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3 episodes with laura petherbridge
2 episodes with laura petherbridge
What can we learn from biblical blended families? Author and speaker Laura Petherbridge brings her years of study of biblical step-families to our conversation. There's a lot of dysfunction there, but also many examples of how God cares for the blended family. If you're going through struggles in your blended family, don't miss the biblical encouragement on Chris Fabry Live. Featured resource:Stepfamilies of the Bible: Timeless Wisdom for Blended Families For more information about the work of Care Net, click here. Chris Fabry Live is listener-supported. To support the program, click here.Become a Back Fence Partner: https://moodyradio.org/donateto/chrisfabrylive/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Blending families is not easy—but hope and guidance can be found in scripture. Tuesday on Mornings with Eric and Brigitte author of Stepfamilies of the Bible, Laura Petherbridge will offer practical insights and solutions for navigating the complex emotions, relationships, and challenges of today’s blended families. The Smart Stepmom Why Step Families are Different.pdfDonate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wrmbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The complex world of stepfamily relationships requires wisdom and patience. Today on Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson and Laura Petherbridge discuss the delicate balance stepmoms face when building trust with their stepchildren. Laura shares candid insights about boundaries, authority levels, and why rushing into remarriage isn't always the answer for single parents. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29
Combining families can be more challenging than people realize! On today's edition of Family Talk, Laura Petherbridge discusses why she dislikes the term "blended family." She explains that stepfamilies don't instantly merge but rather grow together and bond over time. Learn practical insights for navigating the unique dynamics of step-relationships with wisdom and patience. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29
Step-parenting can sometimes feel like walking through a minefield. On today's edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson sits down with author Laura Petherbridge to explore the unique challenges stepmothers face. Drawing from her personal experience and professional expertise, Laura offers practical wisdom for blending families and building healthy relationships with stepchildren. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29
In this heartwarming and humorous episode of NK Podcast Shared, host Lori is joined by the insightful Laura Petherbridge, also known as "The Smart Stepmom." Join them as they navigate the complex dynamics of blended families during the holiday season. Lori humorously reflects on how blended family experiences have contributed to her gray hair and general aging, even joking about needing a plastic surgeon who offers discounts for stepmoms. Together, they delve into the significance of self-care, the value of laughter, and the importance of maintaining realistic expectations to manage stress and disappointment. Whether discussing the intricacies of gift-giving, the emotional impact of holiday music, or the critical need to prioritize real-life connections over social media, Lori and Laura offer practical advice sprinkled with wit and wisdom. They also address the persistent challenges faced by stepfamilies, from navigating holiday schedules to maintaining fairness among children. Tune in and discover why, as Lori puts it, "Life is good. When you nacho." In this episode, we discuss: Self-care and Managing Stress Fairness in Gift-Giving Managing Blended Family Holiday Schedules Handling Emotional Triggers and Nostalgia Holiday Considerations Nacho Kids Academy Success Story: “Stepping Back Was the Best Thing I Did” "I thought I needed to parent my stepkids for our family to work, but it only caused fights and stress. Nacho Kids taught me that stepping back doesn't mean not caring—it means creating healthier relationships. Now, I focus on being a supportive partner, and my relationship with my stepkids has actually improved!" — Michelle H., Stepmom of 2
Be sure to visit cultureproof.net Please consider supporting the Culture Proof Podcast. We aim to bring engaging content that will challenge and equip Christians to live according to the Straight Edge of Scripture. All gifts are tax deductible. Our Address is: S.E. Ministries PO Box 1269 Saltillo MS, 38866 Episode sponsors: BJUPress Homeschool Culture Proof Listeners, Find out more about Techless THANKS! Culture Proof Podcast Theme "Believers" courtesy of Path of Revelation
Be sure to visit cultureproof.net Please consider supporting the Culture Proof Podcast. We aim to bring engaging content that will challenge and equip Christians to live according to the Straight Edge of Scripture. All gifts are tax deductible. Our Address is: S.E. Ministries PO Box 1269 Saltillo MS, 38866 Episode sponsors: BJUPress Homeschool Culture Proof Listeners, THANKS! Culture Proof Podcast Theme "Believers" courtesy of Path of Revelation
Helping ourselves and our children overcome loss is one of the biggest and most inevitable challenges in life. Our interview with Laura Petherbridge will help us answer the question: How should I cope with children who are confused about their family and torn between loyalty to their biological mother and me? When should I step back in conflicts and when should I insist that my husband stand up for me?
Author, speaker, and life coach, Laura Petherbridge joins Mornings with Eric and Brigitte on Friday to talk about her upcoming ZOOM event designed for any woman dating, engaged or married to a man with kids. Join her for Stepping Back without Stepping Out on June 21 at 7:30 p.m. EST ZOOM live or recording after at the SmartStepmom.com/events. How to step back from blended family drama and hurtful situations, while remaining loving, kind and compassionate. FAQs will be answered during event. Stepping Back Without Stepping Out - ZOOM - Live or Recording After - June 21See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When a marriage ends through divorce, it makes sense that the people involved would experience deep grief. So how do we care for those walking through it? What is a Christian approach to divorce-care and helping divorced individuals in the church? Laura Petherbridge, who suddenly found herself divorced at 29, joins Juli to share her experience as a divorcee, discuss the work she is doing, and explain how the Church can be a place of healing and empathy for those mourning the loss of their marriages. Guest: Laura Petherbridge Laura's Website: thesmartstepmom.com Laura's Instagram: @laurapetherbridge Java with Juli: #376: What Does God's Word Actually Say About Divorce and Remarriage? Java with Juli: #409: Divorce & Remarriage (Abuse, Infidelity, Porn & All the Hard Things) DivorceCare Celebrate Recovery Single Again Sign up for an Online Book Study! Java with Juli with Dr. Juli Slattery – Christian Discussions on Marriage, Sex and Singleness.
In this episode of Dr. Kathy Says, Dr. Kathy discusses the challenges faced by blended families with guest Laura Petherbridge. They delve into the vocabulary, grieving process, and the high divorce rates among recoupled families with children. With over 50% of US families in blended situations, the episode aims to help listeners understand and support those in stepfamilies.
Dr. Kathy invites author and speaker Laura Petherbridge to Dr. Kathy Says to dive into the topic of blended families. With a focus on understanding the vocabulary and dynamics of blended families, Dr. Kathy aims to provide insights for both individuals from intact families and those from blended families. Join her as she explores blended families' unique challenges and blessings in a series that promises to offer valuable information and perspective.
Silence, calm and peace can sometimes be hard to find during the holidays. Especially when considering a blended family. Typically stepfamilies consist of many family members, and extended family members. That’s why it’s extremely hard to organize and plan. In addition, each family member has an expectation, a vision, of how the holidays should play out. Wednesday on Mornings with Eric and Brigitte, author Laura Petherbridge joins us to help us navigate through the holiday season and gives us an opportunity to participate in: A Stepfamily Christmas: Why It's Different on Wednesday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. EST LIVE or Recording, free of charge. Register Here for A Stepfamily Christmas: Why It's Different - Free EventSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you're a stepmom, you know just how challenging this role can be. Stepmoms have quite the job and are often under-appreciated. In this episode, Mona and special guest Laura Petherbridge discuss how to manage step family dynamics, especially over the holidays. Laura is an expert in this area, and has authored five books, including The Smart Stepmom. Tune in to learn how to navigate the family dynamics as a stepmom to make your life and your family's life more meaningful.!
Are you dating, engaged, or married to a man with children? If so, you may be interested in a free Zoom seminar that is coming up with Laura Petherbridge. Laura will address the unique challenges of being a stepmom, offering perspective and helping to navigate this new role in your life. If you are feeling isolated and exhausted, this conversation and Zoom opportunity will let you know you're not alone and give you the tools to move forward with hope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Learn how churches can empower couples to "divorce-proof" their marriages as Laura Petherbridge shares insight and wisdom on fortifying marriages.
A re-marriage brings new and unique challenges into a child’s life, and moms and dads can feel extra pressure to build unity in the home. That’s particularly true around the holidays. There is a new normal that comes into play with a step family. The things that were normal in a first time family aren’t going to be normal anymore. Wednesday on Mornings with Eric and Brigitte, author and speaker, Laura Petherbridge will offer some tips for co-parenting during the holidays. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you're a stepmom, you know just how challenging this role can be. Stepmoms have quite the job and are often under appreciated. In this episode, Mona and special guest Laura Petherbridge discuss how to manage step family dynamics, especially over the holidays. Laura is an expert in this area, and has authored five books, including The Smart Stepmom. Tune in to learn how to navigate the family dynamics as a step mom to make your life and your family's life easier! Related Links Want more Mom Mentoring help from Mona?: https://liftable.tv/momslikeus/ Join the MomsLikeUs Academy: https://momslikeus.org/academy/ MOM-entum Killer Quiz: Find out if you're stuck in one of the most common MOM-entum Killers: https://bit.ly/2W1JTZM Check out the No-Regrets Motherhood Blueprint: https://momslikeus.org/shop/#courses Follow me on Social Media! FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/MonaCorwinAuthor INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/mona_corwin PODCAST: Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/momslikeus-podcast/id1538198488
Loving your kids is very important, but so is loving your spouse. How can you invest in your marriage this week? It's worth the effort to get closer to your spouse because a strong marriage makes a strong family. It can be easier to talk about parenting and sweep your marriage issues under the rug. On today's episode, Arlene shares a few things she has learned about marriage. You'll learn: 3:40 Here's the weird thing that happened to me in spin class 6:20 Providing stability to your kids 7:25 We don't live in a committed culture 9:00 Think of commitment like this, not that 11:40 I would be considerate to my spouse if he was considerate to me… 15:00 What's one thing you could do for your spouse today? 16:00 But my spouse is no longer novel or interesting… 18:00 My husband's glucose kick 19:50 Create more wonder in your marriage like this (check out Bill Farrel's interview in the archives) 22:00 Advice for stepfamilies (check out past interviews with Ron Deal and/or Laura Petherbridge in the archives) 24:00 Dropping off our oldest to college with tears If you want to learn more, read Arlene's book 31 Days to a Happy Husband. You can also take the masterclass here: happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband Arlene Pellicane is the host of the Happy Home podcast, speaker, and author of several books including Parents Rising and Screen Kids. The Happy Home is sponsored in part by Talk About. Use Promo Code HAPPYHOME to get 1 month free at TalkAboutDiscipleship.com.
