The benefit of "fun" is often overlooked when we consider how to build healthy stepfamily relationships. But Ron Deal's podcast guest, Dr. Jim Burns, says it's an important piece that can help connect relationships. Listen to their conversation about why and how intentional play can benefit your family.
Compared to other siblings stepsiblings have less conflict. That may not be as good as it sounds.
Laughter is contagious, right? Well, so is a smile.
Have you ever met a rich person who was miserable?
Did your mom ever tell you to "Act your best"?
Is self-care the same as selfishness?
Ron, how does autism affect a stepfamily?
Hey Ron, it just occurred to me: I live in a stepfamily, too.
Kids in stepfamilies lose control over many aspects of their lives. Ron Deal talks with two stepsiblings about their adjustments to stepfamily life and how parents can give children a voice and open lines of communication to bring harmony to their home.
Believe it or not, sometimes it’s best not to love best.
Having a healthy self-esteem is a really good thing. But there’s something much better.
Research confirms; spending time together is a quality of strong families.
How do you form a loving relationship with someone who isn’t motivated to love you?
Want a great tip for deepening a friendship? It starts with you sharing you.
Blended & Blessed is a marriage event specifically designed for blended family couples. This podcast episode features a dynamic speaker from our 2021 event, author Laurie Short, with nuggets of wisdom and real-life stories from her stepmom journey.
Have you ever thought, "Maybe I’m being too negative"?
Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to forgive a family member than somebody else?
Have you ever noticed that in order to stay alive, you have to keep feeding yourself?
What do you see, when you look at yourself, through heaven’s eyes?
You know what I love? I love it when our family’s in the car and my wife makes a declaration, "Hey, it’s happy hour. It’s time for a Sonic run!
Have you ever gotten confused about which terms to use when referring to someone else’s family members?
Friends. Some of us have a lot of them and some of us have only a few. But do you love them all the same?
Want to win the favor of your family? Try love and faithfulness.
Have you ever thought about how dysfunctional the families of the Bible were?
I’m wondering, what helps you to be more like Christ?
Here’s a fun fact for you. In the early years of a blended family the level of stress is typically very high.
Here’s a not so secret quality of strong families. They have fun together.
Ron, I'm marrying a man with adult children. I suppose our family transition will be easier since we have an empty nest, right? Ah, well…
The book of Proverbs says, listen to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. But what about a stepfather or a stepmother’s instruction? Do you have to listen to that, too?
In stepfamilies sometimes family members compete.
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.
When wisdom calls or speaks do you listen?
When you choose a mate you choose a set of problems for the rest of your life.
Here’s one you haven’t heard in the media lately. Good news about stepparents.
Well, you never saw this one coming. You just became a step-grandparent. How do you do that?
Now I know you’ve heard me say some crazy things but this one takes the cake. Learn to endure disharmony in your home.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Accommodating someone’s preferences out of love for the Lord is an act of faith.
Caution: Love without caution.
Choosing obedience, in hard situations, pays dividends beyond our wildest dreams.
Have you ever been caught between two people you love?
Nontraditional is the new traditional.
It's the most wonderful time of the year!" But if you're in a stepfamily, the holidays can get complicated pretty fast. Ron Deal offers some perspective, and gives counsel for how to navigate Christmas in a stepfamily.
Today, I’m stepping into controversy and some of you are going to be irritated.
My audience is getting more gray.
"Are you part of the main family or just sort of stuck on the side?"
Drowning in a sea of emotions? You're not the only one.
Ron, my family is living proof that dysfunction breeds dysfunction.
