234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope
Blended Family BreakthroughShow Notes
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 moment to become the headline. In this episode, we unpack negativity bias, our tendency to notice the negative faster, feel it deeper, and replay it longer. When it goes unchecked, it can shape how we make decisions and relate to the people we love. A...
More from Blended Family Breakthrough
Moving between two homes is simply part of life for many kids after a divorce. Have you ever stopped to consider how much physical and emotional energy each transition requires? Kids may be shifting between different routines, expectations, relationships, responsibilities, and environments, all while keeping track of clothes, schoolwork, sports gear, electronics, and everything else that needs to travel with them. Even when kids have healthy relationships with both parents, constantly adjusti...
Resources Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal and Gary Chapman 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: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see h...
Adding an "ours baby" can be a beautiful new chapter, but it can also stir up emotions and family dynamics you didn’t expect. We experienced that firsthand when Annika (then seven), asked Kim (who was pregnant), “Will you be closer to the baby than you are to me?” Her question revealed what many children in blended families wonder when a shared baby arrives: Where do I fit now, and do I still matter just as much? In this episode, we explore how an "ours baby" can impact kids who move be...
Deciding whether to have an “ours baby” is deeply personal, and in a blended family, the decision can carry some unique complexities. We know because we’ve lived it. When we were building our life together, Mike felt certain that he wanted the opportunity to have a biological child, while Kim had already reached a place of contentment raising her one child. As our relationship grew, so did our conversations about what we each wanted, what concerned us, and what adding a baby might mean for ou...
Resources Simple Step: Managing Loyalties & Priorities in Your Home Episode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended Family Episode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfall to Ensure a Successful Partnership Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences (Trapped Teammate / Stranded Stranger dynamic) Episode 77. 3 Unique Differences That Make a Blended Family Marriage Challenging Episode 160. A 4-Part Frame...