Not Every Message Deserves a Response: Boundaries, Healing & Real Co-Parenting Conversations

Co-parenting can feel like an emotional rollercoaster… but what if the real shift isn’t about them — it’s about how you respond?
In this honest and powerful conversation, I sit down with Ashley Noelle from Blended Bond to talk about the emotional realities of co-parenting, healing from past relationships, and why boundaries are not optional — they’re necessary.


We’re getting real about:
The moments that trigger you (and what to do instead of reacting)


Why silence can be your greatest power move


How healing impacts your ability to co-parent effectively


Letting go of control and choosing peace instead


Creating boundaries that protect your energy and your children.


If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, misunderstood, or emotionally drained in your co-parenting journey… this episode is for you.


✨ Key Takeaways:


Not every message deserves your energy or response


Your healing directly impacts your co-parenting experience


Boundaries are a form of self-respect — not punishment


You can’t control them, but you can control your response


Peace is a decision you make daily


💛 Reflection Questions:
What situations tend to trigger me most in co-parenting?
Where do I need stronger boundaries right now?
What would choosing peace look like in my next interaction?



About our guest:

Ashley Noelle is a bio mom, bonus mom, and coparent, and the founder of Blended Bond, a tool created to support blended families, coparents, and single parents through better communication and connection. Inspired by her own journey, her work focuses on helping families feel more understood and less alone.

Follow Ashley Noelle:

Website: www.blendedbond.com
Instagram.com/theblendedbond

To purchase the Blended Bond deck, use this promo code & get 20% off: COCOBLEND20 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hello, hello, and welcome to the Coco Blend Podcast. I am your host, Jamie Newton Knight. And today I have an amazing guest. I love my guest. Today I have Ashley Noel with me. Welcome, Ashley. Hi, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Thank you. It's so nice to chat with you finally.

SPEAKER_00 0:18

Yes, you as well. I'm gonna let you introduce yourself to the people. Tell us, you know, a little bit about yourself.

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Yeah, my name is Ashley Noel. I'm uh I've actually been a single divorced single parent, co-parenting, blended family twice, engaged now. Um, I have a daughter, 13-year-old daughter, and my partner has two twin 13-year-old boys. So we have three 13-year-olds. Do with that what you will. Um which is really beautiful. At the same time, they're going through stuff, like they're going through stuff at the same time, and they're going through stuff at the same time. So it's, you know, good and bad on both sides. Um, and we've been blended for about four years now, and going through all the things. I've co-parented for going on 12 years and blended family now for four. So I've just been helping getting things out there. I created a product just to help families communicate more and blend, work with their co-parenting better, stronger as a single parent, questions to ask your kids, and blended families as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

So that's that's so good. Oh my goodness. I can't wait till you give us more information about your cards that you have for communication. Um, but before that, what is it like being a parent and co-parent to three 13-year-olds? Three 13-year-olds, three 13-year-olds. Everybody in the house as it's they're just entering teen, they're teenage years. My goodness, what is that like?

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Um, it is a full on, I'd say party, I guess, every day in the best way, because um, there's high emotions, there's low emotions, there's hormones, there's energies, there's and then they have their friends after school. So it's always a full house, but it's also been a really beautiful scenario too. They met when they were uh nine, I believe. And I think they met at such a great time because they still had that like kid energy or that playfulness. They were able to start as kind of like those friends that hang out, and then now over time they've grown into really great siblings for each other. Um that this is the first year they're actually going to school together, which has been really cool. You know, they talk about similar students or teachers and they just have more in common, so there's just more to create those bonds with them. But they've been they've been some good kids and going through it.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

So that's amazing. You know, you hear so many stories about children and families when you're trying to blend and they can't even get along. So it's so good to hear that your third three 13-year-olds are getting along well and finding some common ground. I love that. Kudos to you all.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

It's really big to the parents, too, um, on both sides of you know, establishing that respect for each other. Yeah, um, you know, there's things we we don't tolerate, you know, negative talk about each other. Um the boys, they have probably the most competition, but they're also twins, so that's just naturally there, I think whether they were in a blended family or not. Um, but they've shown up really great all together, all three. They find their ways to connect. They they're in that teen zone now where they all do their own things and they all do different things, but they have fun stuff together.

SPEAKER_00 3:42

That's amazing. That's good. That's good. So tell me, like, what was your biggest challenge in that co-parenting situation, whether it was with your ex or in the blended family that you're in right now? Like, was it communication? Was it setting boundaries? Was it like the healing portion of it? What was your greatest challenge?

