Needs a Plan, Not a Perfect Parent
    2026/08/31
    New Course Now Available: Find Confidence in Crisis Today! If you have an angry child whose aggressive behaviors keep surfacing, it can be hard to know how to respond with both steadiness and care. In part two of this conversation, guest host Chad Hayenga is joined again by Connected Families coaches Lydia Rex and Katie Wetsell to offer practical support for parents navigating these kinds of behaviors. They explore how a thoughtful plan can help you respond rather than react. This includes inviting trusted supporters into your family’s care, recognizing early signs of stress, and adjusting for the right level of engagement. You’ll hear why calming your child’s nervous system comes before teaching, why practicing skills during low-stress moments matters, and how celebrating small signs of growth builds hope over time. If aggression is a frequent challenge in your home, the new Confidence in Crisis: Navigating Aggressive Behaviors mini-course was created to support you. For $28, Lydia and Katie guide you through a practical, faith-filled process that integrates the Connected Families Framework™, Trust-Based Relational Intervention®, and Nonviolent Resistance. You’ll create a personalized safety plan, learn research-informed strategies for difficult moments, and gain confidence that God can meet your family with grace and wisdom through hard things. Key Takeaways: Why inviting trusted supporters into your child’s growth can bring care, accountability, and connectionLearn about the four levels of engagementWhy practicing a plan in low-stress moments prepares your family for harder onesHow noticing and affirming even small steps of growth can strengthen new skills over time Mentioned in this Podcast: Confidence in Crisis online course NEW!Connected Families Parent CoachingABC’s of Affirmation – Blog Post – Are You Unintentionally Encouraging Bad Behavior? Here’s How to Switch ThatThe Table Monthly Giving ProgramGalatians 6:9Psalm 46:1 Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Lydia Rex is the Director of Family Support for Bien Aimé (bee-ehn eh-MAY) Farm, where she works with families who have adopted children. She is a registered nurse, Connected Families certified parent coach, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner, and co-hosted the Sensitive and Intense Kids online course with Lynne Jackson. No stranger to the challenges of the parenting journey, Lydia offers empathy, encouragement, and a deep commitment to walking alongside parents through the Connected Families Framework. It’s her joy to see God’s grace healing the hearts of parents and children. Lydia, her husband Kyle, and their two kids live in Minnesota, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books. You can learn more about Lydia’s work at Bien Aimé Farm and get in touch at bienaimefarm.org. Katie Wetsell has always had a calling on her heart to care for children. She has worked as a pediatric oncology nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. After experiencing the benefits of parent coaching through Connected Families, Katie later resigned from nursing and became a Certified Parent Coach. She and her husband have four children (three boys and a girl) through birth and adoption. Katie is also trained in SPACE, an adaptation of Nonviolent Resistance, that helps parents learn how to support their children struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. You can learn more about Katie at parentwithhope.org, and on Facebook @parentwithhopecoach and Instagram @parentwithhopecoach. Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! © 2026 Connected Families When big behaviors feel scary, you have real hope. In this mini-course, you’ll be equipped to handle aggressive behaviors with grace, confidence, and wisdom. Using practical, evidence-based tools alongside the Connected Families Framework™, you’ll come away with a personalized safety plan and the deep reassurance that God has equipped you for this. Get Equipped Today
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    27 分
  • Where to Begin with Your Child’s Aggressive Behavior

    Where to Begin with Your Child’s Aggressive Behavior
    2026/08/26
    New Course Now Available: Find Confidence in Crisis Today! When a child’s aggressive behavior fills your home, it can stir up intense feelings in you, too. In this mini-episode, Stacy Bellward, and Certified Parent Coaches Katie Johnson and Amy Nyvall offer a grace-filled starting point for parents facing intense emotional moments at home. Hear a hopeful perspective on what may be happening beneath a child’s anger. You’ll also find practical ways to prepare your own heart and body so you can bring greater calm, connection, and wisdom into difficult moments. Listen for practical encouragement rooted in God’s grace and the Connected Families Framework™. Key Takeaways: How to identify your own physical signs of stressHow empathy can build safety and connection before correctionWhy small micro shifts in your response can shape a difficult momentEncouragement for looking beneath your child’s aggressive anger Mentioned in this Podcast: cf communityConfidence in Crisis: Navigating Aggressive Behaviors online courseProverbs 18:10The Table Monthly Giving Program Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Amy Nyvall is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach who lives near Portland, Oregon, where she homeschools her kids ages 14,11, and 9 and leads a vibrant Charlotte Mason Education Community and Co-op. Contact Amy at amynyvall@gmail.com or learn more about her here. Amy is available for coaching and speaking on the Connected Families Framework. You can even find her contributing to events on the CF Community in Mighty so you can interact with her there too. Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! © 2026 Connected Families When big behaviors feel scary, you have real hope. In this mini-course, you’ll be equipped to handle aggressive behaviors with grace, confidence, and wisdom. Using practical, evidence-based tools alongside the Connected Families Framework™, you’ll come away with a personalized safety plan and the deep reassurance that God has equipped you for this. Get Equipped Today
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    19 分
  • When Your Child Hits You: Finding Calm in the Chaos

