We have all experienced the hurt of physical pain at some point in our lives. Maybe we tripped on the playground and scraped our knees. Perhaps we suffered a burn when cooking on the stove. Most of us know the muscle pain of a hard workout at the gym. Just as we’ve experienced hurt or […]
Co-parenting can be a challenge under the best of circumstances. When your ex-spouse and you different on matters of faith, the tension and strain can supercharge your conflicts. One of the biggest questions we get from people is how to co-parent when your ex-spouse holds different beliefs than you do. If that’s your case, you’re […]
When you get married again, you will likely feel a variety of emotions–excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and perhaps even a little fear. Your kids will experience the effects of remarriage, too, and they also feel a slew of emotions. The difference is that as an adult, you have developed the skills and maturity to express and […]
Divorce is painful for everyone involved, including the children. Kids are resilient, but they are dealing with some heavy emotions, thoughts, and questions. Unfortunately, many children cannot or will not express how they feel about their parents’ divorce, even if asked. In our conversations and research, we’ve found similar themes in what kids might tell […]
Our last blog focused on the false promises you make to yourself during or after divorce. These promises–sometimes called inner vows–are made when you experience deep pain. A false promise is a way to take control of the future so you avoid future pain. It’s a way to claim authority over your life that supplants […]
Blended families are unique–and no family is a copycat of another. Each one is made up of people with different backgrounds, personalities, struggles, past influences, and experiences. When blended, this group creates its own unique design and dynamic unlike any other. We receive many emails and messages on social media from people beginning to blend. […]
The pain of divorce is real and raw and cuts you to the core. As a result, you probably made promises to yourself–sometimes called inner vows–so you won’t experience that kind of anguish ever again. That’s an understandable response, but those promises you make to yourself after a divorce can cause more harm than you […]
It’s been long said that expectation is the enemy of joy. That should be the mantra of your blended family, especially in the critical first year or two. Paint it on your walls, write it on a sticky note on your desk, needlepoint it on a throw pillow…do whatever you need to do to keep this saying […]
Let’s face it–there’s no handbook for raising children, and parenting can be super challenging! That’s especially true when we go through a divorce, try to co-parent, or remarry and create a blended family. Emotions can run high–especially guilt. Before we know what happened, we realize we are parenting or co-parenting from a place of guilt […]
How Alienating Your Co-Parent Could Harm Your Child. Co-parenting can be a huge challenge, especially when one or more of the parents is engaged in child manipulation and parent alienation. It is one of the most common issues blended families and single parents face–but almost no one talks about it. The divorce decree may outline […]