Loving your kids is very important, but so is loving your spouse. How can you invest in your marriage this week? It's worth the effort to get closer to your spouse because a strong marriage makes a strong family. It can be easier to talk about parenting and sweep your marriage issues under the rug. On today's episode, Arlene shares a few things she has learned about marriage. You'll learn: 3:40 Here's the weird thing that happened to me in spin class 6:20 Providing stability to your kids 7:25 We don't live in a committed culture 9:00 Think of commitment like this, not that 11:40 I would be considerate to my spouse if he was considerate to me… 15:00 What's one thing you could do for your spouse today? 16:00 But my spouse is no longer novel or interesting… 18:00 My husband's glucose kick 19:50 Create more wonder in your marriage like this (check out Bill Farrel's interview in the archives) 22:00 Advice for stepfamilies (check out past interviews with Ron Deal and/or Laura Petherbridge in the archives) 24:00 Dropping off our oldest to college with tears If you want to learn more, read Arlene's book 31 Days to a Happy Husband. You can also take the masterclass here: happyhomeuniversity.com/happyhusband Arlene Pellicane is the host of the Happy Home podcast, speaker, and author of several books including Parents Rising and Screen Kids. The Happy Home is sponsored in part by Talk About. Use Promo Code HAPPYHOME to get 1 month free at TalkAboutDiscipleship.com.
You know, I can relate to many moms because of my personal experiences. I can relate to adoptive moms, empty nest moms, moms who have had breast cancer, those struggling with marriage issues, and so many other scenarios. However, there is a scenario that I do not personally have experience in: Being a stepmom. This is why today I'm welcoming my friend, Laura Petherbridge, onto the podcast today.Laura is an author, speaker, and coach who understands what it's like to be a stepmom, as well as what it's like to be a stepchild. She is a co-author of The Smart Stepmom: Practical Steps to Help You Thrive, which is a book I have recommended over and over to stepmoms I know!In this episode, you'll hear:Why it's not uncommon for children to resent their stepparents (especially after the wedding)The #1 thing a child's stepparent can do to help with a family transitionWhy it's crucial as a stepparent to process your own childhood painHow to learn not to take a child's behaviors personallyAnd much more!Even if you're not a stepparent, this episode is one to listen to! Laura is such a master at helping us understand the inner lives of both the child and adults navigating this family transition.Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/laura-petherbridge-110/Join Us Live in Holland, MI for a Marriage Getaway on Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2022: https://markandjill.org/getaway
There is a buzz in the news around the world on the topic of mental health - specialist and counselor Michelle Nietert shares some critical insights that will help us all; also, a representative from a ministry that reaches out to blended families, Kristine Stensland, drops by Mike's booth. Finally, author, speaker and life coach Laura Petherbridge is from Atlanta, and she shares on her ministry.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews Summer Butler with the Blended Book Co., author of “BLENDED: Aligning the Hierarchy of Heart + Home”. Summer and her husband have been blending for 11 years. She has two teenage stepsons and one “ours” son. The hardest part of blending for them was their marriage, not the stepkids. The personal baggage that was brought into their marriage caused them to struggle. In this episode, we discuss: Baggage brought into the relationship Growing up in a split family Having the stepkids full-time except every other weekend Losing yourself in the blend Different expectations for the stepkids vs. bio kid Check out Summer's website: summerbutler.com For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews stepmom Britt. Britt has been blending for over 4 years, has four stepkids, one bio son, and a daughter on the way. The hardest part of blending for her has been dealing with her significant other having Guilty Parent Syndrome and issues with the bio mom. Her best advice is to Nacho. In this episode, we discuss: Guilty Parent Syndrome Bio mom and her family causing issues in the blend Stepkids choosing to not visit Relationships with the stepkids changing Stepkids blaming the stepmom for wrecking their nuclear home For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
*** DISCLAIMER: Episode discusses suicide *** In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews stepmom Heather. Heather and her husband have been blending for 7 years. She has two stepsons, one of which unfortunately took his own life last year. In this episode, we discuss: Age gaps in the blend Being from a blend versus being in one Guilty Parent Syndrome Different relationships between stepmom and stepkids Losing a stepkid to suicide For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews stepmom Heather. Heather and her husband have been blending for 7 years. She has two stepsons, one of which unfortunately took his own life last year. In this episode, we discuss: Age gaps in the blend Being from a blend versus being in one Guilty Parent Syndrome Different relationships between stepmom and stepkids Losing a stepkid to suicide For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews stepmom Laura. Laura has been blending for 2 years, has one bio daughter and one stepson. Her husband has his bio kid full-time and Laura has her bio kid forty percent of the time. In this episode, we discuss: Custody changes When you have your bio kid less than your significant other has theirs When you and your partner both Nacho each other's kids Being a stepkid yourself and then becoming a stepmom Good intentions aren't always viewed as such For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews a childless stepmom who was a stepchild herself. She has been blending for two years and has two teenage stepkids. In this episode, we discuss: Bonding more with one stepkid than another Being “Mom” to the stepkid When bio mom is an elusive magical creature who visits occasionally Becoming a stepmom after being a stepkid For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews a stepmom in Pennsylvania. This stepmom has been blending for 4.5 years, has a teenage stepkid who moved in full-time last summer, and a bio daughter who she has 85% of the time. In this episode, we discuss: Visitation changes Non-enforcement of household expectations ADHD Kids Teenage stepkid Not liking your stepkids For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews stepmom Janajah. Janajah has been blending for five years and has one stepson and no bio kids. The first year of the blend her significant other had shared custody, but bio mom wouldn't let bio dad see the child. For the past four years, stepson has been staying with stepmom and bio dad. In this episode, we discuss: Visitation changes Learning where your place is in the blend Not taking things personally Teachers being put in the middle Not having alone time with your significant other For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews stepmom Priscilla. Priscilla has been blending for six years, has two teenage stepkids, and five bio kids. She was also a stepdaughter herself. In this episode, we discuss: Stepkid lying about bio kid Being forced to call stepdad “dad” Guilty Parent Syndrome Stepkid doesn't like stepmom Bio mom wanting family “back” For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews a stepmom in Tennessee. She became a stepmom at 16-years-old! She has been blending for three years, has a 10-year-old stepson, a two-year-old “ours” son, and a daughter on the way. In this episode, we discuss: Becoming a stepmom at 16 Dealing with different parenting styles Relationship with bio mom changes When mother-in-law is like mom to stepkid For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David, co-founders of Nacho Kids, interview Martin & Maria Erlandsson of the Swedish Podcast Bonus Pappa Plus Mama! They have been blending for six years. Maria has four bio kids and Martin has no bio kids. In this episode, we discuss: Being a stepparent with no kids of your own Wanting the stepparent to be a parent Relationships with the exes Not using the word “step” in your blend For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29-30, 2022 with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David, co-founders of Nacho Kids, interview stepmom Linda. Linda has been blending for three years, has three stepkids and two bio kids. Unfortunately, Linda is experiencing parental alienation as a bio mom and a stepmom. In this episode, we discuss: Rejection from the stepkids Harassment for stepkids and bio moms Complete alienation from bio kids Significant other in denial For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
Are you wanting to be the best stepmom you can be, but your efforts aren't bringing about the results you desire? Did you have high hopes of thriving as a stepmom, but now it's about just surviving? Join Ginger Hubbard and Katy Morgan along with special guest, Laura Petherbridge, as they discuss some of the challenges for parenting stepchildren and encouragement for stepmoms as they navigate their roles. *** For show notes and episode downloads, go to GingerHubbard.com/Podcast *** Support this podcast: https://www.gingerhubbard.com/support *** Sponsors for this episode: Teach Them Diligently | teachthemdiligently.net Children's Series | ***
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews a bio dad whose wife is an admitted control freak. They have been blending for two years and he has two bio daughters with a very high conflict bio mom. In this episode, we discuss: Dealing with a high conflict ex Guilty parent syndrome What Nachoing did to their family Compound conflictions Parental alienation For more information about the event in Fort Worth, Texas with Laura Petherbridge, go to NachoKids.com/fortworth2022.
We're starting 2022 with a new episode! Steve and Laura Petherbridge have been married for 36 years. If you understand stepfamilies, you know that's actually 504 years of blended covenant living! Here's their story.