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Yeah, maybe I'll share an answer on both sides. Co-parenting with my ex was more the healing. I had to learn, you know, how to just get exhausted, get tired of being like in it and feeling it. Um, I always kind of tell people, I've coached a lot of co-parents and some blended families, and I always tell them you're gonna some you're gonna get exhausted at some point because you're wasting a lot of energy and feelings and stuff on something that is done, which is not bad to like, you gotta go through it and you gotta, you know, grieve those things, but you have to kind of have that point when you just wake up and you're like, and here we are, how do we move forward? How is it for the kids? I need to probably it's removing your personal feelings from the co-parenting is huge. And it's hard. I it's not easy, and I know it's easier said than done, but once you get over that hump, you look back and you're like, oh my gosh, I just had to like, I just had to separate the two. So I think that's on my personal co-parenting, we've become really um we're good we're I could say we're good friends. I think we're better as co-parents probably than as partners in our past. I also have a really great relationship with his wife. They have kids themselves, and all of those kids we treat like all of our kids together. They hang out, they go to similar schools or rival schools, actually. So we try to just, it's a village. We just say we're really a team for all the kids. Um, on the other side, co-parenting for um my partner and his ex was actually more about like boundaries and kind of even empowering him as well to, you know, make those boundaries. And sometimes not everything requires a response, not everything requires your energy. I actually had a big conversation a couple years ago because he would get triggered by like a text or a call or something that would set him off, and then his energy would change for the day. And I finally told him once, I was like, Do you know that one text you let that person, your ex, control your emotions for the rest of the day with your family and your kids? And it kind of was like a light bulb moment. He's like, You're like you're right. Yeah, like I like don't give her that much power.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

Right.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

You know, so that was probably our biggest hurdle on that side.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

I don't think that people recognize and understand that, like you literally are uh and I think sometimes you think it's like, well, I have to say something back, or you know, oh, it's not that I'm I feel a certain way, it's just that I need to respond, you don't need to respond. Yeah in my community, I say you don't need to attend every argument you're invited to. Yes, because I have attended, and I and I've shared this many times. I'll say that with my ex, he would come to argue, and I would lace up my gloves and be ready to argue. Ready, and after the argument is over, I literally felt like I was in a fight, like exhausted, extremely drained. And then I'm like, what do we get accomplished?

SPEAKER_01 7:18

Yeah, yeah. No, and I always say too, like, sometimes no answer is an answer, like it just not everything needs it. Obviously, logistical things, any urgent or emergencies, of course, but if there's just talk to talk or anger, just heated emotion, you do not have to show up back. You can leave it, yeah, let it rest. Even sometimes I used to like I used to sometimes have to mute that the text thread with my ex just because I didn't need the seeing the name pop up, you know, the emotional trigger. Like, no, I will respond when I'm ready and emotionally available too. Like, I don't need to be in the heat. Because also I might say some things that are, you know, not appropriate either. And exactly.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

Because listen, I I definitely can get my lick back if you want me to, sir. But I'm trying to be different. So I agree. Step away from the phone, do not engage. Like when I would be in it, there were at when I was in the process of healing myself, and he still wanted to go back. I was like, okay, Jamie, now you have to strategize a little bit differently because he still thinks you're the person you were when you wanted to argue. Now you're trying to change. So what can you do differently? And I would say, you know what? This conversation actually isn't going the way that we need it to go because we're because we keep trying to go back and forth. And I don't think it's productive. So I'm gonna hang up and you and I can speak when cooler heads prevail. Maybe you can call me back in like 10 minutes when you calm down, or I'll call you back in 30 minutes, like whatever. But we can't have this conversation right now because it's not working out. And although he didn't like it, I would hang up and it worked. You made a boundary.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

Yeah, you made a boundary that like I'm not gonna let this energy cross into my day or you know, the rest of my with my family and my time. And I think it's important, it's like kind of with I related a little bit to like co-workers or in a work environment. If you have something going on and you're heated about something at work, what do you do? You usually take a minute, you take a step, take a breather. You should do the same kind of with the co-parent. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

I agree, I agree. Yeah, it can be it, it it has its challenges. It has its challenges. So, how do you all handle things like that in your co-parenting uh situation? Whether it's what you said with your ex, you have a better relationship and you all are more like a village. So you guys get to have that communication and um you talk more because you share the experience together as a village. But when it comes to your partner's ex, how do you all break the wall of saying, okay, this either this is our boundary or this is a better way for us to communicate so that you actually hear, so that she actually hears him?

