Blended Family Breakthrough

Mike & Kim Anderson

We're Mike and Kim Anderson, and we believe in a world where blended families experience a future full of hope, connection, and peace.  That's why we focus on helping couples in stepfamilies move from a place of confusion and conflict to a life of confidence and connection.  Thanks for joining us to discover how you can live the blended family life you really want! Not sure where to start?  Learn more at https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com

  1. 3d ago ·  Bonus Video

    Simple Step: Safeguarding Kids as they Move Between Homes

    Resources Click the link for helpful Co-Parenting Episodes:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/podcast/category/Co-Parenting/#filter Episode 213. Discover How to Better Understand and Connect with Children of Divorce [with Lauren Reitsema] Episode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry:  Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiances, and How to Help Episode 232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's Wellness Episode 161. How do Healthy Parent/Child Roles Help Avoid the Pitfalls of Parentification? [with Ron Deal & Lauren Reitsema] Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question   Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show?  Let us know! We've made it easy.  Just click here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call You don't need to navigate blended family life alone.  Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies.  Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether Subscribe or Follow the Show  Click here to subscribe on YouTube Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback.

  2. Oct 20 ·  Video

    247. When Kids Struggle Between Two Homes: How to Make Transitions Easier

    Moving between two homes is simply part of life for many kids after a divorce. Have you ever stopped to consider how much physical and emotional energy each transition requires? Kids may be shifting between different routines, expectations, relationships, responsibilities, and environments, all while keeping track of clothes, schoolwork, sports gear, electronics, and everything else that needs to travel with them. Even when kids have healthy relationships with both parents, constantly adjusting can be exhausting.  We know this personally. When Annika moved between our home and her dad's, we didn't always recognize the toll this took on her. Sometimes our excitement to reconnect actually created more pressure when what she really needed was time and space to settle in. In this episode, we’re inviting you to see regular transitions through your child’s eyes. What can look like irritability, withdrawal, forgetfulness, or resistance may actually be a child trying to manage the emotional and practical strain of moving between two different homes. When we understand what may be happening beneath the behavior, we can respond with more empathy, reduce unnecessary pressure, and create a smoother landing as kids move from one home to the other. The goal isn't to make everything "perfect". It's to pay attention to your individual child and ask what helps them experience greater stability, security, and freedom while living between two homes. You'll Discover: Why frequent transitions between two homes can create more stress for kids than adults sometimes recognizeHow connection before correction can help when kids arrive home irritable, withdrawn, resistant, or disrespectfulWhy lowering the pressure and practicing a little "subdued excitement" can give kids room to settle before reconnectingHow biological parents can manage their own sadness with goodbyes without creating emotional burdens for their kidsPractical ways to reduce the stress of clothes, school supplies, sports gear, electronics, and other belongings moving between homes Resources from this Episode: Episode 84. How to Cope With Sadness, Anxiety, and Longing While Your Kids Are GoneEpisode 226. How Two Homes Raise Kids that Thrive: A Co-Parenting Blueprint for Caring Parents [with Jay & Tammy Daughtry]Episode 168.  Actionable Steps For Helping Kids Navigate Through Difficult Emotions and Problem-SolveEpisode 222. Step-by-Step Guide:  Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things WorseEpisode 223. The Emotion Coaching Playbook:  Handling Pushback and Building TrustEpisode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry:  Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How to HelpEpisode 210. Is Your Child Pulling Away?  Here's How to Respond with Wisdom and LoveEpisode 103. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parents and their Bio-Kids Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession Subscribe or Follow the Show  Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet?  If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.   Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Click here to subscribe on YouTube Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

  3. Oct 13 ·  Bonus Video

    Simple Step: Keep Filling the Emotional Tanks

    Resources Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal and Gary Chapman Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question   Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show?  Let us know! We've made it easy.  Just click here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call You don't need to navigate blended family life alone.  Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies.  Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether Subscribe or Follow the Show  Click here to subscribe on YouTube Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

