Episodios

  • Big Emotions Start Somewhere: The Hidden Stress Your Child Carries

    Big Emotions Start Somewhere: The Hidden Stress Your Child Carries
    Apr 6 2026
    In this episode, we unpack the surprising reasons why some children experience the world more intensely than others, and why their big emotions are rarely about what they seem to be about. You’ll discover a reframe that just might change the way you see your child’s most challenging moments, including a simple but powerful analogy that explains why your child can hold it together all day and then completely fall apart the moment they walk through your door. If you’ve ever felt frustrated, confused, or just desperate to understand what’s really going on beneath the surface of your child’s behavior, this episode offers the compassionate insight and practical perspective you’ve been looking for. Key Takeaways: Anxiety often hides behind anger.Connection calms a stressed nervous system.Small triggers carry big invisible weightCompassion begins with understanding the “why” Mentioned in this Podcast: Sensitive & Intense Online CourseThe Table Monthly Giving ProgramRocks in the Backpack VideoRocks in the Backpack PDF Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! 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! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Lynne Jackson is one of the Co-Founders of Connected Families. As a parent coach and mom of three intense kids herself, Lynne has walked alongside hundreds of parents, encouraging and bringing hope. She is also a research enthusiast and loves leaning into brain science to equip parents and caregivers better. Most importantly, as a follower of Christ, she brings biblical wisdom, abundant grace, and a “no shame” policy. Lydia Rex is a registered nurse, wife, and mother of two, and has worked with families in many capacities throughout her career and personal life. She’s been a student of Connected Families since 2014 and continues to find it incredibly life-giving for her own family. Areas of her experience/special interest include foster care and adoption, attachment difficulties, developmental and learning disabilities, including FASD. She brings a trauma-informed perspective to the Connected Families Framework and the desire to see families find peace and healing even in the midst of challenges! You’ve seen what the Connected Families Framework can do. What if you could bring that to other families? Join us on May 6 at 12:30 pm CTS for a free one-hour informational webinar on becoming a CF Certified Parent Coach. No pressure. Just real information to help you take your next step. Reserve your spot today! Can’t make it live? A recording will be available through May 14. © 2026 Connected Families Do you have a child with BIG feelings and BIG needs? The Sensitive & Intense Kids online course is a game changer. It’s for YOU. LEARN MORE
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    18 m
  • Why Is Parenting So Hard? Finding Grace and Truth in the Struggle

    Why Is Parenting So Hard? Finding Grace and Truth in the Struggle
    Mar 30 2026

    If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is parenting so hard?” this episode is for you. In this deeply personal and practical episode, Connected Families co-founder Lynne Jackson opens up about her own journey from organized perfectionist to overwhelmed mom of three. Lynne introduces the foundational layer of the Connected Families Framework, exploring three mental habits that quietly set parents up for toxic, lie-based thinking. Learn how to overcome them and transform your home.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Asking yourself, “What’s going on in me?” can be a helpful question that can transform your parenting
    • Extreme thinking, perfectionism, and catastrophizing are all unhelpful thought patterns that feed anxiety, not connection
    • God’s truth transforms families from the inside out
    Mentioned in this Podcast:
    • Build what comes next!
    • Book – Tired of Trying to Measure Up by Jeff VanVonderen
    • Matthew 12:34
    • Ephesians 4:15
    • The Connected Families Framework

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

    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!

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

    Guest Bio:

    Lynne Jackson is one of the Co-Founders of Connected Families. As a parent coach and mom of three intense kids herself, Lynne has walked alongside hundreds of parents, encouraging and bringing hope. She is also a research enthusiast and loves leaning into the brain science and research to equip parents and caregivers better. Most importantly, as a follower of Christ, she brings biblical wisdom, abundant grace, and a “no shame” policy.

    © 2026 Connected Families
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    23 m
  • From Feeling Like a Bad Mom to Deeply Loved

    From Feeling Like a Bad Mom to Deeply Loved
    Mar 23 2026

    What we believe about ourselves shapes how we parent, for better or worse.