The holidays can be stressful because they represent a symbol of family belonging. When a stepfamily member feels “outside” of the family circle, the occasion can throw gasoline on an existing flame, and the event can magnify loneliness and discomfort. But there are ways to overcome stepfamily holiday hassles. Friday on Mornings with Eric and Brigitte, author and speaker, Laura Petherbridge encourages families to lower their expectations, treat the family with love and compassion, work on the things you can control, let go of the ones you cannot, surround yourself with people you enjoy, and remember the reason for the season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Laura Petherbridge returns to the podcast so we can understand more about smartmoms and how we can perhaps help them. She encourages stepmoms to understand they're not alone in their struggles. Resources mentioned in this episode: thesmartstepmom.com, iwc21.com, Laura's books are When “I Do” Becomes “I Don't”—Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce, The Smart Stepmom, co-authored with stepfamily expert Ron Deal, 101Tips for The Smart Stepmom—Expert Advice from One Stepmom to Another, and Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul – a devotional. www.CelebrateKids.com Submit your questions and share your feedback: Debbie@CelebrateKids.com, www.Facebook.com/CelebrateKidsInc, www.Instagram.com/CelebrateKidsInc
Dr. Kathy invites the Smart Stepmom, Laura Petherbridge, to join her to help us understand stepmoms. She shares three important things we must understand if we're going to support them well. There are things that make their lives very challenging. If we know these things, we can help our friends and be a safe sounding board. Resources mentioned in this episode: thesmartstepmom.com, Laura's books are When “I Do” Becomes “I Don't”—Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce, The Smart Stepmom, co-authored with stepfamily expert Ron Deal, 101Tips for The Smart Stepmom—Expert Advice from One Stepmom to Another, and Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul – a devotional. Summit Ministries: summit.org, www.CelebrateKids.com Submit your questions and share your feedback: Debbie@CelebrateKids.com, www.Facebook.com/CelebrateKidsInc, www.Instagram.com/CelebrateKidsInc
Laura Petherbridge serves couples and single adults with topics on women's issues, relationships, stepfamilies, co-parenting, single parenting, divorce prevention, and divorce recovery. She is an international speaker and author of, When “I Do” Becomes “I Don't”—Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce, The Smart Stepmom, co-authored with stepfamily expert Ron Deal, 101 Tips for The Smart Stepmom , Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul, a devotional and Seeking a Silent Night: Unwrapping a Stepfamily Christmas. Her most recent project is Stepfamilies of the Bible: Timeless Teachings for Today's Family. Laura has spoken at numerous events including: The Billy Graham Training Center, Lifeway, MomLife Today, Hearts at Home, FamilyLife Blended, MOPS, and Iron Sharpens Iron conferences. Laura is a featured expert on the DivorceCare DVD series, which has equipped more than 16,000 churches worldwide. She and her husband of 35 years, Steve, reside in Atlanta. She has 2 married stepsons, and 2 grandchildren. Laura and I had an excellent and enjoyable conversation all about the complexities of blended families and how support systems and grace are needed in order to make them work. Below are some of the highlights of what she shared during our interview. After growing up in a blended family and being part of a blended family as an adult, "God just told me to teach others what I had learned and to try to encourage them." Her #1 plea to the church is to understand that the materials for a first-time marriage will NOT work for someone going into a remarriage. (She makes a wonderful analogy about this; listen for it!) Stepmoms NEED a strong and consistent support system. The #1 complaint she hears in blended families: "My spouse won't discipline their kids." People are often shocked at how complicated blended family life is. Parents often parent out of guilt, grief, etc., especially after a divorce. "You cannot parent more than the parent, and you should not try to." There are perks to blended family life; just keep your eyes open for them. A question she often asks future stepmothers is, "Are you sure this is the life you want?" "Being a stepmom taught me more about how to love like Jesus--sacrificially--than any other experience in my life." "A chosen love is harder than a natural love." A common prayer for stepmothers is, "Lord, show me how to love unconditionally." Resources: Email: Laura@Laurapetherbridge.com Website: https://laurapetherbridge.com/ Books, recommendations, etc: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Moments-Stepmom-Soul-Encouragement/dp/1941733387 https://www.amazon.com/Single-Parent-Confident-Successful/dp/0764232843 https://www.amazon.com/Between-Two-Worlds-Children-Divorce/dp/0307237117 https://rondeal.org/channels-resources
What does it mean to be a smart stepmom? Laura Petherbridge answers that question as she speaks with Dennis Rainey, Bob Lepine, and Ron Deal on how to navigate a role that can be confusing, lonely, and frustrating. She offers principles to help stepmoms feel encouraged and empowered in the important role they play. Show Notes and Resources Get The Smart Stepmom book. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5665-the-smart-stepmom.aspx. Subscribe to the FamilyLife Blended newsletter. http://familylife.com/blendedsubscribe. Learn more about Laura Petherbridge and her ministry. http://thesmartstepmom.com/. Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/. Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&cru_campaign=Blended.
When a couple in a stepfamily is confronted with the question of what comes first - the kids or a marriage, that can be a confusing, divisive subject! For a parent bringing a child into the marriage, that parent may be hesitant to prioritize the new spouse over the child. They feel responsible for advocating for their child, for shielding their child from even more change, and they often try to compensate for some of the pain the child has already faced. In the biological parent's mind, their child is helpless, their spouse is not. Yet, on a practical level, the couple knows that if the new marriage is not elevated to a place where it becomes a special, sacred union centered on trust, the entire family structure begins to crumble and on today's podcast we'll talk about how to live this out in a practical way so that both the stepparent and the biological parent in the marriage feel like their needs are being met. For more resources, check out NotJustAStepmom.com for tips and encouragement for stepparents, as well as Heidi's eBook, "How To Add An Ours Baby to Your Stepfamily...Without Resentment Getting in the Way." Laura Petherbridge: thesmartstepmom.com Schedule a coaching call with Heidi Farrell at notjustastepmom.com/coaching/
Our world expects moms and stepmoms to be against each other. The social media club of "let's bash the mom or stepmom and commiserate together" is alive and well. But when a mom and stepmom don't play that game-when they find a way past resentment and appreciate what each offers the children, and cooperate on behalf of the child-people take notice and the world celebrates a small victory. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Jessica Patterson, a licensed counselor and mom and stepmom about how to mitigate the battle of the moms. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Jessica Patterson. https://www.newlifecounselingcenter.com/ Article: Battle of the Moms in a Blended family. https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/blended-family/stepparents/multiple-home-realities/battle-of-the-moms-in-a-blended-family/ The Smart Stepmom by Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5665-the-smart-stepmom.aspx Listen to episode "21: Stepfamilies and The Holidays". https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-blended-podcast/21-stepfamilies-and-the-holidays/ Visit FamilyLife Blended® online for articles, videos, and resources for blended families. https://www.familylife.com/blended
Join us for our most vulnerable episode to date, with our guest international speaker and author, Laura Petherbridge aka the Smart Stepmom. Laura serves couples and single adults with topics on spiritual growth, relationships, stepfamilies, co-parenting, single parenting, divorce prevention, and divorce recovery. During this episode Allison and Dorothy share some raw and deeply personal struggles they are facing with in their own families, while Laura offers sound, practical wisdom on how each of us can navigate disfunction and conflict with love. On the topic of grief and offense she shares this profound statement, "Different offenses take different amounts of time to grieve and overcome." Laura gives life changing advice on how we beautifully, blend, what might seem broken with in a step family dynamic. This episode can offer life changing hope and valuable tools for ANY family, step or not, struggling to come together in a time plagued by division. Main Quote: "Everybody always says "I would die for my child", but would you LIVE for your child?! " More Info on our Guest: http://www.laurapetherbridge.comAuthor of international speaker and author of four books including, When “I Do” Becomes “I Don’t”—Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce, and The Smart Stepmom, co-authored with stepfamily expertRon Deal and endorsed by Gary Chapman (Five Love Languages), 101Tips for The Smart Stepmom—Expert Advice from One Stepmom to Another and Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul-a devotional.You can learn more about us at https://www.gritandglampodcast.comAlso, follow us on social media!Allison - FB- https://www.facebook.com/AllisonSHenderson/IG-https://www.instagram.com/allis__in_wonderland/Dorothy - FB - https://www.facebook.com/dorothystrouhal/ ; https://www.facebook.com/YourMakeupExpert/IG- https://www.instagram.com/dorothystrouhal/ ; https://www.instagram.com/yourmakeupexpert/
For stepparents, biological parents, and children, Mother's Day and Father's Day seem to have tons of swirling emotions. How do you manage this so the day doesn't work against you? Our panel of guests today react to the challenges that all members of a stepfamily can feel on these special days. Previous podcast guests have shared their experiences and tips for you. Additionally, Ron Deal talks with Bryan Stell, Jennifer Walker, Tanisha Johnson and Shannon Simmons about how they each have lived and learned through the many Mother's Days and Father's Days they have celebrated. Show Notes and Resources The Smart Stepmom by Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5665-the-smart-stepmom.aspx The Smart Stepdad book by Ron Deal. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5666-the-smart-stepdad.aspx Learn More about Building Love Together in Blended Families by Dr. Gary Chapman and Ron Deal. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5763-building-love-together-in-blended-families.aspx Learn about FamilyLife's other podcasts. https://www.familylife.com/podcast Visit FamilyLife Blended® online for articles, videos, and resources for blended families. https://www.familylife.com/blended Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/familylife-blended/
As we approach Mother's day in this disruptive spring of 2020, let's consider the herculean effort moms are putting in just to keep our society running as well as possible. Ron Deal, Laura Petherbridge, Kim Anthony, and Tim Challies share about the enduring influence of mothers. Show Notes and Resources Subscribe to the Unfavorable Odds™ with Kim Anthony podcast. https://www.familylife.com/podcast/unfavorable-odds/ Check out all that's available on the FamilyLife Podcast Network. https://www.familylife.com/familylife-podcast-network/ Learn more about becoming a Legacy Partner, a monthly supporter of FamilyLife. https://www.familylife.com/legacy
