Are you waiting to be wanted by someone you care about in your blended family? It's a hard reality for many in the early years. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Cheryl Shumake on how to persevere through the waiting during the wilderness years.
Gary Chapman joins Ron Deal to talk about loving your blended family members through the five love languages: touch, quality time, gifts, words of affirmation, and acts of service.
Gary Chapman and Ron Deal team up to talk about applying the love languages to a second marriage. Both spouses need to be intentional about protecting their marriage and reassuring their children.
What says love to you? A tender touch? A surprise gift? Time with your honey? Gary Chapman joins blended-family expert Ron Deal, to talk about the love languages and the blended family.
How do you get ready to blend a new stepfamily? Drs. Jeff and Judi Parziale discuss with Ron Deal how they coach couples in pre-stepfamily work and the wisdom they have learned in their 20 year marriage.
Many people spend a lifetime searching for something the Bible calls, The Blessing. John Trent and his daughter, Kari Trent-Stageberg, join Ron Deal for a conversation about how the principle of blessing can be applied to parenting and blended families.
Ron Deal talks with Laura Petherbridge, The Smart Stepmom, has over twenty years of experience, as a childless stepmom who has helped countless women redefine what it means to mother and love children who don't share their DNA.
Have you wondered what's going on inside a child of divorce? Or what their experience of your blended family is? Ron Deal and Lauren Reitsema address common questions parents and stepparents ask about kids-and share insights that will help you love and lead them well.
Stepmoms bear a unique burden, and they often neglect their own care. Melanie Anthony offers hope for balance in the midst of the burden.
There is endless capacity for a loving relationship between a stepdad and his stepchildren.
When Dave was growing up his father told him over and over, "You're a Bondeson and a Christian." That helped shaped his identity. But as a father himself, Dave finds it challenging to translate that into a blended family situation with a step-daughter whose last name is not Bondeson.
Strengthen bonds between kids and stepparents by going on a trip that doesn’t fit into the status quo.
Your blended family may have another river to cross and a few more battles to face, but don’t give up—significant rewards lie ahead.
Practical suggestions for stepmoms.
Helping adult stepchildren transition into a stepfamily
Issues for second-half stepfamilies to consider.
The difference between premarried hope and stepfamily reality
With healthy expectations and a specific strategy to build a relationship, a satisfying bond can be nurtured.
The first two years of stepparent-stepchild relationships tend to be tense and stressful for everyone.
The difficulty of seeking the respect and acceptance of a stepchild.
What to do when remarriage destabilizes a child’s world.
Stepparents must develop a secure bond with their stepchildren.
Finding an effective stepparent role is a challenge.
Improving your relationship is a challenge, so be intentional.
Though stepfamilies may look like traditional nuclear families on the outside, the dynamics on the inside are very different.
