Blended Family Breakthrough
We're Mike and Kim Anderson and we believe in a world where blended families experience a future full of hope, connection, and peace. That's why we focus on helping couples in stepfamilies move from a place of confusion and conflict to a life of confidence and connection. Thanks for joining us to discover how you can live the blended family life you really want!
If you've been following us for a while — yes, we recently changed the podcast name from "The Blended Family Coaching Show" to "Blended Family Breakthrough". Thanks for noticing!
Episodes
355 episodes
237. Communication Frustration? Gain Powerful Tools & Insight to Help Reduce Conflict & Stay Connected
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our 25 years of marriage, parenting, and blended family life, it’s this: communication problems aren’t about bad intentions more often, they’re about lacking the right tools. In this episode, we...
Simple Step: Navigating Mother's Day
ResourcesEpisode 236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]Episode 157.
236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]
In this episode, we sit down with our friend Gayla Grace for a deeply encouraging conversation about what it really takes to build a strong blended family over time. Gayla candidly shares about the challenges she and her husband faced while ble...
Simple Step. The Value of 1 on 1 Bio-Time
Resources from this episodeEpisode 235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong TurnsEpisode 103.
235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong Turns
When we got married, we stepped into blended family life with a lot of hope, but also a lot of unrealistic expectations. We thought connection would come quickly, parenting would feel natural, and our new family would settle into place easily. ...
Simple Step: Outlaw Words that Drive Negativity
ResourcesEpisode 234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope Episode 106. How to Avoid "Outlaw Words" [...
234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope
The reality is, blended family life gives us plenty of painful moments to get caught up in: tension with an ex, a hard interaction with a stepchild, a family activity that goes sideways, or marital conflict. And it is easy for one negative mome...
Simple Step: 3 Financial Questions with Brian K. Peterson
ResourcesGet your FREE copy of Blended Family Finances (limited offer) by Brian K. PetersonTo connect with Brian,
233. Building a Life You Love: How to Reduce Stress and Create a Unified Financial Vision [with Brian K. Peterson]
Money is a hard topic for any couple, but in a blended family, it often carries even more weight. It’s rarely just about numbers. It’s about history, protection, prior commitments, loyalty, fear, values, and the future you’re trying to build to...
Simple Step: How to Manage Yourself When You're Missing Your Kids
ResourcesEpisode 232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's WellbeingArticle from Navesink Wellness C...
232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's Wellbeing
If you’ve ever wrestled with the question, “How often should my child be in contact with their other parent during my time?”, you've probably realized this isn’t really about phone calls. It’s about the invisible pressure kids feel to ...
Simple Step: Boundaries Between Homes
ResourcesEpisode 231. When Your Ex Starts Dating: How to Handle their New Partner and Protect Your KidsEpisode 170.
231. When Your Ex Starts Dating: How to Handle Their New Partner and Protect Your Kids
If you’ve ever felt that jolt of panic when your child shares that they've been spending time with "daddy's new girlfriend" or "mommy's new boyfriend"……you’re not alone. That moment can trigger fear, jealousy, grief, and of c...
Simple Step: Working Through Decision Dilemmas
ResourcesEpisode 230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family DivisionEpisode 203.
230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family Division
Ever tried to make a seemingly straightforward family decision (something that should be easy) only to feel the tension rise, opinions harden, and lines get drawn? You’re not imagining it. In blended families, decisions can feel like l...
Simple Step: Managing Loyalties & Priorities in Your Home
ResourcesEpisode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended FamilyEpisode 206.
229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How To Help
If you’ve ever watched your child’s mood shift the moment they step into a handoff…Or felt the sting of being kept at arm’s length for reasons you can’t explain… You’re not imagining it. In blended families, kids ...
Simple Step: Overcome Your Obstacles
ResourcesLast week's episode :Episode 228. How 4 Simple Steps Can Transform Your Family's Struggles into Amazing Wins This Year <...
228. Ready for Change? A Simple 4-Step Plan for Blended Family Wins in the New Year!
Those of us facing the common challenges of blending often feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or discouraged. It’s easy to drift into survival mode and settle for “not that bad.”In this episode, we'll share a clear plan to move forward in a s...
Simple Step: Incremental Progress
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227. Our Kid's Most Memorable Holiday Moments: The Good, Bad, and Imperfect Truth [with Annika, Phoebe & Jacob]
Do you ever spend time reminiscing?We seem to think back a lot from our current empty next vantage point. It can be great to recall some of those funny moments in our history. And it's meaningful when we recount the tough sea...
Simple Step: Pitfalls of Co-Parenting as 'Perfect Pals'
Questions to Ask YourselfAm I continuing to engage in “first-family” activities with my ex (even though we’re divorced), mainly because I’m trying to guard my children from experiencing any disappointment or discomfo...
226. How Two Homes Raise Kids that Thrive: A Co-Parenting Blueprint for Caring Parents [with Jay & Tammy Daughtry]
If you’re co-parenting between two homes, you already know: your kids are watching everything. How you talk about their other parent, handle handoffs, respond to schedule changes, and react when the ex sends that text. Thes...
Simple Step: Teaching Kids Gratitude
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know!We've made it easy. Just click here:
225. Gratitude Superpower: How to Boost Hope and Connection Through Challenging Seasons
You want this season to feel special for your blended family. But instead of joy, you’re feeling grumpy, anxious, or even a little hopeless. Schedule changes, empty chairs at the table, tension with an ex, and slow bonding in step-relationships...