FamilyLife Today® Radio Transcript References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. How to Avoid Becoming a Wicked Stepmother Guests: Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge From the series: The Smart Stepmom Bob: If you're a stepmom, you may be able to relate to what Laura Petherbridge is describing here. Laura: You'd be amazed at the number of stepmoms that have contacted me—emailed me and said, “When I pull in the driveway of my home, and I know the step-kids are there, I feel exactly the same way as I did when I would pull into my home when I was married to an abusive husband.” That's that kind of fear that is triggered in them—it's that same feeling of: “I'm out of control. There are people, here, who are hurting me. I feel ostracized. I feel lonely. I feel like I'm being taken advantage of, and I'm going to retreat.” Bob: This is FamilyLife Today for Tuesday, May 7th. Our host is the President of FamilyLife®, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. What do you do when you're a stepmom and the thought of just going home makes you tense up? We're going to talk about that today. Stay tuned. And welcome to FamilyLife Today. Thanks for joining us. Have you ever thought about the fact that, in a lot of cartoons, the character that is the personification of evil is a stepmother? Have you ever thought about that? Dennis: I haven't. Bob: I mean, Cinderella—it's the wicked stepmother; in what was it?—Sleeping Beauty—I think, a wicked stepmother. I don't know how it got into our literature and our popular culture to be that way; but nobody thinks, “Gee, the stepmom—she's the noble person.” We've got the stereotype of the wicked stepmother. Dennis: It causes me to wonder if those fairy tales were written by someone who grew up in a home where they had a stepmom; and maybe, that's the best word they could use to describe their stepmother. Well, we have the authors of a brand-new book called The Smart Stepmom. Bob: Not the wicked stepmom. Dennis: No. Bob: The smart stepmom. Dennis: No, but one of the authors described herself as a wicked stepmother. Laura Petherbridge—she's the one who did that. Laura: I did! Dennis: You described yourself. Laura: I did. I'm very honest. Dennis: I've never really ever introduced a guest, since we started this in 1992, Bob, as—[Laughter] Bob: We want to welcome our wicked stepmother to our program. [Laughter] Dennis: Here she is on FamilyLife Today. And Ron Deal joins us. I'm not sure how to introduce you, Ron. But you both have a lot of experience in this area of step-parenting. Let's talk about that for a second. You refer to yourself—in fact, you thought you'd never become the wicked stepmother. Laura: Yes, it really sounds bad, but the reason I put that in the book is because I want other stepmoms to understand that it's normal to feel that way. I can remember looking in the mirror, one day, thinking, “What have I become?” because I was feeling so wicked about all the issues that we were dealing with, as a family, and some of the emotions I was having towards my step-kids. Dennis: Like what? Laura: Well, just some days, wishing that their mother would move to another state; and I wouldn't have to see them for six months. It's a terrible thing to even say; but if I'm being totally honest—and I'm speaking for a lot of stepmoms that contact me—their desire is that the step-kids would move far, far away so you just wouldn't have to deal with it all the time. Dennis: So you want them out of your life. Laura: Exactly; exactly. I know that sounds very un-Christian. It doesn't sound very loving; but if we're being honest, that is often the thought that is going across the stepmom's mind: “This is so much more complicated than I thought it was going to be. Maybe, if they just weren't here, it wouldn't be so difficult.” Dennis: I don't think I've ever admitted this on FamilyLife Today, but I think Barbara and I had some days with our kids— Bob: I was thinking the same thing. [Laughter] Dennis: If there had been a box to have checked—“Could there be a chance of our kids moving away—for, maybe, six hours?” Maybe, it wasn't six months. Bob: There were times when we sent them off to summer camp and just said, “Thank you, Lord, for summer camp—just for a little breather, here!” Dennis: I can really understand, Laura, although I've, obviously, never been a step- parent. I can understand how that would create all kinds of guilty feelings and shame that you even have the thought. Laura: Absolutely, because, I think—as a biological parent—when you think that, there is a part of you that knows that's a little bit normal—but as a stepmom—there's a part, in particular if you're a Christian—there's a feeling inside of you that you know that you don't love these children in exactly the same way you either love your own children or you love your own family members. There's a guilt that goes along with that. So it's different than the biological parent, you know—being glad that the kids are going off to camp—because it's just a different family dynamic. Ron: I think part of this guilt is rooted in self-blame. Stepmoms are really hard on themselves. Laura: Yes. Ron: As Laura and I did the research for this book and talked with stepmoms, we developed a team of stepmoms, who advised us about different aspects of the book. That's one of the things we heard over, and over, and over again. In my counseling with stepfamilies—is this sense of blame. Stepmoms try so very hard. If they keep kind of beating their head against a wall, and can't quite get into a child's heart, or can't quite figure out how to deal with the power issues in being a parent and so on, they really, really struggle. Oftentimes, they just feel so isolated and alone. They don't know what else to do—they kind of blame themselves. Bob: Here's a scenario I imagine. Tell me if this is kind of a typical scenario. A woman—who either has her own children or, maybe, she's never been married—but she has met this guy. She's in love with the guy. They've started dating. She's met the kids. She likes the kids, and they seem to like her. They've done some fun stuff together. The kids have affirmed her—they've said some really sweet things to her. As she and the guy are thinking about getting married, she goes, “You know, I know this is going to be challenging; but I really think this is going to work.” She's hopeful. She has a lot of hope for what's coming up. Ron: And really that's rooted in the idea that dating is going to be reflective of actual married life. I think one of the cruelties of this, for many people, is that dating is inconsistent. Bob: With stepfamilies or first-family—the dating relationship and the marriage— Ron: That's right. Dennis: It's not a real picture of a relationship. Ron: Exactly. Bob: Let me jump ahead now. The mom is married to the husband. All of a sudden, the kids are not acting the way they were acting during the courtship phase. In fact, she's seeing anger in them she's never seen before. It feels, to her, like they are starting to sabotage the marriage—trying to come between her and her husband. This job of step-parenting is much harder than she ever imagined it was going to be. She's wondering: “I don't know that I'm cut out for this. I don't know that I can do this and do it well.” Is that fairly—have I described it? Laura: It sure is; it sure is. And one of the things that you're mentioning, which is very realistic, is that the stepmom thinks that the children will just continue to embrace her and that they will want a new mother. But in reality—in particular, if there's been a divorce—when a parent remarries, after a divorce, it kills the dream for children that their parents will reconcile. Part of the reason children are so resistant to a new step-parent is that all of a sudden— Bob: The parent trap isn't going to happen the way it did in the movie. Laura: That's absolutely right. This is the reality, “Now, Daddy cannot go back to Mommy because he's got a new wife.” Ron: In effect, the new marriage is another loss— Laura: Yes. Ron: —for the children—stacked upon the previous losses that they've had. I think one of the things that we really try to help stepmoms understand, in this book, is that if you're a stepmother, you're a grief counselor because you—and yourself—you're going to go through some losses—but the children that you're helping to raise, and if you have your own biological children—everybody goes through some transition that basically represents loss. That's tagged on top of the losses that got you into this situation—whether biological mother passed away or there was a divorce—you're a grief counselor. The losses are just going to be carried right into the new family experience, on through the years. It's not just going to dwindle down and go away. It's going to be there for the duration. Bob: I just have to ask, at this point, given what we've just laid out, “Should anybody even try this?” You know, there's part of me that goes, “We're talking about one of the most complicated, difficult assignments that could be handed to somebody: ‘Do this at your own risk,' or should you just leave well enough alone and not try to make this happen?” Ron: Bob, you said a key word there—risk. I truly believe that life is a risk, in a sense; and marriage is a risk. I always tell people, “You are always working on your marriage because your marriage is always working on you.” God uses it to disciple us, to train us, to refine us. The same thing is going to be true of a stepmother experience. She's going to encounter some things she didn't count on—she didn't know she was going to need grace for. It's going to transform her, and deepen her love, and her ability to walk with grace—if she will listen and learn from the experience. But we do want people to have their eyes open. I think it's an interesting notion to tell people, who are dating, that, as a single parent, it's a legitimate option to stay single—to raise your kids and to do a good job with that. But the step-parent experience can also be incredibly rewarding for people. Oftentimes, they have to travel a bit of a journey before they get to the rewards; and that's the encouragement we want people to realize. The risk does bring reward. Bob: If somebody is considering a blended marriage, right now—they're listening and they go, "This sounds really scary." Then, good!—I mean, we have sobered them appropriately. Laura: Absolutely. Bob: If somebody is on the other side of the fence—they're already in a blended marriage; and they're going: “I knew it was hard. You guys are just confirming what I've already been experiencing.” Well, good!