150 Parenting Foster Kids & Adopted Kids

Foster care and adoption present difficult dynamics with issues similar to blended families. How do you help a child cope with ambiguous loss or connect as a parent when children act out from prior wounds? The loss that results from separation from a first family carries deep wounds that manifest t…

149 A Special Edition: Growing Up Blended After Parental Loss: Laura Husband

Laura Husband, daughter of Columbia astronaut Rick Husband, was 12 years old when she endured her dad’s very public death. Laura shares with Ron Deal the layers of grief that followed with the lingering effects and expectations after an astronaut dies. When her mom began dating three years later, s…

148 Dealing With A Narcissist

How do you identify narcissism or cope with a narcissist? Ron Deal talks with counselor Laurel Slade-Waggoner about strategies in a relationship when someone seeks to control, manipulate, shift blame, gaslight, or behave in other narcissistic ways. Show Notes and Resources Check out Laurel's websi…

147 Reimagining Christian Sabbath

Does your family have a designated Sabbath? How do you spend that day? Author Kathi Lipp shares with Ron Deal her suggestions for reimagining Christian Sabbath that is a meaningful day with the Lord and one another as you prioritize rest and share a meal together. On Sabbath, we want to focus on wh…

146 Stepfamilies: Stepparent Dynamics and Your Marriage

The intersection of marriage and parenting often creates tension for stepcouples that leads to disagreements and, as a result, slows down relationship building. Listen to Ron Deal and Gayla Grace give valuable input on how to become a parenting team and strengthen your marriage in the process as y…

145 Physical Intimacy Issues for Stepfamily Couples

As a blended family couple, it’s not uncommon to experience sexual pitfalls that bring additional stress to your relationship. How do you prevent physical intimacy issues and work through those that have shown up? In this episode, Ron Deal and Gayla Grace talk about how to build trust and emotion…

144 Hope Is What the Dr. Ordered

The dynamics of blended family life can bring hopelessness, and we lose the ability to see a future where God can make our situation better. But there’s always hope for a brighter tomorrow. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Lee Warren, a neurosurgeon who has experienced personal trauma and …

143 Ghosts of Marriage Past—Dealing with Relationship Baggage

Ghosts of marriage past—triggers from past hurt that we carry into a new relationship—are common for blended family couples. But emotional ghosts don’t just appear from relationship baggage. We can be triggered by childhood wounds, grief, or other hurts that leave a residue on our heart and create …

142 Troubled Teens & Addiction Help

How do we help kids who are struggling with addictive behaviors? Ron Deal speaks with Dr Adrian Hickmon, who says we start by understanding the pain and void underneath their addiction, and then we must face the facts and determine the help they need. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about the …

141 Overcoming Stepparenting Myths

Stepparenting myths have been around a long time, and they can negatively impact stepparents if not understood well. Although there might be some truth to them, the non-truth messages create tension and confusion for us. Ron Deal talks with Gayla Grace about how to sort through the reality and fals…