Stepparenting raises many questions: What’s my role? How involved should I be? What if my stepkids don’t accept me?

It’s easy to make wrong turns without even realizing it.

In this episode, we’re delving into four key facets of parenting: meeting practical needs, providing support, teaching life lessons, and delivering discipline. We'll uncover the unique roles and responsibilities of a stepparent regarding each facet and define what's appropriate and inappropriate.

If you’re feeling frustrated, disconnected, or unsure how to navigate parenting in your blended family, this conversation is for you!

We’ll share best practices, real-life examples (yes, including our own!), and strategies to help you stay in your lane while building healthy bonds with your stepkids and strengthening your parenting partnership.

You'll Discover:

• Why stepparents should focus on connection before correction
• How to support your stepkids and meet practical needs without overstepping or experiencing resentment
• The best approach for building genuine connection, trust, and respect with your stepkids
• Why delivering discipline too soon can backfire—and what to do instead
• A simple but powerful strategy to create a strong parenting partnership with your spouse and reduce tension in your home

Resources from this Episode:

• Episode 47. How to Like Your Stepchild Even When You're Feeling Frustrated and Annoyed
• Episode 39. How to Create Strong Bonds with Resistant Stepkids
• Episode 9. A Surprisingly Simple Strategy for Bonding with Step-Kids
• Episode 29. What is a Loyalty Bind and What Can You Do About It?
• Episode 102. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parents and their Bio-Kids (Part 1 of 2)
• Episode 192. A Simple Process to Navigate Sensitive Conversations About Each Other's Kids
• Episode 25. How to Survive Time Alone with Your Step-Kids (Transfer of Power Strategy)
• Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal & Gary Chapman
• Stepparenting: Keeping it Sane by Charles Fay, Ph.D.
• In Their Shoes by Lauren Reitsema
• Preparing to Blend by Ron Deal

Ready for some extra support?

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

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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

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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 this link: Blending Together Community — Blended Family Breakthrough

In this episode, we’re delving into a common challenge for blended family couples: decision-making and problem-solving. Whether managing kids’ expectations, negotiating with an ex, or facing the pain of being a “trapped teammate” or “stranded stranger,” disagreement and differing perspectives can create tension and keep you stuck.

We’ve been there ourselves, and we share relatable stories, including a meltdown at the mall over a swimsuit and how it almost derailed our unity. Plus, we unpack practical strategies that have been game-changers for us and the couples we coach.

We believe every blended couple needs a strategy for decision-making and problem-solving that helps them stay united and avoid confusion, pain, and disconnection. Grab a coffee, sit back, and let’s tackle this together.

You'll Discover

• How to avoid falling into the "trapped teammate" or "stranded stranger" dynamic.
• Three key “DON’TS” that will safeguard your relationship from unnecessary conflict.
• A powerful brainstorming hack to make decisions and solve problems as a united team.
• How to manage decision-making pressures from kids and ex-spouses.
• Practical tips to stay connected and strengthen teamwork in tough moments.

Resources from this Episode

• Episode 202. How to Break Free from Painful Cycles and Enjoy Deeper Levels of Intimacy [with Ron and Nan Deal]
• Episode 21: What is the Stranded Stranger & Trapped Teammate Experience
• Episode 22: One Simple - and Romantic - Way to Combat Being Stranded or Trapped
• Episode 23: How to Move From Feeling Stranded to Being Connected
• Episode 24: What if You Could Relieve the Trapped Teammate Pressure?
• Episode 95: Do You Dread Negotiating Schedule Changes with your Ex - Try These 5 Practical Tips
• Episode 13: How to Parent as a Team in Your Blended Family
• Episode 83: 4 Everyday Favoritism Traps that Dishearten Kids in a Blended Family

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 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

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click this link: Blending Together Community — Blended Family Breakthrough

Ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click this link: Blending Together Community — Blended Family Breakthrough