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Yeah, I think it's more just about taking that beat, um, kind of checking our own emotions. Um, I think it's really just knowing when to, are you giving information that helps or hurts and just knowing when to call it and be like, okay, we've figured this out and we're done. Um, and not continuing to play that fight and be in that fight and in that ring with her. Which it's good. It's not a terrible, it's at a much better space now. I think it's become way more logistical and things like that. But obviously everyone can get a little triggered by their ex. So you just have to, it's it's a it's uh what is it like it's self-work that you have to kind of remind yourself like I want to be the bigger person about this.

SPEAKER_00 11:02

This journey I that's another thing that I don't think that people recognize and understand because you're so deep in it, you always look at the other person. You're thinking like the uh it's the other person, but you don't realize how much it's about your own healing and your own journey. And like, I can't control this person. Yes, I have to figure out how to control myself and my emotions in dealing with this person because they may never change, they might never change.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

I think that's the biggest thing, too, is like my ex-husband is still the same ex-husband he's always been, but it's my how I want to change and interact with him. I can affect that. I can't expect him, you know. I can't be surprised anymore when something happens or doesn't happen because this has always been, you know, this has been his MO. Right. Um, so I think it is really realizing that only it's that Ven Venn diagram. What can you change and what can't you change? Once you kind of get the hang of that, I think it gets a little smoother. It's just and at the end of the day, you're not together for a reason anymore.

SPEAKER_00 12:17

So you're not together for a reason. But even I had a guest previously who was just like, even though you're not together, you don't have to be enemies, right? And I and in her situation was like they couldn't co-parent, like it was very, very difficult. But it was like, I'm still not your enemy, like I still don't hate you. We have a a beautiful child together. Yes, we used to get along very well. We love there was a time when we loved each other. We loved each other. We can still remember that space of like I don't have to love you now, but I can remember that there was a time. Yes, yeah, just appreciate this the time for what it was, you know.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

Yeah, and I think I'm huge on I believe that like children pick their routes here. So at the end of the day, you walked away from this with this like prized gift of these children, you know, that you had and a love that you shared. And that's the beautiful part. And the chapter ended, and we start the new chapter. That maybe it's not all because you don't have to keep figuring out to how to do I have to like you, do I have to like you? No, but that chapter ended, but we had something great. Or, you know, let's move on. And it's still it's still your child's parent. So even as much as maybe I or my partner, you know, have our feelings with our exes, it's still my daughter's father, it's still the boy's mother. They're gonna have their own relationships as they should, and I shouldn't tarnish anything that they are going to have because they're not gonna marry them, it's their parents. I had a different relationship. I married them.

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Right. Amen. Because I think sometimes people don't recognize that either. It's like this is the child's parent. Do not go and talk negatively about that child's parent. And they're no like if you and your girlfriend want to go talk about them, then go have coffee and talk about them, whatever. But do not do that in front of or around or the child, even if you think they're not listening, they oh, they're upstairs, they can't hear. Don't talk about that child's parent. Because even though you think that what your your words are, well, I'm talking about him, that's still your that their child. And for them, I'm a reflection of my parent. And so if you're talking about my dad, is that what you also feel about me?

SPEAKER_01 14:45

Yes. I can't like preach enough about do not talk bad about your child's parent because it is so harmful, it is so hurtful. Even maybe if it's not the parent itself, I feel like it changes maybe views of that gender. Um, I think they can collectively be like, oh, are all men like this or are all women like this? I think it is so huge, no matter your, and I know it's probably the hardest muscle to exercise when you're in it and you're angry and you're feeling it. Um just to avoid that. Go to a different room, take that energy out somewhere else, just be present with your kids, reflect, journal. I don't know what it is, write it down somewhere. But do not let the kids feel that because it will it'll actually even backfire, I think, can hurt you more as speaking bad, because it looks bad on you, especially as adults, to look back and be like, oh man, like my mom talked real bad about my dad, and they're adults that's harmful, you know. Yeah, I love that you say that because I I wish I could scream it from the mountaintops because seriously, here's your feelings in order.

