On today’s episode of the stronger marriage connection, Dr. Dave and Dr. Liz sit
down with author and expert on blended families, Ron L. Deal, to bring you the leading research, tips and tools about how to create successful step family relationships. If you are navigating remarriage and/or blending a family unit, join the conversation and learn what may help you on your journey!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Who is Ron Deal?
2:35 – How common are step families and step relationships in the US today?
4:15 – A new phenomenon: first time married couples forming blended families
6:57 – Unique difficulties that step families often experience
8:44 – When parenting struggles negatively affect the marital relationship
10:07 – The Fear Factor - how it plants seeds of guardedness and negativity
13:04 – Self mastery & controlling our negative emotions
16:55 – What separates unhappy remarriages from happy remarriages?
18:20 – The different ways jealousy comes up in blended families
20:24 – “Choose the pain” to understand what is going on with you
22:02 – Dating is not very predictive of the realities of remarriage & step families
24:01 – What is the focus of Ron Deal’s book Smart Stepfamily Marriage: Keys to Success in Blended Families?
26:00 – Your remarriage is the first and last motivator for your family to become a family
29:14 – Step parents - allow the child to dictate the pace at which they open up you
31:38 – The biggest mistake a parent can make when he or she is dating
33:00 – You can’t become a mature partner, parent or friend without humility
36:31 – Ron Deal’s takeaway: the journey of being a blended family may not be what you expected or hoped, but it is not without promise
38:04 – Liz’s takeaway: persistence! Step families have a higher divorce rate because of the difficulties, so it takes persistence
38:48 – Dave’s takeaway: don’t let parenting struggles become struggles for the couple relationship

About Ron Deal:
Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is the director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and consulting editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart (with Dr. Gary Chapman), The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, and Preparing to Blend. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular
conference speaker, and host of the FamilyLife Blended podcast. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at FamilyLife.com/blended.

Insights:
Ron: Humble people who can make changes over time will deepen trust and intimacy in their relationship.
Dave: The process of family blending takes patience and time and understanding and love and kindness. Like an extra double dose of all of that.
Liz: All couples have struggles, but remarriages and stepfamilies have some unique struggles and challenges.

Invites:
   ●    If you are a dating parent, engage your kids in "what if" conversations. You could ask, “what if dad started dating again?” or “this guy has kids of his own, how would you feel if mom were to date him?”. This will help you make better decisions about when and where to introduce your kids to the person you’re dating.
   ●    Practice chasing the pain, as Ron Deal mentioned. Next time you are triggered by something your partner does, ask yourself “what is this telling me?” or “what is going on inside me and is there a better way for me to handle this feeling than I have in the past?”. Don't let the past invade your present.
   ●    Visit smartstepfamilies.com to discover more resources about step families and remarriage. Then share the website and what you learned with people you know who are in stepfamily relationships and would benefit from Ron Deal’s work.

Ron Deal Links:
- https://familylifeblended.com/blended
- https://smartstepfamilies.com
- https://rondeal.org
- https://www.facebook.com/familylifeblended
- https://www.instagram.com/familylifeblended/
- https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyLifeBlended
- https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-blended-podcast/

Visit our site for FREE relationship resources and regular giveaways:

Strongermarriage.org

podcast.strongermarriage.org

Facebook: StrongerMarriage.org
Instagram: @strongermarriagelife
TikTok: @strongermarriagelife


Dr. Dave Schramm:

https://drdaveschramm.com

https://drdavespeaks.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DrDaveUSU

Facebook Marriage Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/770019130329579

Facebook Parenting Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/542067440314642



Dr. Liz Hale:

