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 […]
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 […]
We learned a thing or two from that season (and subsequent ones), and that experience has helped us navigate the holidays better. Scott & Vanessa Martindale The holiday season is such an exciting time for many of us as we gather with family and friends, sit at the table, share meals together, and reflect on […]
Managing Finances as a Co-Parent Even under the best circumstances, talking about finances with an ex-spouse can be tough. But let’s face it — kids are expensive! So, good stewardship and regular communication in your blended family and with your ex are essential. Let’s get into it. Blending a Family Means Budgeting Well Child support […]
Developing Great Communication with Ex-Spouse! Learning to interact positively with your ex-spouse can have a profound impact on the kids you share and your newly blended family. And regular communication is an essential element of co-parenting. But what happens when co-parenting success is hindered by an uncooperative ex, bitterness, or day-to-day frustrations? In this article, […]
What to Do When Your Ex Demands Litigation! We will never forget the day when a simple knock on the door changed our lives forever. We’d been married just four years. And in that time, we learned first to be a family: Scott, Vanessa and Michael, Vanessa’s son from a previous marriage. Then we had […]
dysfunctional blended family! Blending our families is an adventure. And any great adventure is equal parts fantastic and scary! When the honeymoon phase of remarriage and co-parenting wears off, you’re left wondering what to do with the sudden dysfunction. Or, maybe you skipped the honeymoon phase altogether and went straight to dysfunction; which has left […]
Loving Your Step kids – How do I learn to love my step kids It may be the biggest taboo topic or question in any blended family: how do I learn to love my step-kids? This co-parenting thing is not for the faint of heart, is it? Blended family issues are real. And the questions […]
Over the years, step family resources ministry and biblically-based resources for stepfamilies have been few and far in between. The need is tremendous, and our society is growing in what now seems like the new traditional family, blended families. As a ministry, it is our mission to break the cycle of divorce, equip marriages, and […]