    When Your Child Hits You: Finding Calm in the Chaos
    2026/08/24
    New Course Now Available: Find Confidence in Crisis Today! When your child hits you, kicks you, or says something that takes your breath away, and a single thought takes over: I have to make this stop. In this honest conversation, host Chad Hayenga sits down with coaches Lydia Rex and Katie Wetsell to explore what’s really happening beneath a child’s aggressive behavior, and why the goal isn’t to fix it magically, but to become the steady, faith-filled presence your child needs in their hardest moments. What they share might just change the way you show up on the car ride home. If this conversation hits home for you, there’s a next step made for exactly this. Lydia and Katie built a brand-new mini course, Confidence in the Crisis: Navigating Aggressive Behaviors, for parents who feel shaken by their child’s big behaviors. For just $28, they walk alongside you, weaving the Connected Families Framework™ together with Trust-Based Relational Intervention® and Nonviolent Resistance into one practical, faith-filled experience. You’ll leave with a personalized safety plan for your family, evidence-based strategies you can use right away, and deeper trust that God has equipped you for this very moment. With a plan, what once felt unsettling can become an opportunity to anchor your family in faith and grow closer through the hard things. Key Takeaways: What aggression really is, and the deeper emotions often driving itThe physical and brain-body factors parents often overlook: sleep, nutrition, neurodivergence, pain, and moreWhy the Connected Families Framework still applies, even when bigger struggles are at playHow to move from “I have to make this behavior stop” to “God has equipped me for this moment” Mentioned in this Podcast: Confidence in Crisis online course NEW!2 Timothy 1:7 Malachi 4:2 Psalm 4:4 Blog Post – Why Is My Child So Angry? The #1 Unexpected Reason & Practical Steps to TakeThe Table Monthly Giving Program Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Lydia Rex is the Director of Family Support for Bien Aimé (bee-ehn eh-MAY) Farm, where she works with families who have adopted children. She is a registered nurse, Connected Families certified parent coach, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner, and co-hosted the Sensitive and Intense Kids online course with Lynne Jackson. No stranger to the challenges of the parenting journey, Lydia offers empathy, encouragement, and a deep commitment to walking alongside parents through the Connected Families Framework. It’s her joy to see God’s grace healing the hearts of parents and children. Lydia, her husband Kyle, and their two kids live in Minnesota, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books. You can learn more about Lydia’s work at Bien Aimé Farm and get in touch at bienaimefarm.org. Katie Wetsell has always had a calling on her heart to care for children. She has worked as a pediatric oncology nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. After experiencing the benefits of parent coaching through Connected Families, Katie later resigned from nursing and became a Certified Parent Coach. She and her husband have four children (three boys and a girl) through birth and adoption. Katie is also trained in SPACE, an adaptation of Non Violent Resistance, that helps parents learn how to support their children struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. You can learn more about Katie at parentwithhope.org, and on Facebook @parentwithhopecoach and Instagram @parentwithhopecoach. Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! © 2026 Connected Families When big behaviors feel scary, you have real hope. In this mini-course, you’ll be equipped to handle aggressive behaviors with grace, confidence, and wisdom. Using practical, evidence-based tools alongside the Connected Families Framework™, you’ll come away with a personalized safety plan and the deep reassurance that God has equipped you for this. Get Equipped Today
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    28 分
  • Where to Find Parenting Support That Actually Helps