SPEAKER_02 16:01

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 16:03

I mean, it's and and with children for me, this is how I've always felt like yes, like I told you earlier, yes, this person did this thing to me, but he they're they've never been that type of parent to them. So if what you did was to me, then I, as the adult, as the grown-up, need to be able to separate that this is what he hurt me. Yes, he did not hurt. I mean, yes, our children got hurt as a result, but I mean, the intention wasn't like I'm leaving you and I'm leaving him too. No, you're leaving me. Yes, you can still be a part of his life. So I think when parents can get their emotions in check and uh and recognize that like the situation that happened between the adults was between the adults, it should have no bearing on the child. Now, how they act with the kid is something very, very different. And you don't have to speak negatively about a parent to a child because that child is going to see for themselves what that parent does. And later on, my son is 25. He said, I never heard you talk bad about my dad. But I started to see things on my own as I started to get older, like all of the things that I had expectations of from him that he would tell me he would do, and then he wouldn't do it. And I was like, you know, just listening. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, there have been plenty of times. And so now as adults, he and I can have that conversation if he wants to have the conversation. But as a child, I would never say, like, oh my god, this man never shows up when he's supposed to, you know, he doesn't pay what he's supposed to. Like, I'm not doing that because it wasn't necessary. It's not for a child to know.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

They don't know how to process that information, they don't even know where to place it. They could generalize it, they could put it, uh, it could output in a different way. They're just not meant. If we are just forming our like emotions with it and healing, they're definitely not. Exactly. They're definitely not there. So it's it's it'll make a world of difference if you kind of just, you know, be there for your kid.

SPEAKER_00 18:21

Seriously, separate those. Seriously. Yeah. So share with me um about the cards and kind of like how that has worked in terms of so first just share about it, but also like how you've seen it work, whether it's in your family or the families that you serve, like do share.

SPEAKER_01 18:39

Yeah. Um, I have versions. So this is it's called Blended Bond. Um, it started as like just kind of I was keeping a notes app of questions that I was noticing uh this time in a blended family. You know, the kids were older, they were able to comprehend feelings and emotions. And there was always just sometimes a little edge here or there, or I could tell there was an elephant in the room. So we would start having family meetings and I would keep track of just some like, oh, I could ask this, or oh, I could ask that. And um, and I just would tell them, hey, safe space. We're gonna talk about how we've all come together. Obviously, it's a lot of change, girl world and boy world, uh, families, twins, two brothers, all this stuff. There was a lot going on. And it was interesting because even I would ask some simple things, like I think, and I talk about it on my Instagram about the very first card that which wasn't a card at the time, it was just a question. I said, what would make you feel uh more at home in this family? And it was funny because the kids had just simple things and it we were able to fix it. Like my daughter said, I used to have this uh like a fabric uh acrobatic swing in a room, and she's like, I just really liked that like cozy thing in my corner of my room or whatever. And I was like, that's it.

SPEAKER_02 19:58

And we got we got oh, I got you tonight.

SPEAKER_01 20:03

Right. And and the boys, it was, you know, they wanted to, they missed their dad cooking tacos. Um nice once, and I was like, we both were like, you guys miss that? That was a thing. No problem. Yeah, and it was just and it started from things like that where we just realized, oh my gosh, they just have simple things that would make them feel more comfortable or make uh change better. And so my questions kept growing, and then I just decided I had a friend that was like, you should make this into you know a game or a product or tool. And I have a graphic design background. So I was like, oh, I could design this. And then I was like, oh, I don't know how to make a product.

SPEAKER_02 20:45

Right.

SPEAKER_01 20:45

Um so then it grew and I learned a lot in the last, it took about two years. Um, but yeah, the cards, there's 90 cards. Um, so I have a physical version. I've now created a digital version since I had a lot of overseas customers. Um, it's easier for them to just keep on their phone. Um, I've also expanded into a single parent version, a mini entry if you just want to start asking questions, but maybe overwhelmed with like a big deck. Um, and then I'm currently working on an adult to adult, like before you blend, things to talk about or ask each other, or how to support your partner in the blended family. So I'm venturing into new areas, just all lived experience, all things that my partner and I go through, but it's been really beneficial. Um, I can share like so some of the the cards are broken into sections. So there's growth, trust, communication, takeaway card, action, and fun cards. So activities you can do as a family to bond more, you know, get closer together, more teamwork activities.

