Have you ever experienced an awkward "stepfamily moment" in public? Like when someone notices that you and your child have different last names or makes assumptions about your family dynamics? We've experienced plenty of those moments in our blended family journey, and it doesn't feel very good.

In today’s conversation, we address the experience of feeling “marginalized” or "less than". And we'll share what we've done to stand in our true identity and invite others into genuine connection, rather than avoiding the awkwardness.

It's liberating to simply normalize the reality that blended families are everywhere, and we embrace three mindset shifts that make a real difference:

• Be confident and secure about how your family came together
• Be authentic by offering a simple, positive message that honors your story
• Avoid comparison traps

Our hope is that you’ll feel seen, supported, and empowered to carry your story with courage and to know that you aren't alone.

You’ll Discover

• What feeling “marginalized” looks like in everyday moments, and why blended families are part of the cultural mainstream
• A simple, unapologetic way to respond to awkward situations without shaming yourself or your kids
• Four tools to escape comparison traps and stay confident and secure

Resources from this Episode:

• CLICK HERE to check out the Blending Together Community
• Episode 11. 3 Hidden Strengths for Imperfect Blended Families
• Episode 156. The 3 Super Strengths of a Blended Family Marriage
• Episode 114. Beware of Common Comparison Traps that Create Disconnection and Negativity
• Episode 160. A 4-Part Framework for Achievable Expectations and How to Live Them Out
• Episode 14. 3 Helpful Steps to Overcome Your "Perfectionistic" Ideals and Disappointments
• Episode 180. Break Free From Guilt and Blend with Authenticity and Security

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

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 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!

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Blending Together Community

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!

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!

Over our 24 years of blending, we’ve discovered that every couple needs a clear strategy to get unstuck and move toward the family future they really want. In this conversation, we share a proven approach to aligning around your family's goals, creating a values-based parenting approach, and avoiding the common pitfalls that lead to chaos, resentment, and division.

We know how confusing and lonely blended family life can feel at times—it's complicated! Even with millions of stepfamilies across the country, it can still feel like you’re on an island trying to figure it all out alone.

That’s why in today’s episode—released on National Stepfamily Day—we’re tackling this question: How can you reduce blended family chaos and instead build a united front as a couple while connecting with a supportive community that truly understands?

Additionally, in honor of National Stepfamily Day, we're introducing a special opportunity to join our Blending Together Community free for 30 days, where you’ll benefit from genuine connections, encouragement, and proven strategies that work.

You'll Discover:

• How Parenting ‘by default’ often leads to places you never intended to go. But when you choose to parent with intention, you can guide your family toward the future you truly want.
• The importance of prioritizing a few key family values to create unity, reduce conflict, and avoid getting overwhelmed.
• Practical ways to communicate your values to the kids without lecturing or undermining the stepparent.
• How a values-based approach simplifies discipline and builds long-term character, not just short-term compliance.
• The life-changing difference that comes from being part of a supportive community that understands the unique challenges of blending a family.

Resources from this Episode:

• Episode 218. How to Positively Influence Your Kids' Character When Your Ex Undermines Your Values
• CLICK HERE to learn more about our Blending Together Community
• Questions? Email us at: kim@blendedfamilybreakthrough.com

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 to 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

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!

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!

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!

If you’ve ever felt like the values you’re trying to instill in your kids get undone the moment they step into the other home, you’re not alone. We’ve been there—and we know how discouraging it can feel.

In this episode, we share a powerful tool we first learned from Ron Deal called the Inoculation Strategy. It’s a simple, practical way to prepare your kids to recognize and resist negative influences—without badmouthing or creating loyalty binds.

We’ll walk you through real-life examples from our own blended family journey, explain how to stay in the “neutral zone” while teaching important lessons, and encourage you to keep planting seeds of character even when it seems like they aren’t taking root.

Over time, your kids will internalize what you've instilled—and those intentional lessons will matter more than you think.

You'll Discover:

• The “wild card factor” that often fuels conflict between households
• Two key realities you must accept before using the Inoculation Strategy
• Practical ways to engage your kids by using movies, books, current events, and personal stories as teaching moments that count
• How to avoid loyalty binds and protect your child’s wellbeing while guiding them toward positive values, character traits, and life skills

Resources from this Episode:

• The Smart Stepfamily by Ron Deal
• Episode 207. Four Myths About Parenting When Your Ex Has Different Rules

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, 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!

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!

Resources

Surviving & Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships by Patricia Papernow

Episode 217. Feeling Overwhelmed and Powerless? How to Regain Hope with Tools that Heal [with EJ and Tarah Kerwin]

Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences

Episode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfalls to Ensure a Successful Partnership

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!

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!

If you’ve ever wondered why blending a family feels so hard—even when you're "doing everything right"—this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation, we connect with EJ and Tarah Kerwin—professional therapists and co-founders of the Relationship Renovation Counseling Center—who open up about the very real and very raw struggles they faced when they merged their lives into one blended family.

Despite all their training, nothing could have prepared them for the emotional rollercoaster of stepparenting, co-parenting, and navigating deep-seated personal triggers.

But they didn’t give up. They got curious. They did the work. And they developed tools that not only brought healing to their own marriage, but are now helping countless couples thrive through their counseling center, podcast, and programs.

This isn’t a story about perfection—it’s a story about partnership, growth, and hope. If you’ve ever felt powerless, stuck, or just plain exhausted, lean in. There’s light at the end of this tunnel.

You'll Discover:

• You aren't alone - even two trained therapists struggled to understand and work through the challenges of blending
• How to reduce tension in your relationship and move toward healthy communication and partnership
• Helpful mindsets for moving beyond resentment and dread when your step-kids come for visitation
• A path to freedom by learning to recognize your own painful emotions - and nurture yourself through them
• The value of doing repair work with kids when we mess up by using the right approach

Resources from this Episode:

• Relationship Renovation Counseling Center
• The Relationship Renovation Podcast with EJ & Tara Kerwin

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, 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!

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!

Resources

Episode 36. How to Change Your "Stories" and Grow Connection [with Mark Warren]

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!

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click here to get started!