  4. Oct 6 ·  Video

    246. Adding an "Ours Baby"? How to Navigate Big Emotions and Shifting Family Dynamics

    Adding an "ours baby" can be a beautiful new chapter, but it can also stir up emotions and family dynamics you didn’t expect.  We experienced that firsthand when Annika (then seven), asked Kim (who was pregnant), “Will you be closer to the baby than you are to me?” Her question revealed what many children in blended families wonder when a shared baby arrives: Where do I fit now, and do I still matter just as much? In this episode, we explore how an "ours baby" can impact kids who move between two homes, older siblings who compare their childhood to the baby’s, stepparents becoming biological parents for the first time, and couples trying to balance competing needs, loyalties, and ideas about fairness.  The goal isn’t to convince everyone to feel happy about the new baby. It’s to create enough emotional safety for each person to be honest about the whole experience. We’ll share practical ways to respond with curiosity, reassurance, emotion coaching, and teamwork. Most importantly, we’ll help you focus on one intentional strategy that can protect your family as it grows. When everyone continues to feel seen, valued, and secure, your growing family has a stronger foundation for connection and belonging. You'll Discover: Why kids can genuinely love a new sibling while also experiencing grief, jealousy, insecurity, or fear.How an "ours baby" can intensify existing blended family dynamics, including loyalty binds and the Trapped Teammate/Stranded Stranger dynamicWhy thoughtful communication with an ex about a pregnancy can help keep kids out of adult emotions How becoming a biological parent can create new challenges for a previously childless stepparentOne practical strategy to protect connection, security, and belonging by making intentional investments in every relationship in your familyResources from this Episode: Episode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry:  Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How to HelpEpisode 222. Step-by-Step Guide:  Facing Painful Pushback Without Making Things Worse Episode 161. How do Healthy Parent/Child Roles Help Avoid the Pitfalls of Parentification [with Ron Deal & Lauren Reitsema]Episode 211. 8 Warning Signs Your Ex is Manipulating Your Child's Heart and MindEpisode 218. How to Positively Influence Your Kids' Character When Your Ex Undermines Your ValuesEpisode 123. How to Connect More and Rekindle Romance in Your Relationship - Even if You're Super BusyEpisode 103. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parents and their Bio-KidsEpisode 136. How to Intentionally Create Positive Family Time and Reduce Relational TensionEpisode 39. How to Create Strong Bonds with Resistant Step kidsEpisode 19. How to Help Step-Siblings to Get Along BetterReady for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession Subscribe or Follow the Show  Click here to subscribe on YouTube Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

  5. Sep 29 ·  Video

    245. Considering an "Ours Baby"? 4 Questions to Help You Make a Wise Decision Together

    Deciding whether to have an “ours baby” is deeply personal, and in a blended family, the decision can carry some unique complexities. We know because we’ve lived it. When we were building our life together, Mike felt certain that he wanted the opportunity to have a biological child, while Kim had already reached a place of contentment raising her one child. As our relationship grew, so did our conversations about what we each wanted, what concerned us, and what adding a baby might mean for our marriage and for Annika. In this episode, we share four important questions that can help you navigate this decision with greater honesty and clarity.  We also share some of our own journey of welcoming Phoebe and Jacob into our family. Their arrivals brought incredible joy, but they also reminded us that even careful preparation can’t predict exactly how the story will unfold. The goal isn’t to rush toward a yes or a no. It’s to create enough safety and honesty for both of you to fully engage in the conversation, understand what’s at stake, and ultimately move forward as a united couple with realistic expectations, caring for everyone in the family. You'll Discover: Four important questions to explore before deciding to have an “ours baby”Why a baby shouldn’t be expected to fix marital struggles or automatically unite a blended familyHow finances, fertility, support systems, family logistics, and previous parenting experiences can shape the decisionWhy couples need to talk honestly when their hopes don’t alignHow the emotional security of your current children should factor into how you prepare to grow your familyReady for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession Subscribe or Follow the Show  Click here to subscribe on YouTube Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