http://www.drlizhale.com/

On today’s episode of the stronger marriage connection, Dr. Dave and Dr. Liz sit down with author and expert on blended families, Ron L. Deal, to bring you the leading research, tips and tools about how to create successful step family relationships. If you are navigating remarriage and/or blending a family unit, join the conversation and learn what may help you on your journey!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Who is Ron Deal? 2:35 – How common are step families and step relationships in the US today? 4:15 – A new phenomenon: first time married couples forming blended families 6:57 – Unique difficulties that step families often experience 8:44 – When parenting struggles negatively affect the marital relationship 10:07 – The Fear Factor - how it plants seeds of guardedness and negativity 13:04 – Self mastery &amp; controlling our negative emotions 16:55 – What separates unhappy remarriages from happy remarriages? 18:20 – The different ways jealousy comes up in blended families 20:24 – “Choose the pain” to understand what is going on with you 22:02 – Dating is not very predictive of the realities of remarriage &amp; step families 24:01 – What is the focus of Ron Deal’s book Smart Stepfamily Marriage: Keys to Success in Blended Families? 26:00 – Your remarriage is the first and last motivator for your family to become a family 29:14 – Step parents - allow the child to dictate the pace at which they open up you 31:38 – The biggest mistake a parent can make when he or she is dating 33:00 – You can’t become a mature partner, parent or friend without humility 36:31 – Ron Deal’s takeaway: the journey of being a blended family may not be what you expected or hoped, but it is not without promise 38:04 – Liz’s takeaway: persistence! Step families have a higher divorce rate because of the difficulties, so it takes persistence 38:48 – Dave’s takeaway: don’t let parenting struggles become struggles for the couple relationship
About Ron Deal: Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is the director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and consulting editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart (with Dr. Gary Chapman), The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, and Preparing to Blend. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular conference speaker, and host of the FamilyLife Blended podcast. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at FamilyLife.com/blended.
Insights: Ron: Humble people who can make changes over time will deepen trust and intimacy in their relationship. Dave: The process of family blending takes patience and time and understanding and love and kindness. Like an extra double dose of all of that. Liz: All couples have struggles, but remarriages and stepfamilies have some unique struggles and challenges.
Invites:    ●    If you are a dating parent, engage your kids in "what if" conversations. You could ask, “what if dad started dating again?” or “this guy has kids of his own, how would you feel if mom were to date him?”. This will help you make better decisions about when and where to introduce your kids to the person you’re dating.    ●    Practice chasing the pain, as Ron Deal mentioned. Next time you are triggered by something your partner does, ask yourself “what is this telling me?” or “what is going on inside me and is there a better way for me to handle this feeling than I have in the past?”. Don't let the past invade your present.    ●    Visit smartstepfamilies.com to discover more resources about step families and remarriage. Then share the website and what you learned with people you know who are in stepfamily relationships and would benefit from Ron Deal’s work.
Ron Deal Links: - <a href="https://familylifeblended.com/blended">https://familylifeblended.com/blended</a>  - <a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com">https://smartstepfamilies.com</a> - <a href="https://rondeal.org">https://rondeal.org</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/familylifeblended">https://www.facebook.com/familylifeblended</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/familylifeblended/">https://www.instagram.com/familylifeblended/</a> - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyLifeBlended">https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyLifeBlended</a> - <a href="https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-blended-podcast/">https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-blended-podcast/</a>
Visit our site for FREE relationship resources and regular giveaways:
<a href="https://extension.usu.edu/strongermarriage/">Strongermarriage.org</a>
<a href="https://extension.usu.edu/strongermarriage/podcast/">podcast.strongermarriage.org</a>
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/strongermarriage">StrongerMarriage.org</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/strongermarriagelife/">@strongermarriagelife</a> TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@strongermarriagelife">@strongermarriagelife</a>
 Dr. Dave Schramm:
<a href="https://drdaveschramm.com">https://drdaveschramm.com</a>
<a href="https://drdavespeaks.com">https://drdavespeaks.com</a>
Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DrDaveUSU">https://www.facebook.com/DrDaveUSU</a>
Facebook Marriage Group:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/770019130329579">https://www.facebook.com/groups/770019130329579</a>
Facebook Parenting Group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/542067440314642">https://www.facebook.com/groups/542067440314642</a>
 
Dr. Liz Hale:
<a href="http://www.drlizhale.com/">http://www.drlizhale.com/</a>

It's often said that marriage takes work. The Stronger Marriage Connection podcast wants to help because a happy marriage is worth the effort. USU Family Life Professor Dr. Dave Schramm and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Liz Hale talk with experts about the principles and practices that will enhance your commitment, compassion, and emotional connection. 

More than ever before, marriages face obstacles, from the busyness of work and daily hassles to disagreements and digital distractions. It's no wonder couples sometimes drift apart, growing resentful, lonely, and isolated.

The Utah Marriage Commission invites you to listen and discover new ways to strengthen and protect your marriage connection today!

It's often said that marriage takes work. The Stronger Marriage Connection podcast wants to help because a happy marriage is worth the effort. USU Family Life Professor Dr. Dave Schramm and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Liz Hale talk with experts about the principles and practices that will enhance your commitment, compassion, and emotional connection. 
More than ever before, marriages face obstacles, from the busyness of work and daily hassles to disagreements and digital distractions. It's no wonder couples sometimes drift apart, growing resentful, lonely, and isolated.
The Utah Marriage Commission invites you to listen and discover new ways to strengthen and protect your marriage connection today!

Stronger Marriage Connection

It's often said that marriage takes work. The Stronger Marriage Connection podcast wants to help because a happy marriage is worth the effort. USU Family Life Professor Dr. Dave Schramm and psychologist Dr. Liz Hale talk with experts about the principles and practices that will grow your commitment, compassion, and emotional connection. 

More than ever before, marriages face obstacles, from the busyness of work and daily hassles to disagreements and digital distractions. It's no wonder why couples sometimes drift apart, becoming resentful, lonely, and isolated.

The Utah Marriage Commission invites you to listen and discover new ways to strengthen and protect your marriage connection today!

It's often said that marriage takes work. The Stronger Marriage Connection podcast wants to help because a happy marriage is worth the effort. USU Family Life Professor Dr. Dave Schramm and psychologist Dr. Liz Hale talk with experts about the principles and practices that will grow your commitment, compassion, and emotional connection. 
More than ever before, marriages face obstacles, from the busyness of work and daily hassles to disagreements and digital distractions. It's no wonder why couples sometimes drift apart, becoming resentful, lonely, and isolated.
The Utah Marriage Commission invites you to listen and discover new ways to strengthen and protect your marriage connection today!

Advertisement