    Where to Find Parenting Support That Actually Helps
    2026/08/17
    Ready to start a small group this Fall? Explore Connected Families small groups here. The best parenting support often comes from something simple: walking alongside one another instead of carrying the hard moments on our own. That’s the heart of today’s conversation, as host Stacy Bellward sits down with Dr. Cindy Wilson (Director of Education, Equipping, and Research) and Lori Menekheim (Ministry Partnership Manager) to explore why growing in community makes such a difference. Whether you’re a parent craving encouragement, a friend wanting to gather a few neighbors, or a church leader hoping to support families well, there’s something here for you. Much of that community can grow through Connected Families small groups, and Cindy and Lori make the case for why this Fall is the time to start one. Along the way, they share their own journeys, share a story of one group’s transformation, and practical answers about the courses, registration, and the support leaders receive. And if the thought of leading makes you nervous, they have good news: perfection isn’t the point. Transparency and a willingness to grow together are. As Fall approaches, consider whether God might be nudging you to gather a few parents and grow in grace, wisdom, and confidence together. Listen to the full episode for the encouragement and next steps to get started. Key Takeaways: Growth happens best in community, and walking alongside other parents builds wisdom, peace, and confidence on the hard daysYou don’t have to be an expert to lead. Your honest, imperfect moments are often what free others to growPractical tips for starting a group of your own, from choosing a course to the support leaders receive from Connected Families Mentioned in this Podcast: Connected Families Small GroupsConnected Families Certified Parent Coach Training ProgramMinistry Partnership ProgramVirtual Small Groups Hosted by CF CoachesThe Table Monthly Giving Programcf community Membership Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Cindy Wilson is a CF-Certified Parent Coach and a Certified Family Life Educator with 20+ years in children & family ministry and academia. As Director of Education, Equipping, and Research for CF, she helps churches, schools, and other organizations use CF resources to equip and support families in their community. She is also helping collect data to show the impact of CF resources on parents and families. Cindy lives in Florida with her husband of over 30 years. She has three adult children, one son-in-law, four grandchildren, and a farm full of animals. Lori Menikheim is a wife, mom of two strong-willed teenage girls, and Kids Ministry leader with over 15 years of experience. She is CF’s new Ministry Partnership Program Director, where she helps churches, schools, and other Christian organizations use CF resources to equip and support parents in their communities. When she discovered Connected Families, she finally found the language, tools, and hope to parent well and lead ministry well. Now she loves connecting with parents and ministry leaders who want to partner with God in reaching the next generation. Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! © 2026 Connected Families Ready to bring parents together? Start a small group in your home, church, or community. Browse Small Group Courses
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    31 分
  • What to Do About Bad Grades on Your Child's Report Card (Without Nagging)

    What to Do About Bad Grades on Your Child's Report Card (Without Nagging)
    2026/08/10

    Have you ever felt like your child just doesn’t care about their bad grades on their report card, no matter how much you push, remind, or worry? In this audioblog, adapted from two of our blog posts, guest host Chad Hayenga closes out our four-week back-to-school series with one of the most freeing questions a parent can ask: “Whose problem is it, really?” Discover why pushing harder often backfires, how the 4 messages of the Connected Families Framework™ can break the anxiety-nagging cycle, and how to trade the role of manager for the hopeful role of mentor.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Discover the “anxiety-nagging cycle”
    • Learn how the 4 messages of the Connected Families Framework can breathe life back into a relationship strained by report-card tension
    • Learn one simple question to ask yourself to free yourself to become your child’s encourager instead of manager

    Mentioned in this Podcast:

    • Blog Post – Your Child’s Grades Don’t Matter (To You)
    • Blog Post – Whose Problem Is It? Teaching Kids Responsibility
    • Ep. 311 – Toddler Separation Anxiety: Why Does My Toddler Cry at Drop-Off?
    • Connected Families Parenting Coaching
    • The Table Monthly Giving Program
    • Matthew 12:34
    • Philippians 3:3-4
    • Galatians 6:7

    Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

    Want to keep this conversation going?

    Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

    👉 Join the cf community today

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

    This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

    © 2026 Connected Families
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    21 分
  • Back-to-School Season: When "I Hate You" Rides Home from Pickup

    Back-to-School Season: When "I Hate You" Rides Home from Pickup
    2026/08/05

    “I hate you!” When those words fly on the ride home after school, it’s easy to feel stuck. In this back-to-school season mini episode, host Stacy Bellward pulls back the curtain on a live cf community group coaching call, where Certified Parent Coaches Katie Johnson and Pam Bjerke work through one of the most common back-to-school challenges parents face. Get a taste of how walking a real parenting question through the Connected Families Framework™ can shift your whole perspective.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Why your child’s behavior is a message, not the whole story.
    • How to model and offer language that honors others while staying true to how your child really feels.
    • What changes when you meet a hard moment with empathy and curiosity before correction.
    Mentioned in this Podcast:
    • Join – cf community
    • Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart Online Course
    • Sensitive & Intense Kids Online Course
    • Pam Bjerke – Connected Families Certified Parent Coach
    • The Table Monthly Giving Program

    Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

    Guest Bio:

    As a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, Pam Bjerke brings warmth, wisdom, and practical insight to every audience she serves. With experience speaking to diverse groups across the U.S., Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, she has led workshops and trainings for moms’ groups, adoptive and foster parents, trafficking survivors, schools, churches, teachers, and more, at both online and in-person events. Her goal is always the same: to offer grace-filled messages and actionable strategies grounded in the Connected Families Framework™ that participants can immediately apply at home or in the classroom. Pam is a licensed early childhood teacher and has training in TBRI, Conscious Discipline, and Interplay Play Therapy. She holds a certification in ARC Trauma Treatment for Children and Adolescents.

    Want to keep this conversation going?

    Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

    👉 Join the cf community today

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

    This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

    © 2026 Connected Families
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    14 分
  • Toddler Separation Anxiety: Why Does My Toddler Cry at Drop-Off?

    Toddler Separation Anxiety: Why Does My Toddler Cry at Drop-Off?
    2026/08/03

    Those tearful drop-offs at preschool can leave any parent feeling shaken or unsure of what to do next. In this episode, host Stacy Bellward reads one of our most popular blog posts as an audioblog, exploring what’s really happening beneath the surface of separation anxiety.

    If you’ve ever navigated toddler separation anxiety, you’ll discover a new perspective on the hidden factors behind your child’s fears of drop-off, and how to help.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Why crying at drop-off is often completely normal and can actually reflect healthy, solid attachment.
    • Learn how several hidden factors can feed your child’s fear of separation, and understanding them changes how you respond.
    • How a shift in your goal at drop-off can make all the difference
    • Discover how your child’s sensitivities can become a source of confidence, joy, and compassion.

    Mentioned in this Podcast:

    • Blog Post – Help! My Anxious Child Cries When Dropped Off At Daycare
    • Healthy Rhythms for Daily Life Online Course (also included in the cf community!)
    • Ep. 310 – Parenting a Neurodivergent Child: How to Advocate at School
    • The Table Monthly Giving Program
    • James 1:5

    Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

    Want to keep this conversation going?

    Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

    👉 Join the cf community today

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

    This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!

    © 2026 Connected Families
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    22 分
  • Parenting a Neurodivergent Child: How to Advocate at School

    Parenting a Neurodivergent Child: How to Advocate at School
    2026/07/27
    That sinking feeling when another teacher’s email arrives, listing everything your child did “wrong” again? If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, you likely know this feeling well. In this replay episode, host Stacy Bellward talks with Connected Families parent coaches Marni Love and Taylor Irby, two moms who’ve walked this road themselves. Together they talk about what it looks like to advocate for your child with grace and confidence. Through their honest stories and practical wisdom, they explore how a diagnosis can open doors to help, how to partner genuinely with teachers, and how connection can carry families through the hard parts. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why releasing the family you imagined and embracing the child in front of you changes everythingPractical strategies for setting your kids up to thrive at schoolWhat to include on a one-page advocacy sheet that helps teachers truly see your childHow to build the support that your child needs, without doing it alone Whether you’re new to advocacy or years into the journey, this conversation offers wisdom, peace, and real confidence for the road ahead. Mentioned in this Podcast: Focus is FertilizerDiscipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart Online CourseGrace & Truth for Moms Online CourseSensitive & Intense Kids Online CourseParent CoachingABC’s of AffirmationMeet My Child TemplateEpisode 309 – Should I Homeschool? Discerning What’s Best For Your Family Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Marni Love is a former public school teacher who has been a home educator for 16 years. She is a Homeschool Mentor, a Certified Connected Families Parent Coach, and an instructor for CF coaches-in-training. Marni enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and their three sons in the beautiful mountains and beaches of Northern California. Marni is available for coaching and speaking. You can connect with her through her website, marnilove.com. Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma. She, too, has sat in the midst of challenges and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over short-lived methods. That is when she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylor ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like her. She has seen transformation in her home by working with a framework that has changed not only her children’s behavior but their hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope, and you can enjoy your children, build that relationship you have wanted, and see behavior change. You can learn more about Taylor on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taylor.irby.5 and Instagram @taylorirbycoaching Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! © 2026 Connected Families
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    31 分