unknown 21:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:48

And then just the questions. It's really meant to we leave ours at our dinner table. Um, so we all eat that's our something that's really important for us is to have dinner together as many nights a week as we can. But that's our coming together moment. All the kids have different sports and activities. Um, my daughter still goes 50-50 between me and her dad. The boys are with us full time, so there's a lot of things still happening that we can catch up on. But we'll we'll pull out a card or two. Um, it's better than like how with school today. Good. Yeah. How was your weekend? Fine. So it's open-ended. Um, and we've really learned a lot. It's really fun to see, you know, sometimes it's a card where we're like, oh, like this one's a little heavier, but a lot of great things can come from them too. So I've appreciated getting feedback from families. Uh, a lot of families say the kids actually really get excited about it. It turns into like a tradition, which was fun to hear. So it's just been really nice to see that other families are just starting to communicate and then you bond and then you connect more, or then you just understand each other or what each other needs.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

So it seems so simple, but it's so beautiful. Do you do you mind sharing like a fun card with us and then maybe like a I don't know, a growth card or something?

SPEAKER_01 23:08

Yeah, uh a fun card. I have like two great ones is like volunteer together. Can you do something outside of the family, but to do something for somebody else? Um, a food bank, uh, just a local shelter, things like that. Um, another one is a family talent show. So everyone's so different, come from different backgrounds. Go take like an hour, put something together, and kind of show off for the family and you know, just have fun and get to know each other's interests, you know, and what they're into or what they're skilled in. Um, so those are like fun ones. Um, let's see. Growth is always a good one. What are your favorite activities to do as a family? Just hearing individually. I think because all kids in a blended family are coming from different backgrounds. You've been raised differently, different things uh entertain you. So, what's something that you feel really good together? And then um, I love this one. What traditions from your previous family would you like to continue? Because I think it's really important to still honor their, you know, previous life. And maybe there were things that really meant something to them. Maybe maybe Christmas was like they had a certain tradition that they just really loved and it made them feel like home. Is it something we could incorporate now to still make that, you know, keep keep those traditions alive? And I think I have a different card in another section. Um, what's a new tradition we could start as this new family together? That is beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

I love that, especially the last one. We our family didn't have cards, but because Christmas was a huge deal to me, my son's bonus mom, who we now get along very well, by the way.

SPEAKER_02 25:00

I love you.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Yeah, we talk, we talk, we talk a lot. Like that's my girl. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:05

My post today on Instagram is all about my love for my daughter's bonus mom. So I love that. I relate to that a lot. It's a special relationship.

SPEAKER_00 25:13

It is, it really is. And it takes being grown to be able to do that. Um, especially knowing where we came, like the situation we were in and how we've grown. But she had like, oh, let's create a new tradition since you like having him on Christmas morning. We'll do Christmas Eve, like they would do the this uh scavenger hunt for the the gifts, like they would do a whole game so that he was a part of Christmas at their house too. And I love that she always used to come up with really good stuff at her house. But I was gonna say to you about these cards, those are really good cards in general, like for a family.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

For a family, yes. I'm actually getting a lot of feedback of that too from like nuclear families that just have, you know, I've had some friends that have bought it for blended families that they've known, but they do it with them and they're like, wait, I could use this in my family too. Like it isn't, yes, there is this, you know, focus on these co-parenting situations and blended families, um, because there's different things we have to overcome with putting that together, but also, yeah, there's some stuff that we should just be asking our families in general.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

Yes. That's definitely what I picked up. I was like, oh wait, we could do that here with you know with that family. Yeah. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

I like um what you talked about with the understanding the two homes and like extra to traditions, myself and my daughter's bonus mom. Um they're they have so five kids inclusive with my daughter over there, and then there's three with us. They're all around, they're all in the same like 16 through 13. So they're all in the same age range. And it was funny because a couple of years, like life just gets busy, and like all these kids have so much stuff. And there was one year um, everyone just had so many things, and we missed some like birthdays and stuff. And we did a happy everything day, so we all got together at like a trampoline park. Me, my ex-husband, his wife, all the kids, all our kids, and we just we did a big cake and I just wrote everyone's name on it. And it's just like happy everything because there was so much this year. You guys are such great kids. Trampoline park on us parents, we'll hang out. Um, and we also did a co-parenting cookout, which is was kind of similar to it was all of us, our exes, our kids, their partners, all that. And just had a cookout because it was, I think there's something even more beautiful when your kids can get to the point of seeing you um just content with the other parenting, like just seeing their two parents. You might not be together, but it still means something for them because they came from you exactly in celebration of something or just there for them. And so we've done like this summer thing and then this winter thing, which is I love that.