    In this opening episode of the Grace and Truth for Every Parent series, host Stacy Bellward talks with Connected Families’ Content Manager, Laura Way, about the beliefs that quietly keep parents stuck. Laura shares her own journey, including a pivotal moment with CF co-founder Lynne Jackson that helped her trade a crushing lie for a grace-filled truth that transformed her parenting.

    If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like a bad mom or like you’re just not enough, this one’s for you.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Your weaknesses can become your greatest parenting strength.
    • Parenting surfaces the beliefs you didn’t know existed.
    • Receive God’s grace first, then pass it on.
    • You are loved far beyond your best behavior.
    Mentioned in this Podcast:
    • Blog Post – 5 Lies That Keep Parents Stuck (And the Biblical Truths That Set You Free)
    • Give – Grace & Truth for EVERY Parent!
    • 5 Lies That Keep Parents Stuck PDF Resources
    • Grace and Truth for Moms Online Course
    • Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart Online Course
    • Trash Truth Treasure Online Course

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

    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!

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

    Guest Bio:

    Laura Way serves as the host for The Table, Connected Families’ monthly donor program, and as the Content Manager. She first found Connected Families as a young discouraged mom, living overseas with her family from 2014-2019. She lives with her husband, Aubrey, and their two vibrant and Sensitive and Intense daughters in Orlando, FL.

    © 2026 Connected Families
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    27 m
  • Family Meetings for Kids: A Weekly Habit That Builds Family Teamwork

    Family Meetings for Kids: A Weekly Habit That Builds Family Teamwork
    Mar 16 2026

    What if family meetings for kids can be as simple as a weekly gathering with snacks and a game? In this warm and practical episode of the Connected Families podcast, host Stacy Bellward sits down with Certified Parent Coaches Corrie and Alan Thetford to unpack the transformative power of intentional family meetings. Spoiler: no gavel required.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Nagging builds dependence; meetings build responsibility
    • Fun snacks and games to help connection grow
    • ‘Practice time’ prevents reactive ‘game-time’ chaos
    • Kids can solve problems better than parents expect
    Mentioned in this Podcast:
    • The Power of Questions Online Course
    • Free Resource – Family Meeting PDF
    • Connected Families Parent Coaching
    • The Table Monthly Giving Program

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

    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!

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

    Guest Bio:

    Alan and Corrie have four children and are Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches and instructors for CF coaches-in-training. They are passionate about multiplying the gospel by helping families transform power struggles and conflicts into opportunities for gospel messages.

    © 2026 Connected Families

    Less arguing. More wisdom.

    That’s what you get with the Power of Questions online course.

    $35 LEARN MORE
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    35 m
  • How to Motivate Children: What the Research Says

    How to Motivate Children: What the Research Says
    Mar 12 2026
    Every parent knows the feeling: you need the dishes done, the toys picked up, or the laundry folded… and your child is nowhere near motivated to help. What if the key to raising genuinely responsible kids isn’t about enforcing compliance, but about understanding what actually drives motivation from the inside out? In this mini-episode, host Stacy Bellward chats with Katie Wetsell, pediatric nurse turned Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, to explore the brain science and research behind growing responsibility in children. Learn some practical, grace-filled tools you can start using today! Key Takeaways: Motivation can be complicated for all of us, because we are humanLearn how building kids up in the short term can help with long-term goals of raising capable, responsible adults Learn about the three pillars of self-directed motivation Mentioned in this Podcast: The Power of Questions Online CourseThe Entitlement Fix Online CourseBlog Post – Want to Know Your Child’s Strengths?Blog Post – Help! How On Earth Do I Get My Kids to Do Chores? Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! 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! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: 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 treatment to help 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 © 2026 Connected Families Less arguing. More wisdom. That’s what you get with the Power of Questions online course. $35 LEARN MORE
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    14 m
  • How to Start Family Meetings Your Kids Won't Want to Miss

    How to Start Family Meetings Your Kids Won't Want to Miss
    Mar 9 2026

    Join Connected Families’ Director of Education & Equipping, Chad Hayenga, in this audioblog about Family Meetings. These are two words that might make you cringe or add to your mental “should-do” list. But what if they could actually become the highlight of your week? In this episode, explore how family meetings can be transformed from dreaded obligations into enjoyable, meaningful gatherings that build teamwork, grow responsibility, and deepen your family’s sense of purpose.