—because there is hope, Laura, when somebody realizes: “Okay I'm not atypical. What I'm experiencing, as a step-parent, is not unusual;” right? Laura: Yes, one of the number one things that stepmoms say to me, when they come to my workshop on this topic is, “It's just so wonderful to be around other stepmoms that think, and feel, and sharing that what I'm feeling is normal.” Sometimes, just knowing that what we're feeling is normal—there's a comfort in that. That's absolutely true. I think, too, the mistake is that we think that we learn from our past mistakes. So often—and particularly, if you've been a divorced person and you're remarrying—you think: “Well, I learned how to do marriage from—you know, I learned what I did wrong from my first marriage.” That's really untrue. We really do not learn from our mistakes unless we learn why we made those mistakes. So, it's not uncommon to go on and make those mistakes again. It really is taking a good look in the mirror at, “Why did I get into this marriage?” and, “Now what am I going to do? It's a complicated marriage.” For me, I had to get to a place where, even though there were times when I wanted to bail—I say that in the book—there were times I just wanted to run from all of it. I thought, “Singleness wasn't too fun, but this is worse!” Dennis: So you're talking about bailing from the marriage? Laura: Yes! Yes! If I'm being honest, there were moments when I thought: “You know what? I'd just as soon go back to being single than dealing with all of this.” I had to get to a point of where I said: “You know what? I made a vow before God—before my husband—that I am not going to get divorced again.” I just prayed: “Lord, You are going to have to teach me how to love these children and how to do this. I know that You can teach me if I will look to You. You will give me the heart, and the mind, and the ability to do this if I will seek You on it.” That was where it began—the turning. Ron: And that's the risk. You see, what Laura said was, “Lord, teach me.” She opened herself up to learning what she needed to learn in order to make the relationships work. That's one of the biggest risks. You stop and you think about it—so many stepmothers are there. They've already been through a divorce themselves. They've already had some loss and tragedy in their life. They've shut down from risk. They have gone into self-protection mode, and they are no longer willing. I can tell you—that in a study I did with Dr. David Olson, that's given birth to another book that will be out, some point in the future—we found that one of the highest predictors of remarriages that come apart is fear. It's simply the unwillingness to endure risk, to learn, to grow, to be humbled by it, and to grow through it. But once you get afraid, once you begin to lock-down, once you begin to say to yourself: “You know what? In a remarriage—I don't know how to do that. There's a whole lot of risk involved with that. I think I will go where I find safety and security,”—that's back into being single again or being a single-parent again. Then, all of a sudden, you've shut down; and there's no hope for the marriage. Laura: You'd be amazed at the number of stepmoms that have contacted me—emailed me and said, “When I pull in the driveway of my home and I know the step-kids are there, I feel exactly the same way as I did when I would pull into my home when I was married to an abusive husband.” That's that kind of fear that is triggered in them. It's that same feeling of: “I'm out of control. There are people, here, who are hurting me. I feel ostracized. I feel lonely. I feel like I am being taken advantage of.” So, she's really needing her spouse—her husband, the father—to come alongside her and help her with this process because they are his children. If they were her children, she could set certain boundaries with them. That is a little bit easier; but because it's his children, he's going to have to partner with her in order to get rid of that fear—that abusiveness that is going on there—because, alone, she really does not have the power, without him beside her, because they are not her biological children. Dennis: So, the first principle is—that cannot be allowed to happen. Ron: Absolutely. The father, in that situation, has got to take charge. Now, I'm going to assume, because it's gotten to that point, that he has not taken charge—that he is not an engaged father—but he's passive. He's letting things happen, for whatever reason. I'm not thinking, here, of a stepmom—who is in a necessarily physically-abusive environment—but in an environment where she tries to implement change. She tries to follow through with her role, as a stepmother; but she gets sabotaged by her husband or what else happens in the home. One of the things we talk about in the book is what we call politely resigning. It's a very difficult thing to throw a mother into a place where she is responsible for getting the kids to pick up their room, take care of their stuff, and do their chores; but every time she tries, they just say, “No.” They go appeal to Dad. Dad says, “Hey, it's not a big deal.” She's stuck. One of the things she can do is say to her husband: “I think it's time for me to no longer be responsible for getting them to make their beds. Obviously, that's not something that's important to you. So, I'm going to just back out of that. If you want them to make their beds, I'll let you handle that.” We hope what that would create is a little bit of a vacuum in the home. Dad walks around and notices that nobody ever makes their bed, and clothes are all over the place. Dad decides to get motivated to create this change. Then, something can happen; but until then—until he's motivated—she's going to have a difficult time. Bob: There is one big issue. We don't have a lot of time to talk about this; but if there is something that is keeping Dad from getting involved, it may just be his passivity. But it may also be this overwhelming sense of guilt that he carries around with him: “I put these kids in this position, through the failure of my first marriage. If I had done better—” It's almost like he is thinking, “I've got to let them act out the way they are acting out because I bear the responsibility.” How does Dad get past that? Ron: He has to walk straight through guilt—straight into his fear—that somehow, “Putting his wife into the front seat of his heart is going to cause his children irreparable pain, and he's going to cause them more difficulty.” He's got to walk through that and act, out of trust, that that is the right thing to do—that, eventually, that will bring stability to his children's lives—even though, initially, it may bring some instability to their lives. Dennis: You're saying commitment to his wife is the strongest gift he can give his children. Ron: That's exactly right. Now, initially, Dennis, and this is really important because I don't want to convey an idea that initial commitment is just going to be happiness for his children. It's probably going to create them some pain because they were the priority for many years—especially, in the single-parent years. For him to say: “You know what? Friday nights are for my wife now. We're going to go out on a date,” and show that commitment—express that commitment—and include her in decision-making—all of those things—that will make children say, “Well, wait a minute! We came first.” But the test of time will be that that provides stability for them. During that difficult transition is where a lot of men bail. It's where they don't follow through. Laura: We don't want to convey that we're saying that the dad is supposed to neglect his children. He brought these children into the world—so he needs to stay connected with his children. Say, for instance, that Friday night is date night. Make sure, then, Saturday morning breakfast is with your kids. Have one-on-one time with those children so that they can feel like they haven't completely lost their father to this new marriage. It's very, very important for him to stay connected with those kids and to say: “You've had me all these years. I realize this marriage has probably caused you some fear, and some anxiety, and feeling like maybe you're losing touch with me; but I'm going to promise you that I am going to love my new wife, but I am never going to leave your side.” It's important for dads to verbally communicate that the new wife is not replacing the children. He's got to spend time with the kids to do that. Dennis: I'm listening to both of you here. I know Bob is thinking the same thing, at this point. There have to be those who have heard you talk about this now, and they are listening to all the costs that come with a blended family. They're in a first-time marriage right now, and they're considering divorce. Ron: We want them to stay in that marriage. Dennis: I want you to listen to me—you're not going to trade this one in for a better one. You may think it's a better one; but let me tell you something—there's a reason why the statistics are higher for a second-time marriage, with children. Bob: The degree of difficulty— Dennis: —increases! Bob: —significantly. It doesn't matter how much emotional bonding you may feel to somebody outside your marriage. It doesn't matter— Dennis: —how good they make you feel. Bob: —or how bad your situation is, right now, in your first marriage. The degree of difficulty in establishing a blended family, a step-family relationship, is exponentially higher than it is to get things right in your first marriage. Ron: I have a pastor friend who gives first-time married couples my previous book, The Smart Stepfamily, and makes them read it so that they will be even more determined to make their first marriage work. Dennis: There you go! The point of all this is—you need to figure out a way to make your marriage work, whether you're in a stepfamily or not in one—you need the blueprints. I just want to exhort you: “If you haven't been to the Weekend to Remember®, come. And if you went to one ten years ago, trust me—it's time for a wheel alignment. It's time to change the oil. It's time to take a weekend away because you've changed; and you want to head this kind of drama off at the pass,”—Bob, and get folks equipped and trained—“because your marriage is worth it.” Bob: We have a number of Weekend to Remember marriage getaways still happening this month and next month, as we wrap up our spring season: If folks are interested in finding out about a Weekend to Remember that's coming to a city, near where they live, that's easy. Just go to FamilyLifeToday.com and click on the link for the Weekend to Remember marriage getaway. You can get signed up for an upcoming event. Or if you want to look ahead to the fall and start to see where you can attend a Weekend to Remember this fall—I notice that we're going to be going to some nice places this fall. There's one in Yosemite, California—one in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. We have some nice locations, where the Weekend to Remember is being held this fall. So again, go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click on the link for the Weekend to Remember, and plan to join us at one of these Weekend to Remember marriage getaways. And while you're on our website, get more information about the resources we have available for stepfamilies. Ron Deal has a number of resources, including his classic book, The Smart Stepfamily. We have that in our FamilyLife Today Resource Center. Today is the last day that we're making available the book that Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge have written together for stepmoms. We're offering it at a special discount, and today's the last day that discount is in effect. So if you'd like to take advantage of some savings on—not only Laura's book—but a number of Mother's Day items that we're making available at a discounted rate, go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click on the link for the Mother's Day sale. You can order The Smart Stepmom and other resources, as well. Again, go to FamilyLifeToday.com for more information about the resources we have available and about the Mother's Day sale that expires at midnight tonight. You think about summer and the things that you like about summer—maybe, it's the swimming pool or the beach—if you live near the beach. Maybe, it's the ice cream truck that starts to come through the neighborhood. When I was growing up, we had a Dairy Queen in our town; and Dairy Queen was not open in the winter. They opened up, I think, in April or May; and then, closed down in October. I was always excited about summer because Dairy Queen was going to open up. Now, Dairy Queen is open all the time; but back in the day, the only time I could get a Buster Bar was in the summertime. So, there's a lot of reason to love summer. But if you're part of a ministry, like FamilyLife Today, summer can be a challenging time of the year because, as folks are doing other things, we often see a decline in the donations that we receive here to help cover the costs for producing and syndicating this program. Money can get a little tight during the summer. We have some friends of the ministry, who realize that's the case. They came to us and said, “Let's see if we can build a little surplus so that, if things do get slow during the summer, you guys have some resources to tap into.” What they offered to do was put together a matching fund for the month of May. Anybody who makes a donation, this month, to FamilyLife Today—that donation is going to be matched, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $576,000. We are grateful for their generosity. We're praying that we'll be able to take full advantage of that matching gift. To do that, we need to ask you to go to FamilyLifeToday.com and make a donation online, or call 1-800-FL-TODAY and make a donation over the phone. Again, it's easy. All you do is go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the button that says, “I CARE”. Make an online donation. As soon as you do, we'll have access to an equal amount of matching funds from our matching-gift fund. You can also call 1-800-FL-TODAY and make your donation over the phone. The same thing happens so your donation is doubled. We do hope to hear from you—hope that you can help support us as we seek to take full advantage of this matching gift during the month of May. And we hope you can be back with us again tomorrow. Laura Petherbridge is going to be here again, along with Ron Deal. We're going to talk about how a stepmom should relate to her step-kids' biological mom. How do you deal with some of those challenges? We'll talk about that and other things tomorrow. I hope you can be here. I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. See you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today. FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. Help for today. Hope for tomorrow. We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs? Copyright © FamilyLife. All rights reserved. www.FamilyLife.com