SPEAKER_00 28:10

That is so the co-parenting cookout, yeah. That's so cool, and then but also like that. Let's celebrate everything together. Like, yeah, we had so much stuff going on because there is this pressure of like, oh no, okay, gotta attend this party, and then so-and-so's party is gonna be two weeks from then. So we also have but doing it all together.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Holidays, and yes.

SPEAKER_00 28:33

It was really everybody time and everybody money.

SPEAKER_01 28:37

It took there was such a relief of like, because I love I love I love celebrating people's birthdays. Um, friends, family, whatever kids. I think it's a really special day for anybody. And so I was feeling that like mom guilt of like, oh my gosh, I missed like saying happy birthday or blah blah blah to like, you know, kind of these extra bonus kids. Yeah. And it was so once we were like, Do you want to do this? Let's do this. And we both were like, as moms, like, oh that was so genius.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

It was very genius, and and it takes the stress off of just one person of like trying to plan all the stuff because you all put it all together and you're like, all right, who's doing what? We got all there, there's all these parts, but like we got this big cake. We don't have to buy 10 different cakes. One big cake. We're all here. How did the kids feel about that?

SPEAKER_01 29:29

They loved it. Um, I I was just gonna say, I think too, it's such a celebration for the kids, and as a kind of this really big extended family, like, oh my gosh, we have all this support. Oh my gosh, we have all these parents that show up for us, or oh my gosh, I have all these unique routes of uh siblings, even in a way, like at least people and friends I can go to, and we're all here celebrating each other. So, and I know this isn't like I know it's not for everybody, I know it doesn't work for all families. I always try to disclose that we've come a very long way. But it but it can be, and I I always tell people too if you can just take a snippet of that hope or little things you could change or incorporate into your family, it doesn't have to be this. You don't have to have like a celebrate everything party with people you you were once with, right? But if you can take one small thing away that will just help for your family, that's all I like look to have. So I agree, I agree.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

You don't have to be friends because I think that's a big deal with people. It's like I don't want to be their friend, I don't want to be my ex's friend, or I don't want to be his wife's friend, and you don't have to be, you don't have to, but if you find a way to make it fine yes for the kids, for the kids.

SPEAKER_01 30:50

Yep. How can we just be uh what is it copesthetic? Yes, how can we just be adults? Can we just be adults? Yes, yeah. I want to share it like that. Can we just be adults?

SPEAKER_00 31:05

Be adults, yeah. So what's one tip that you would share with someone who's co-parenting? Like what's the it's like these are all the things that I've learned as a co-parent, but this one thing I think would be really helpful because I'm sure you could go on and on. There's several things you learn in this journey. Yeah. But what's the one that like I guess was the most profound to you or the one that made you feel like, okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:35

I think it's that it's really that separating of your relationship with the ex and your child's relationship. Because at the end of the day, that's what will fuels that will fuel all those that hurt, all that there's so many negative things that can come if that's not healthy. Doing your work, um, processing your own work is huge. Um, a big component of like mental health and therapy. I think it's a beautiful tool for everybody. And I just think if you can do the work and you can separate those emotions, you can navigate this change, you can navigate this new chapter, you can, you know, be a better parent, you can be a better uh partner, you can be, and that means for your next partner too, because if you can't heal what's there with your co-parent, you're not gonna have anything down the road.

SPEAKER_02 32:29

No.

SPEAKER_01 32:30

Um, because it's gonna it's gonna spill out in another way. Um, so I think it's doing your work and separating emotions is the best thing you can do for yourself and your child.

SPEAKER_00 32:42

Yeah, I agree. Totally agree with that. Thank you so much for that. This was a great interview. I could go on and on and on with you. I told you before we got on here, I was like, me and you could talk all day. We could talk forever. Um, I love having guests who I just really connect with, but thank you so much for being here. I'm gonna pray um out of here, and then I'm gonna just close out. So before we do that, however, I want you to share with everybody like where on social media they can find you, how they can link up with you. And if you have anything going on right now, maybe that you other, you know, you could talk about your cards. If there's anything else you want them to know, like about what's going on for you.

