Remarriage after widowhood carries unique challenges and unwanted transitions. But hard dynamics in the beginning can move toward bonded relationships & family unity with time & effort. Listen to Rod & Rachel Faulkner Brown discuss their family with Ron.
Our past affects our present. And when we experience complicated blended family dynamics as a child, we're forever changed. Listen to Scott Kedersha share with Ron Deal how his blended family upbringing has impacted his parenting and marriage as an adult.
Do you wonder about God's purpose and intent for marital sexuality within marriage? Do you need help on how to nurture and protect this aspect of marriage? Listen to Ron Deal's message: God's Purpose and Intent for Sexuality.
Trauma and suffering can impact families in unexpected ways. Joel and Vaneetha Risner share with Ron Deal the positive effects of loss and suffering and how it helped to ground their faith, trust God in deeper ways, and bond their blended family.
Conflicts are inevitable on family journeys. Rodney and Annetta Whitney share their journey, confusing dynamics, and their light bulb moments with Ron Deal. Stepparent, if you feel like an outsider, keep having hard discussions and don't give up.
Do you have trouble organizing your life? Your family calendar? Well, help is on the way! Ron Deal speaks with James and Ginger Dellaripa about the challenges of blended family management including schedules, co-parenting, custody, and more.
Have you ever wondered how to be thankful in a hard season in your blended family? Listen to Ron Deal and Gayla Grace talk about finding joy, regardless of our circumstances, as we focus on God’s faithfulness, His provision, and His promises.
Helping your kids with their emotions is a critical life skill, yet we often don’t equip kids with these valuable skills. Ron Deal speaks with Michelle Nietert, LPC, about common feelings kids in blended families experience and how parents can help.
High-conflict co-parenting is a common struggle in blended families. Ron Deal speaks with Diane Dierks & Rick Voyles on how to improve co-parenting conflict as you prioritize what you're fighting for, change your response, & consider your kids first.
Blended families come in all shapes and sizes. Each family is unique with its own complexities. Chris and Yodit Brooks share their stories growing up in a stepfamily and wisdom they've gained from raising their adopted and biological children.
Holidays can be a stressful time juggling visitations, planning activities, and managing feelings. Emotions in blended families are often magnified during Christmas. Gayla & Ron offer practical ways to promote positivity so your holiday can be enjoyable.
Roles in traditional homes grow with the family. But in stepfamilies, it's not always clear how everything should work.
No one wants to walk through grief and suffering. But God uses hard times to grow us up and discover hope in Him. Ron Deal talks with Davey & Kristi Blackburn about how to trust God's faithfulness in our pain and find healing and restoration through Him.
It's not uncommon to carry unresolved residue into our new family, but It can affect our ability to form trust & intimacy with others. Ron Deal speaks with Moe & Paige Becnel about how to wrestle with our ghosts of marriage past and lessen their power.
Blended family life doesn't often start with every relationship in harmony. But it's not unusual to develop it along the way. Ron Deal speaks with Gil and Brenda Stuart about how disappointment and confusion eventually morphed into redemption and joy.
Former NFL player Jeff Kemp has spent decades connecting with men. He shares with Ron Deal why healthy male friendships are valuable and how men can cope with struggles of insecurity, comparison, and shame by understanding their identity in our Father God.
Men want harmony in their homes, but the dynamics of blended family life can threaten peaceful relationships. Mike Haney speaks with Ron Deal on how stepdads can create meaningful bonds with their stepchildren with intentional behavior for the long run.
When complicated circumstances show up in blended families, relationship-building slows down. Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Darrell Bock about how the death of his mom, a dad who traveled weekly, & a new stepmom with 3 kids created tension and unease for all.
Stepfamilies are fundamentally different than biological families which creates tension & ambiguity. Ron Deal speaks with Dr Patricia Papernow about key principles for healthy relationship building while navigating complex dynamics & competing priorities.
How can you establish your marital relationship as the foundation for the home when children preceded your union? Ron Deal & Gayla Grace offer practical tips on how to put your spouse in the front seat of your heart while still prioritizing your children.
Blending isn't the goal for stepfamilies; it suggests the family becomes one relationally, which rarely occurs. Other common cooking strategies don't work either. Then what does? Listen to Ron Deal and Gayla Grace discuss how crockpot cooking is the key.
Do you have a roadmap to follow on your blended family journey? We'd like to encourage using God's Word. Listen to Ron Deal & Gayla Grace, with stepcouple guests, talk about the value of scripture for families who are in need of hope and encouragement.
What are key stepping stones every stepfamily needs that will lead to healthy relationship building? Ron Deal and Gayla Grace discuss how perseverance, flexibility, commitment, Christ-likeness and other core attributes work together to create familyness.
What rules, principles, or contracts should you make with smartphones and your child? David Eaton, author of Smartphone Sanity, talks with Ron Deal about 8 major concerns to consider to keep smartphones from invading your home and hijacking your child.
Parents face devastating loss when alienated from their children due to a former spouse. But there is hope for redemption! Dr. Richard Marks shares his story with Ron Deal of re-connecting with his mom as an adult and enjoying a thriving relationship with her.
What does it mean to work smarter, not harder? How do we apply that to our relationships and why is it important? Listen to Ron Deal and Gayla Grace talk about unique blended family dynamics and the value of intentional behavior as we build relationships.
How did Ron Deal get started in blended family ministry? When was FamilyLife Blended birthed and what is Nicole Burns' role? What about Gayla Grace's start in ministry? Listen to Ron and Gayla tell their stories and how they intersect with FamilyLife.
Hey, blended families. We see you. We get it. Blended marriages have their own DNA. Their own complexity; their own issues. And that’s why we’ve created a breakout session just […]
Growing up in an unstable blended home with 7 stepmoms left Fred Von Canon determined to change his legacy. Listen to his conversation with Ron Deal as he & his wife Anita describe their commitment toward creating a godly home in their own blended family.
One of the most stressful aspects of blended family life is the relationship between a stepparent and stepkids. Here are four tips to help you manage the emotions you feel.