An Untold Love Story (Part 1) - Ken and Joni TadaAn Untold Love Story (Part 2) - Ken and Joni TadaFamilyLife Today® Radio Transcript References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. Sufficient Grace Guests: Ken and Joni Tada From the series: An Untold Love Story (Day 2 of 2) Bob: Joni Eareckson Tada remembers a time in her marriage to her husband Ken when both of them were starting to drift farther and farther apart. Joni: I was fearful that I was making Ken depressed. My disability was depressing my husband. So, I would be very careful to take care of as many routines as I could possibly do before he came home from school so that I would not have to walk on eggshells and ask him to do anything for me because I knew that asking too much of Ken would plummet him into depression. For a long time, it was this strange tap dance that we both played. Bob: This is FamilyLife Today for Friday, May 3rd. Our host is the President of FamilyLife®, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. We'll hear today what Joni and Ken Tada did when they realized they were drifting apart in marriage. Stay with us. And welcome to FamilyLife Today. Thanks for joining us. I've been thinking about—I have a son who just proposed to his girlfriend. They're going to get married soon. I was thinking, “If I could sit them down with anybody, for a little premarital counseling—the couple that could give them the benefits of great experience and theological understanding— Dennis: You really had thought of me. Bob: Ah-h-h. You were on the list. [Laughter] Dennis: I'm kidding you. I know who's in the studio, Bob. Bob: You were underneath our guests today. Dennis: Way underneath the guests. Bob: I just thought, “Would it be okay if we got some premarital counseling for John and Katie from our guests?” Just let them—they've written this book. Tell them about the book that they've written. Dennis: Well, this book is called Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story. So they need to hear a love story—one that's gone 30 years, plus. Bob: And that has gone through some rocky times. Dennis: Some? Bob: Yes. Joni: A few. Dennis: A few, no doubt about it. Bob: I just thought, “I wonder what counsel they would give to a couple, just getting started, on the frontend of the journey?” Dennis: Well, let's ask them. Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada join us again on FamilyLife Today. Ken, Joni, welcome back. Joni: Absolutely. It's good to be back. Ken: Thanks. Dennis: I know Ken would like to teach your son how to fly— Joni: Fly fish. Dennis: —fly fish. I don't know if Ken ties the flies. Ken: Yes, but— Bob: Would that help his marriage if he learned how to fly fish? Ken: It could, but don't do it the first year. [Laughter] Joni: But you know what I had Ken's best man tell me on our wedding day? He drew me aside and whispered in my ear, “Let your husband keep his dreams.” I didn't know what he meant, at the time; but of course, this whole fly fishing thing—about which we joke—it's really important, I think, for guys to have that space—to have those times of connection with other men. Ken: And Joni's been my biggest supporter, during that—the whole time—not that I abuse it—but she knows that I need to have time with guys. Joni: Oh, yes! You know how you abuse it; don't you? Ken: How? Joni: We're driving down the freeway and he'll say: “Hey, there's a Jaguar that just drove by. Joni, can I have a Jaguar?” “No! Of course, not!” Then, of course, that sets me up for—“Oh, then, you'll give me the fishing reel.” [Laughter] Okay. I know what you're up to! Ken: It took 30 years—but you start high and you aim lower [Laughter]—and asking for a brand-new Jaguar convertible—obviously, I'm not going that direction—but a new fly rod—that would be kind of cool! Dennis: Yes, there you go. Let's go back to Bob's question here. Let's put it on the line, here. Let's go back to your honeymoon to talk about some of the most important lessons you started out your marriage learning. Ken: Well, the one lesson we learned is—I think Joni and I have said before—but we had friends who told us to go out and experiment. We decided, “No.”— Dennis: Move in with each other. Joni: Pretty much. Ken: Well, for the weekend. Joni: Just to try it out for the weekend—for a couple of weekends. Dennis: And the reason is— Ken: Because you know, with a disability, it was a little bit different than perhaps with an able-bodied person. Joni: Expediency. Ken: And just to see whether or not it would fit. Joni: If this was going to work. Bob: See, I hear that story. I just imagine, in my head, you guys going off for a weekend and then you going, “Oh, I guess it's not going to work.” “What? Hello!” Ken: Where's the commitment? Bob: Yes. How do you break that news to somebody, “I'm out of here because this part doesn't work.” Well guess what? You may have seasons where that part of your relationship doesn't work— Ken: Exactly. Joni: Exactly. Bob: —and you'd better figure out how to love one another in the midst of those seasons! Joni: Absolutely, which is why—even before we got engaged and even during our engagement—there was no experimenting. There was no testing: “Let's try this out. How's this going to fly?” We went into our marriage, with our conscience tender and intact, with no violation of our convictions. As Ken has often said, “Of course, it made our honeymoon a little like handicap-awareness week; [Laughter] but that was okay.” Dennis: Well, let's talk about that for a second—what that was like—because you write about it in your book. I wouldn't ask this question if you hadn't put this in print; alright? Ken: Oh, there's nothing we wouldn't discuss. I think we're pretty well open with everything. Joni: I put it delicately in print, though, Dennis—as delicately as I could. Bob: And we can stay delicate right here. [Laughter] Dennis: That's the truth, but you're a quadriplegic—for those who don't know your story. You had an accident when you were 17 years old. You had a great fear, going into this marriage, that he was going to find out what it meant to care for someone who was so helpless. Joni: Okay, well let's talk about the brass tacks. Ken and I went off on our honeymoon. We took two friends—two girlfriends of mine—who stayed at a different hotel, down the beach—but they would come up during the mornings and evenings and kind of like educate Ken on my routines—not to throw everything at him at once—but just to kind of get his feet wet: “This is what it means for Joni to get up in the morning: bed, bath, exercising her legs, and then those toileting routines.” Well, I had to do a particular toileting routine in the evening. I don't know how to say this. Ken had to help carry me to the bathroom. I didn't make it. When that happened—it's funny—I choke up, talking about it now, 30 years later. Yet, it's so long ago and far away—but I was the young girl. I wanted everything to be perfect. I wanted my husband to have great illusions of me and: “This is going to be wonderful! Everything is so romantic!” Yet, I remember that first night—lying in bed after the lights were out and all was quiet. I fought back the tears: “Oh, God! This man—You are going to have to give him grace. You're just going to have to. You have to give him grace because I don't know that even I have the grace. But help him through this, Lord. You can do this! Help him through this!” It was a desperate cry of a very young bride, but I'm so glad God answered because things did not get easier in our ensuing life together. There were even greater challenges; but at every turn, I saw God's grace show up in my husband's life. That was huge, and that's growth. Dennis: There are times, in every marriage, after the honeymoon—in fact, there are seasons that occur where you move into a bit of a valley. Obviously, your marriage started in one and has continued on in one—but you move into something where there is—you describe in your book as “negotiated spaces” and “demilitarized zones” in your relationship. You guys had a plateau. You kind of had the “Cease fire”— Joni: Yes. Ken: I think it was those middle years, where Joni was going to the ministry and I was teaching high school. Basically, we were living together but separate lives— parallel lives. Not that our marriage was bad—it's just I was occupied with what I was doing, as a high school teacher; and Joni was occupied in the ministry. We would travel during the summer. So, there were a lot of connections; but during those school days, I don't think we spent the kind of time that— Dennis: You were teaching at the time. Ken: I was teaching high school, yes. Joni: And I was fearful that I was making Ken depressed. My disability was depressing my husband. So, I would be very careful to take care of as many routines as I could possibly do before he came home from school so that I would not have to walk on eggshells and ask him to do anything for me that might encroach on his emotions because I knew that asking too much of Ken would plummet him into depression. For a long time, it was this strange tap dance that we both played—where we had to negotiate these spaces. But through it all—through it all—we both recognized we were doing this, and we didn't want to live this way. So, we prayed—prayed together and prayed separately— that God would help move us beyond this emotional fog that we were in to help us see the possibilities, in our marriage, that were ahead, on the horizon. Ken: I think the other thing that happened during that time, Joni was—especially, this was earlier in our marriage—but because of your notoriety—people would recognize you when we were in public. One of the things that was really hard—that we look back on it now—was we'd go to church. There'd be a line of people, half an hour long, who would want to speak to you. I was finding my—if I had a self-image problem, it was healed when I went to school because: “That was my classroom. Those were my students.” When I was in Burbank, those were people who recognized me—not that I needed it—but it was just that self-assurance, that affirmation that I was getting through what I was doing—that I think there was a balance there. Joni: But to help move my husband past that: “Let's go to a different church. Let's get out of this big church. Let's go to some small, little church.” So, we started going to a small, very little church, just a few miles from our house. We stopped going to the big mega church, where everybody knew me, just trying to find ways, as a wife, to make it easier and finding that those negotiated spaces became smaller and smaller—to the point where we both were in it together. We weren't adversarial; we weren't on parallel tracks anymore. We were on the same track. It took a while to get there, but we did. Bob: Did you feel invisible for a long period of time? Ken: Boy, that's a great description of exactly what I was feeling. I mean, people would—we would stand in a crowd. I would stand next to Joni, and nobody would want to talk to me. Bob: Yes. Ken: But Joni has been so good about