SPEAKER_01 33:26

Yeah, you can find me and the cards on Instagram is at the blended bond. The website too is blendedbond.com, nice and easy. And like I said, I'm always expanding because there it was so hard to only do one to start, but I needed just a general packet and a general deck. And now I can, you know, go into more areas more in depth that I've been in and been through. So those will be coming. Like I have the single parent one that's out now, it's digital version, easy instant download. Um, and then like I said, I have an adult-only one coming. I have one for if you're just starting to date after um divorce, that will be coming too. So there's just a lot of layers that help to be a little more specific for all the different modern families that there are. Um, so yeah, you can find me there.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

That sounds like a lot of amazing things going on. I love it. Yeah, and those decks are gonna be really helpful, especially it sounds like a helpful tool for those who are going to utilize it. And I think families can benefit in a huge way if they do so. Kudos to you on that, not just starting one, but like you're like, you know what? I am now expanding so on all of them, on all of them.

SPEAKER_01 34:41

Yeah. And like I said, I only my dream was to help if I can help one family. Because this is it's a hard, this is not easy. It's not for everyone. Co-parenting isn't, being a single parent isn't, being a blended family isn't, but it's not all meant to be easy, like, and it's all you get so much growth out of every chapter that you have. So I'm just eager to share it all and help people where I can. Yeah, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 35:08

Well, um, if you all did not catch it, don't worry because her information will be in the show notes. So no worries, no worries. But we I'm gonna pray us out of here. Um, again, thank you for being a guest today. Of course, thank you. This has been wonderful. It has. I know we're gonna be talking outside of here, so I'm not worried. All right, but so let it, I'm gonna just have a little short prayer. So, Father God, thank you for this divine connection. I know that everyone that you connect me with is orchestrated by you, and it's for a reason. I always learn something new from the people that I encounter. And I'm just grateful. I'm grateful for this just being able to be in this position to be able to meet all these amazing people and to be able to connect with other moms who may be experiencing some of the things I'm experiencing or have experienced. Um, they're so knowledgeable and the different areas that they're in and the things that they've gone through in life. And so it's just been so amazing to hear the feedback from the listeners. And so I know that this too is going to be this episode is going to be a blessing to so many. I just um ask that you cover and bless Ashley and her family and her business because the what she has to offer families is going to be so amazing, and it's going to be so helpful. Like, I can I as as I shared on the podcast, like this is something that can help other families as well. Just sitting and having this open communication, and that's one layer of this co-parenting journey. And so I just ask that you continue to bless her and her family along the way and all the things that they are experiencing, have experienced it, have experienced, and that the thing that she's offering to two families, her deck is a blessing to so many. I ask that you bless the listeners, everyone who is in earshot of this podcast episode. I ask that um something that either of us said blesses them or touch them in some way and help them to be able to move the needle just a little bit further. This journey can be a very difficult one. And I hope something that we said helped somebody today. Um, I ask that you continue to cover us all, bless us all, and keep us. And I ask all of this in your son's mighty name. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 37:41

Amen. Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 37:43

That's I that's incredible.

SPEAKER_01 37:45

I appreciate that a lot.

SPEAKER_00 37:46

Thank you. So praying on my podcast was something that when it was presented by God when when when I was given this a podcast, because I was like, Lord, I do not want to do a podcast. I don't want to do and I didn't want to do it right at that time, and it was because I am a little bit of a perfectionist. So I wanted like a proper scene. I was like, no, the aesthetics has to be right, right? And so and so I didn't want to do it, but it was like a very strong push of like, you need to do the podcast, and not only that, but you're going to pray on the podcast. And then I really was like, this podcast just ain't gonna happen because I don't like praying where other people can hear me. My relationship with God has always been that where I can walk through my house and talk. And I'm like, that's how I pray. I don't know how to pray with people. And he was like, just do the thing. Just do it. Yeah. That's all I asked you to do, is do the thing. I love that. So it has been a learning experience, but it's also been a blessing because I'm definitely um getting more comfortable with it.

SPEAKER_01 38:57

I will say, Oh, you're fantastic. This is great.

SPEAKER_00 39:01

Thank you so much again. Thank you so much for being an uh guest here today. Again, everyone who is watching, listening, whatever, go out and get the deck. It sounds like it's Ashley's gonna send me one. I'm gonna send you one, yep. Because that is it, that is just like I said, I can see using it in my family as well. And so it's going to be a blessing to so many.

SPEAKER_01 39:27

So special code for your listeners too. So I'll send you that as well.

SPEAKER_00 39:31

That'll be cool. We'll put that in the show notes, guys. So look out for the special code. Um, again, thank you all for being here. Um, I hope this podcast episode was a blessing to you. God bless you, and see you next time.