Five kids. Two parenting styles. One rocky first Christmas. Scott and Deana Thayer share how faith, grit, and their “95/5” rule turned chaos into connection—helping blended families find hope, healing, and love that lasts through every messy moment.

Divorce hurts. But for kids, it can feel like their world’s split in two. Summer Butler shares her story and a workbook that helps kids process emotions, set boundaries, and handle life between two homes—leveraging drawing, writing, and real talk.

What helps a blended family bond after loss? Should you force togetherness—or let it grow? Author Rob Bugh, wife Rhonda, and their adult kids unpack grief, grace, awkward blended holidays, and healing in an honest, hopeful look at rebuilding family.

When a child loses a parent, grief doesn't end for them. And when they join a stepfamily, we need to come alongside with love and support as parents & stepparents and honor their pain and memories. Ron Deal talks with Diane Fromme about best ways to help.

A neurodivergent marriage includes at least one partner with a neurodevelopmental condition like autism or ADHD. Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Stephanie & Dan Holmes on the challenges of their neurodivurgent marriage, how to recognize it, & strategies to cope.

In-law relationships can be tenuous, especially those with ex-spouses. Ron Deal speaks with Dave & Ashley Willis about building bridges, not battlegrounds, through healthy boundaries and grace-filled conversations that prevent powerlessness.

Ron Deal and Gayla Grace answer questions from Blended & Blessed: how do I cope with feeling torn between my kids and my spouse; how do I talk to my teen who doesn't want me to remarry; how do we manage the common ghosts of marriage past, and much more.

Blake Hudspeth tells Ron Deal about growing up in multiple stepfamilies pieced together from death & divorce. As a result, he carried unresolved wounds into adulthood & gives advice to parents on helping their kids navigate growing up blended.

Every blended family navigates common stages on their way to finding familyness. But some get stuck along the way. Others experience a detour or two. Gayla Grace shares the six stages of stepfamily development and tips on how to navigate them well.

Good co-parenting with a former spouse helps our kids navigate life in two homes with greater ease. Ron Deal's conversation with Jay and Tammy Daughtry teaches us how to be parental partners, not angry associates, through a businesslike relationship.

According to Dr. John Townsend there are four essential character traits essential for stronger relationships: attachment, separation, integration, and adulthood. He shares with Ron Deal what's required in each that helps raise resilient kids.

We've heard them all: "wicked" stepparents, replacing bio-parents, and more. Ron Deal and Gayla Grace debunk popular step-parenting myths.

The stepmom-stepdaughter relationship can be hard to navigate in blended families. Ron Deal talks with Jessica & Jayla Pickens about their struggles, which began early & continued for years, how they cut through tension, and built a trusting relationship.

Tim & Olivia Smith brought six kids into their blended family. They share with Ron Deal the joys and challenges of relationship building. Tim’s daughter, Christie, joins in with her perspective as a teenager from the early years of their blended family.

Robert & Jennie Lord both grew up in blended families and share their story with Ron Deal of the impact from the maze of multiple stepparents, challenges in relationship building and their desire to now build healthy relational bonds in their own family.

What do you do with feelings like anger, jealousy, hurt, or rejection in your blended family? Listen to Ron Deal’s conversation with Dr. Alison Cook, who offers a three-step process to work through hard feelings and find healing and hope for your journey.

On this episode of FamilyLife Today, hosts Dave and Ann Wilson join FamilyLife Blended podcast host Ron Deal for an inspiring conversation with Fred and Anita Von Cannon. The Von Cannons share their powerful story of overcoming family trauma, building a blended family, and the transformative role of the gospel in their marriage and parenting journey.

Luke Landwer was young when his parents divorced, and he enjoyed time with just his mom for many years. When she remarried a man with six kids, Luke made many adjustments. Listen to his conversation with Ron Deal about adjusting to a bigger family.