bringing me into the conversation. She would stop them and say: “I want to introduce you to my husband. He's standing right here.” She realized that, from that standpoint, that I needed that—at least, in those early years—that we were a couple. I think, over the years, it's gotten to the point where there are more people that recognize us as a couple. It hasn't been an issue. It actually has been kind of a benefit—that I think, for the both us—that we are recognized in a ministry for couples. Joni: In those early years, when you were struggling with your self-image, those were the same times I was struggling with my self-image. I would hear him on the phone with all his buddies, talking about all kinds of things that he wouldn't talk about with me. I'd hear him hang up the phone, saying, “Love ya, Buddy.” It was like, “Ahh! Gee, I don't hear that tone of voice with me.” I remember being so— Dennis: Now, wait a second— Joni: No. I felt— Dennis: —the Joni Eareckson Tada could have a pity party; really? Joni: Oh, my goodness! In the early years of my marriage, when I would hear him on the phone with Jan or Pete, I'd be so jealous of his tone of voice with his guy friends. But okay, later on in the marriage, as we're praying—as I'm seeking God, “How can I get my husband out of depression?” Boing! This light bulb went off in my head. I realized he needs his guy friends. “Don't be jealous of them, Joni—” Bob: Yes. Joni: —“Put him in their camp.” So, I began encouraging Ken: “You know, your buddy Jan has been asking you to go fly fishing. Please, really, why don't you go fly fishing? Get away from the tuna boats—you gaff tuna, blood on the decks—guys with big bellies and cans of beer, cursing, and profanity—get away from that. Go fly fishing. It's more refined. You're going to enjoy it.” I was the one who kind of pushed him—not so much because I wanted to get him away from the tuna boats—but I knew, that if he was with his Christian guy friends, that it would be invigorating—that he would get a validation, as a man, from other men that would help him and help our marriage. I think that was one of the best moves I made to help you up and out of your depression. Ken: Joni was the instrumental tool for getting me into fly fishing. I really didn't, at the time, want to go fly fishing. I didn't want another sport; but she said, “No, you ought to go.” More than the fly fishing, I have a friend—we have a ministry to men. We use fly fishing as kind of like— Bob: The bait. Ken: —the bait; exactly. It gives guys a chance to get their hearts back. Bob: Yes. Ken: We talk about all kinds of things. We use John Eldredge's book, Wild at Heart, but— Joni: But you got your heart back. Ken: —but I got my heart back. Joni is a big supporter of what I do there, but one of the things that happened was—a little exercise that we had was go out and try to hear what God had to say to us. The first time I did this, I didn't hear a thing. Two years later—I can tell you exactly where I was—on a fly fishing trip. A gentleman said, “Take this afternoon and go out and try to hear God's voice.” That afternoon, I heard God say to me—not in an audible voice—but I heard Him say, “Joni is the most important gift I've given you. You take care of her.” Dennis: And in your book, you talk about when he came back from that trip. You saw it in his eyes. Joni: Oh, my goodness! He stood in the bedroom and said, “Joni, you're never going to believe what God said to me.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. rocked back and forth on his heels, and said, “God said that you're the most precious gift, and I'm to take care of you, and I'm going to do it.” It was like a breath of fresh air had just blown through our bedroom. It was like the fog of depression is lifting—I can see the sun, the clouds. There's hope. My husband likes me! He wants to take care of me, for the sake of Christ. I began to see all my prayers answered or, at least, beginning to get answers. And now—even back then—when his buddies call the house, and I get them on the phone, before I hand it over to Ken: “Jan, God bless you. Sir, I don't know what you're doing in my husband's life. Keep it up. I know you're memorizing Scripture. I know you're doing some new Jerry Bridges Bible study together on the phone. Keep it up! I love it. You're going in the right direction.” I'm thanking Pete, I'm thanking Chris, and I'm thanking Jan—all these guys—that I used to be jealous of—they're the best because they help my husband be the man that he can be. Dennis: And that story occurred—what I want our listeners to hear—21 years into your marriage. Bob: And the next time you go out with Pete, and Jan, and Chris, we've got a resource for you to take with you—a Bible study for guys called Stepping Up™, based on Dennis's book by that title. It's a video resource, and it'll spark some great discussion with you and the guys. Okay? Ken: Great. Thank you, Bob. Dennis: One last story. Joni, this one's for you. You battled cancer. You went through chemotherapy. In the process of going through that, fell prey to pneumonia. You had a moment, in the midst of that, that was pretty grim. You had your own encounter when God spoke to you. Would you share with our listeners that story? I think that is incredibly powerful. Joni: Well, as a quadriplegic, I'm susceptible to things like pneumonia. I have extremely limited lung capacity. I had to be in the hospital for nine or ten days. My husband, bless his heart, made a little cot, out of a couple of plastic chairs. He slept by my bedside. Instead of me having to be intubated, Ken got up every night—would cough me—pound on my chest. One night, I was so exhausted. I had so flattened out, emotionally. I was crying out to God. I had no physical ability. My lungs were gurgling. I could hardly breathe. I felt like I was drowning. I just didn't want to have to get my husband up another time. I remember saying, “Lord Jesus, I need You. I need to see You tonight. I just need to feel Your touch. I need to feel Your hand on my head. I need You!” I fell into a sleep. Then, when I woke up, with the gurgling and needed to be coughed again, Ken came over to my hospital bedside. As he began to lift me up, I looked at him, wide-eyed, and I said, “You're Him! Oh my goodness, you're Him!” Jesus visited me, that night, through my husband. I felt his hand on my forehead, and it was the touch of Jesus. I felt him push on my abdomen, and it was the strength of Jesus. I felt him pound on my back to give me air, and it was Jesus, the Breath of Life. Everything about my husband was Jesus. I said to Ken, “You're Him! Jesus showed up and you're Him!” It was such a beautiful revelation of how God can answer prayer—the prayers that are desperate and show up best through them. That was a beautiful moment. You know, we've talked a lot about cancer. We've talked a lot about quadriplegia. I'm going to confess to you those things are a cinch compared to the daily grind of pain that I deal with. Through my PET scans—a couple more years, maybe—I'll be declared cancer-free. Things are looking hopeful. My quadriplegia—I kind of know that route. But boy, the daily grind of pain is so hard. My husband, a couple of weeks ago, did a beautiful thing. Before he saw me head out the door, he could see the look in my eyes that I was going to have a very painful day. He said: “Wait a minute. Wait a minute.” He quick ran and got a stick-um, and etched on it a big “C”, and put it over my heart—slapped it right over my heart. He said: “There you go, Joni. You've got courage, and you're going to rise to that challenge.” I think what I love best about my husband is that he can find the infinitesimally small Christ-like characteristics in my life—he can find them, pick them out, and affirm them. He can water them and nurture them with actions such as he did with that stick-um on my chest. He believes that I can be courageous. I don't want to disappoint my wonderful husband. I want to be courageous, in Christ, for his sake and for the sake of the Gospel. That is, honestly, how I get through the toughest days of my pain. Dennis: You both are courageous. Recently, I did a little Bible study in Joshua 1—three places where courage comes from: God's mission, being obedient to God's Word, and third, practicing His presence. As I'm watching your lives, as a couple, you're on mission. You're on task, as a couple. You're about the glory of God and running the race to finish it well. Secondly, you've both been obedient. You've kept your covenant. You're not only still married—you love each other. And third, you're practicing the presence of God, whether it be fly fishing or whether it be flat on your bed, in a hospital room, battling pneumonia. You're experiencing the presence of God, and you're bringing a lot of hope to a lot of people. May God's favor be upon this book and you guys, as you go forward. Joni: Thank you, Dennis. Ken: Thank you, Dennis and Bob. Bob: We love you guys and hope folks will get a copy of your book. It's called Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story. Thirty years of marriage—as you guys peel back the veneer and show us what real marriage is all about. I hope listeners will go online at FamilyLifeToday.com to order a copy. Again, the website is FamilyLifeToday.com. Or you can call to request a copy of the book, Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story. Call 1-800-358-6329; that's 1-800-“F” as in family, “L” as in life, and then, the word, “TODAY”. Don't forget the title of the book—Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story. We'd love to get a copy to you. Now, I know most of you are excited that summer is almost here—got graduations happening this month and all kinds of activities during the month of May—and then, it's summertime, just around the corner. I love summertime, too. I love vacations. I love the break you get. I love the warmer weather. But for a ministry, like FamilyLife Today, summer can be a challenging time because a lot of listeners get out of the normal pattern of listening and out of the normal pattern of helping to support the radio program. Donations to the ministry fall off a little bit during the summer. We had some friends, of the ministry, who came to us, knowing that that happens every summer. They said, “We'd like to help you guys build a little surplus—a cushion before June, and July, and August hit.” They have put together a matching-gift fund of $576,000. They have said, “We'll match every donation you receive, between now and the end of May, dollar for dollar, until that fund is gone.” We appreciate their generosity; but obviously, the only way we can take advantage of their generosity is if listeners, like you, will go to FamilyLifeToday.com, click the button that says, “I CARE”, and make an online donation. Or call 1-800-FL-TODAY. Make a donation over the phone. When you do that, your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, with funds from the matching-gift fund. You will help us get ready for the summer months ahead. So, can we ask you to do that? Go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the button that says, “I CARE”, and make a donation; or call 1-800-FL-TODAY. Make a donation over the phone. We appreciate your support, and we are always happy to hear from you. And we hope you have a great weekend. Hope you and your family are able to worship together this weekend. I hope you can join us back on Monday when we're going to talk with Laura Petherbridge about some of the challenges that step-moms face. Ron Deal will be here with us, as well. I hope it works out for you to be here. I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. Have a great weekend. We will see you back Monday for another edition of FamilyLife Today. FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. Help for today. Hope for tomorrow. We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs? Copyright © 2013 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.www.FamilyLife.com
Carrie’s guest, author Laura Petherbridge, deals with one of the greatest challenges for blended family parents, the ex! Laura’s honesty and insights will help both kids and parents build long-lasting, loving relationships. See: .