    • Discover ways that family meetings don’t have to be boring
    • How to start with fun to set a positive tone
    • Learn how family meetings can help shift ownership of responsibilities to your kids
    Mentioned in this Podcast:
    • The Power of Questions Online Course
    • The Table Monthly Giving Program
    • Family Meetings PDF

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

    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!

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

    © 2026 Connected Families

    Less arguing. More wisdom.

    That’s what you get with the Power of Questions online course.

    $35 LEARN MORE
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    19 m
  • Teaching Kids Responsibility Without Nagging and Frustration

    Teaching Kids Responsibility Without Nagging and Frustration
    Mar 2 2026
    Why are chores such a struggle in families? Join Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches, Katie Johnson and Marni Love, to unpack why it’s hard, and what to do about it. They discuss the biblical foundation for meaningful work and offer practical strategies for turning daily tasks into opportunities for connection and growth. You’ll be encouraged by their own personal stories as they share grace-filled wisdom for navigating teaching kids responsibility. Key Takeaways: Scaffolding chores into small, manageable steps.Avoid using chores as consequences for misbehavior.Model and narrate tasks alongside your children.Celebrate incremental growth, not just perfect results. Mentioned in this Podcast: The Power of Questions Online CourseHomeschool Discipline: 4 Ways to Cultivate Calm, Connection, and ConfidenceThe Table Monthly Giving ProgramGenesis 1Psalm 90:17Colossians 3:23-24Ephesians 2:10 Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! 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! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: As a former teacher turned homeschool mom with a sensitive & intense child, Katie Johnson came to Connected Families at the end of her rope. As a CF coach, she now helps struggling families adopt a whole-Bible, whole-brain approach for Christ-centered transformation. She loves providing practical tools to help families apply the CF framework to their unique situations. Katie lives in Madison, WI, with her husband, three young kids, a dog, and three chickens. Katie holds a Master’s in Education and has a special passion for supporting families with toddlers. Marni Love is a former public school teacher who has been a home educator for 14 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. You can connect with her through her website, marnilove.com. © 2026 Connected Families Less arguing. More wisdom. That’s what you get with the Power of Questions online course. $35 LEARN MORE
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    38 m
  • A Parent Training Program that Meets You Where You Are

    A Parent Training Program that Meets You Where You Are
    Feb 23 2026

    In this special announcement episode, host Stacy Bellward welcomes Chad Hayenga, Connected Families’ Director of Education and Equipping, to introduce an exciting new program: The CF Intensive! This new parent training program is a six-session, small-group experience! It’s designed for parents, caregivers, and ministry leaders who want to move from head knowledge to heart transformation using tools from the Connected Families Framework™. Is this for you? Listen to find out…

    Key Takeaways:
    • The CF Intensive accelerates Framework growth through a hands-on, community deep-dive into Connected Families tools
    • The CF Intensive is about depth, not crisis intervention
    • Community transforms learning because growth happens together
    Mentioned in this Podcast:
    • The CF Intensive – For One Person
    • The CF Intensive – For Two People
    • Book – How to Grow a Connected Family
    • The Connected Families Framework
    • Connected Families Certified Parent Coaching
    • Become a Parent Coach
    • The Table Monthly Giving Program

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

    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!

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!

    Guest Bio:

    Chad Hayenga joined Connected Families in 2005. He is married to Carma and has three adult daughters and two sons-in-law. Chad oversees coaching and the Parent Coach Certification Program, which continues to grow in its reach across North America and worldwide.

    © 2026 Connected Families
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    13 m