  6. Sep 22 ·  Bonus Video

    Simple Step: The Super Strength of Consideration

    Resources Simple Step:  Managing Loyalties & Priorities in Your Home Episode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended Family Episode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfall to Ensure a Successful Partnership Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences (Trapped Teammate / Stranded Stranger dynamic) Episode 77. 3 Unique Differences That Make a Blended Family Marriage Challenging Episode 160.  A 4-Part Framework for Achievable Expectations and How to Live Them Out Episode 130. How to Build Trust that Nurtures Bonds with Your Kids and Stepkids Episode 214. Does Permissive Parenting Help or Hurt?  Discover How to Know and Grow Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question   Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show?  Let us know! We've made it easy.  Just click here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call You don't need to navigate blended family life alone.  Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies.  Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether Subscribe or Follow the Show  Click here to subscribe on YouTube Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

  7. Sep 15 ·  Video

    244. More Than the Struggle: 4 Super Strengths that Emerge in Blended Family Life

    It’s easy to look at the unfinished parts of your blended family and wonder if something is wrong. Maybe relationships haven’t developed as quickly as you hoped. Your stepchild still keeps their distance. A biological parent feels caught in the middle. Or shifting schedules, transitions, and circumstances outside your control continue to create tension. When reality doesn’t match the family you imagined, discouragement can creep in. But the truth is, blending a family is a process, and a family 'in process' isn’t necessarily an unhealthy family. Sometimes, it’s simply still growing. In honor of National Stepfamily Day, we’re shifting our focus from the challenges of blended family life to some of the unexpected strengths that can develop as you learn to navigate the challenges over the years. After more than 25 years in our own blended family, we’ve seen acceptance, resilience, and flexibility grow in ourselves and our kids. We’ve also discovered that a healthy remarriage can give children a new picture of what love, conflict resolution, forgiveness, trust, and commitment can look like, which will have an impact on their future relationships. None of these strengths develop automatically, and celebrating your family doesn’t mean pretending the hard parts don’t exist. It means recognizing meaningful progress while allowing everyone to experience the family honestly. Your family may still be “in the crock pot.” Some relationships may still feel awkward or unfinished. But slow progress is still progress. This National Stepfamily Day, we invite you to notice how far you’ve come, celebrate the wins, and hold onto hope for what’s still developing. You'll Discover: Why an unfinished blended family isn’t necessarily an unhealthy familyHow acceptance can reduce blame and create more empathy and emotional safetyHow kids and adults develop resilience by moving through difficult experiences rather than simply “getting over” themWhy healthy flexibility doesn’t mean abandoning boundaries or allowing chaos to take overHow your marriage can offer kids a new and healthier vision for committed relationshipsResources from this Episode: Episode 141. Can my kids be emotionally harmed by blended family dynamics?Episode 27. How to Set Clear Boundaries and Safeguard RelationshipsEpisode 187. Basics for Blending:  How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and DistressReady for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession Subscribe or Follow the Show  Click here to subscribe on YouTube Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

  8. Sep 8 ·  Bonus Video

    Simple Step: Why Stepparents Need a Strong Sense of Identity

    Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question   Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show?  Let us know! We've made it easy.  Just click here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call You don't need to navigate blended family life alone.  Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies.  Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether Subscribe or Follow the Show  Click here to subscribe on YouTube Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts Click here to follow on Spotify Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

4.9
out of 5
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About

We're Mike and Kim Anderson, and we believe in a world where blended families experience a future full of hope, connection, and peace.  That's why we focus on helping couples in stepfamilies move from a place of confusion and conflict to a life of confidence and connection.  Thanks for joining us to discover how you can live the blended family life you really want! Not sure where to start?  Learn more at https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com

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