Carrie’s guest, author Laura Petherbridge, shares invaluable insights revealing joys and challenges for blended families, the keys to success and why step moms feel so much pressure. See: .
It's time to stop wasting time on the tiny teachable task on your to-do list. Choose to delegate and discover more time to do the things you desire. Thank you to Laura Petherbridge for being the sponsor of this episode of I Choose My Best Life Podcast. CLICK HERE to learn more about her book The Smart Stepmom. Blog: I Choose My Best Life Books: Sacred Rest, Come Empty, Set Free to Live Free Connect with Saundra: Twitter: @DrDaltonSmith Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/drdaltonsmith Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSaundraDaltonSmith
Whether by choice or chance, the stepmom who hasn't birthed children of her own can find loneliness in her role with her stepchildren and her relationship with her husband. Ron Deal talks with Laura Petherbridge, The Smart Stepmom, has over twenty years of experience, as a childless stepmom who has helped countless women redefine what it means to mother and love children who don't share their DNA. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Laura Petherbridge. http://www.laurapetherbridge.com/ Learn more and register for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry. https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/ Buy the book "The Smart Stepfamily Guide to Financial Planning." https://shop.familylife.com/p-5664-the-smart-stepfamily-guide-to-financial-planning.aspx Learn about FamilyLife's other podcasts. https://www.familylife.com/podcast The Smart Stepfamily DVD: An 8-Session Guide to a Healthy Stepfamily. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5643-the-smart-stepfamily-dvd-10th-anniversary-edition.aspx
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David Sims, founders of Nacho Kids, interview Ron Deal! Ron Deal, an expert in stepfamily relationships, serves as President of Smart Stepfamilies™ and Director of Family Life Blended®, a division of Family Life®. He is the author of “The Smart Stepfamily”, “The Smart Stepmom” (co-authored with Laura Petherbridge), “The Smart Stepdad”, and “The Smart Stepfamily Marriage”. His latest book “The Smart Stepfamily: Guide To Financial Planning”, co-authored with Greg Pettys and David Edwards, was just released! Ron also just started a podcast earlier this year! Rate & Review Our Podcast Please rate and review our podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. This helps others find the podcast and lets us know what our listeners want to hear.
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David Sims, interview Laura Petherbridge!! Laura is very well known in the stepfamily group! Laura has been a stepmom for 30+ years and has two stepsons!! She serves couples and single adults with topics on spiritual growth, relationships, stepfamilies, co-parenting, single parenting, divorce prevention, and divorce recovery. She is an international speaker and author of four books including, When “I Do” Becomes “I Don’t”—Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce, and The Smart Stepmom, co-authored with stepfamily expert Ron Deal and endorsed by Gary Chapman (Five Love Languages), 101 Tips for The Smart Stepmom—Expert Advice from One Stepmom to Another and Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul-a devotional. In this episode, we discuss: Stepkids embracing stepdads and stepmoms differently The expectation put on stepmoms to love their stepkids like their own Guilty parent syndrome House rules & consequences Tips from her book 101 Tips for the Smart Stepmom Please rate and review our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher. This helps others find the podcast and lets us know what our listeners want to hear.
Stepmoms bear a unique burden, and they often neglect their own care. Melanie Anthony offers hope for balance in the midst of the burden. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Melanie Anthony's ministry StepMoms Alive. A one day faith-based event designed to equip stepmoms to be strong and steadfast for the journey. Learn more and register for the 2019 Blended & Blessed® live event and livestream. It's the only livestream event for couples in stepfamilies. In today's complicated stepfamily, the stepmom often doesn't know where to turn for help. Let stepfamily expert Ron Deal and experienced stepmom Laura Petherbridge show you how to survive and thrive as a stepmom in The Smart Stepmom.
With somewhere around one out of two Christian marriages ending in divorce, the probability of becoming a step-parent is high when a remarriage takes place. Laura Petherbridge, author of The Smart Stepmom, joins the podcast to discuss the challenges of being a stepmother as well as the keys to making such relationships thrive. Shownotes: Connect with Laura Petherbridge on her website or on Facebook. Get The Smart Stepmom, authored by Laura Petherbridge and Ron Deal
Gil and Brenda interview Laura Petherbridge who is an author, international speaker on many topics, and a stepmom cheerleader. In this episode, the conversation covers stepmoms and stepdads who did not bring any biological children into the marriage (although ALL stepmoms/dads will benefit). There are some different moving parts with this type of stepfamily. These new stepmoms can be ambushed by the new activity of the family, lack of influence she thought she would have and seeing her husband parent differently than she would. It can be a very lonely place. What myths do these stepmoms/dads believe? What is the #1 marital issue with stepmoms in general? You can find out more about Laura here: www.TheSmartStepmom.com She speaks to many other topics that involve women, marriage, and the family. #tipstoolsandtingles #gilandbrenda #RestoredandRemarried #marriagepodcast #investinyourmarriage #marriagecoach #marriagecounselor #husbandwifeteam #remarried #remarriage #stepfamily #stepmom #stepdad #stepmother #stepfather #stepparent #stepparenting #stepchild #blendedfamily #marriagehelp #conflictresolution #parenting #remarriagehelp #stepfamilyhelp #blendedfamilyhelp #remarriageadvice #marriagepodcast #stepfamilypodcast #blendedfamilypodcast #remarriagepodcast #stepfamily
Dealing with sibling-rivalry presents a problem for us all. However, blended families struggle even more. Laura Petherbridge calls herself the Smart Step-Mom and offers guidance for the tough issues you must face. Check out her website here: www.laurapetherbridge.com
Laura Petherbridge, the smart stepmom, shares how to have healthy relationships and overcome fear. She shares the tough struggle to trust in God after being rejected over and over. www.thesmartstepmom.com www.clsimmons.com
Author, speaker, and step-parenting expert, Laura Petherbridge, joined Jim and Martha for a powerful hour on a tough topic: how to parent between homes. Laura was honest, open and real, and her story is one that will resonate not only with anyone affected from a “broken home”, but also by anyone yearning for hope and … Continue reading A Broken Home Doesn't Need to Break You The post A Broken Home Doesn't Need to Break You appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.
Author and speaker Laura Petherbridge shares the harrowing story of surviving her parents' divorce, and her own, and how she used the Word to persevere. She also lays out ways counteract the converse effects of divorce and why step-family ministries are so important in the church. The post On Ministering to Step Families appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.
Laura Petherbridge talks about her article, The Reason God Hates Divorce. The post Divorce appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.
Smart Stepmom joins Arlene to help the frustrated stepmom find more peace at home. Learn how to adjust expectations, discipline your stepkids, and the one thing you don't want to miss out on with your biological kids. Arlene interviewed Laura Petherbridge for her upcoming book 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom.
Today we have ask Ron Deal to join us to talk about his latest book, Dating and The Single Parent. Ron is author of The Smart Stepfamily: Seven Steps to a Healthy Family (and DVD series), The Smart Stepmom (coauthored with Laura Petherbridge), The Remarriage Checkup: Tools to Help Your Marriage Last a Lifetime (coauthored with Dr. David Olson, and The Smart Stepdad. His latest book is Dating and the Single Parent. A recognized expert in marriage and blended families. Ron has appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, ABC Nightline, WGN-News, The Mike Huckabee Show, FamilyLife Today, Focus on the Family, HomeWord with Jim Burns, Celebration, and The 700 Club, and his work has been referenced online (e.g., ABC News.com) and in newspapers throughout the world .
Carrie’s guest, author Laura Petherbridge, deals with one of the greatest challenges for step moms, the ex-wife! She also gives great tips on how to manage the relationships with the kids to help build your blended family for the long-term. See her web site.
Carrie’s guest, author Laura Petherbridge, shares her invaluable wisdom about truths and myths in blended families, the keys to success and why step moms feel so much pressure. See her web site.
Childless and child-free stepmothers face unique challenges compared to stepmothers who have biological children of their own. Rachelle discusses the various emotions they encounter and ways to deal with them with international speaker and author, Laura Petherbridge. Laura wrote When ‘I Do’ Becomes ‘I Don’t': Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce and The Smart Stepmom with stepfamily … Read more about this episode...
Host Jacquelyn Fletcher interviews Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge, the authors of the new book The Smart Stepmom. They talk about disgaged dads, ex wives, and strong remarriages.
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