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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!
If you've been following us for a while — yes, we recently changed the podcast name from "The Blended Family Coaching Show" to "Blended Family Breakthrough". Thanks for noticing!
348 Episodes
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Resources Get your FREE copy of Blended Family Finances (limited offer) by Brian K. PetersonTo connect with Brian, CLICK HERE (Endurance Financial Group / Blended Family Financial)Episode 233. Building a Life You Love: How to Reduce Stress and Create a Unified Financial Vision [with Brian K. Peterson]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 h...
Money is a hard topic for any couple, but in a blended family, it often carries even more weight. It’s rarely just about numbers. It’s about history, protection, prior commitments, loyalty, fear, values, and the future you’re trying to build together. In this episode, we sit down with Brian K. Peterson to unpack why money conversations feel so loaded in stepfamilies, and how couples can approach them with more wisdom and unity. Instead of treating money like a scoreboard, Brian invites couple...
Resources Episode 232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's WellbeingArticle from Navesink Wellness Center: When Your Child Becomes Your Confidant: The Trap of Emotional SafetyEpisode 161. How do Healthy Parent/Child Roles Help Avoid the Pitfalls of Parentification? [with Ron Deal & Lauren Reitsema]Episode 229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How to Help Episode 84. How to Cope with S...
If you’ve ever wrestled with the question, “How often should my child be in contact with their other parent during my time?”, you've probably realized this isn’t really about phone calls. It’s about the invisible pressure kids feel to stay emotionally connected to both homes simultaneously and the tension it creates for everyone. If you want your home to be a place of peace and predictability, but you keep getting derailed by “just one more check-in", this episode is for you. The problem isn’...
Resources Episode 231. When Your Ex Starts Dating: How to Handle their New Partner and Protect Your Kids Episode 170. Co-Parenting Pitfalls for Bio and Step Parents: How to Avoid "Milestone Mishaps" Episode 135. How to Set Appropriate Boundaries and Negotiate Well with Your Ex-Spouse Episode 226. How Two Homes Raise Kids that Thrive: A Co-Parenting Blueprint for Caring Parents [with Jay & Tammy Daughtry] Episode 112. 3 Dangerous Dynamics that Can Destroy Co-Parenting - and Hurt the ...
If you’ve ever felt that jolt of panic when your child shares that they've been spending time with "daddy's new girlfriend" or "mommy's new boyfriend"… …you’re not alone. That moment can trigger fear, jealousy, grief, and of course, a protective instinct that makes you want to react fast. And sometimes that turns into a moment we later regret. In this episode, we’ll help you slow down and respond with wisdom instead of emotion. You’ll learn how to make a helpful first impression (...
Resources Episode 230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family Division Episode 203. How to Make Better Decisions and Solve Problems as a United Team Episode 49. Should Your Highest Priority be Your Marriage…or Your Kids? Episode 103. 4 Revealing Myths About 1 on 1 Time Between Parent and Their Bio-Kids (Part 1 of 2) Episode 147. Do Sensitive Conversations End up Creating Conflict in Your Relationship? Suggest a Topic or Ask a Q...
Ever tried to make a seemingly straightforward family decision (something that should be easy) only to feel the tension rise, opinions harden, and lines get drawn? You’re not imagining it. In blended families, decisions can feel like loyalty tests. In this episode, we walk through a realistic scenario with a blended couple facing a decision dilemma: Do we prioritize a new experience that one side of the family is excited about… or protect a familiar tradition the other side values deeply? And...
Resources Episode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended Family Episode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfalls 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 1...
If you’ve ever watched your child’s mood shift the moment they step into a handoff… Or felt the sting of being kept at arm’s length for reasons you can’t explain… You’re not imagining it. In blended families, kids often carry emotional burdens they were never meant to hold. In this episode, we name two of the most common “under-the-surface” struggles: loyalty binds (when a child feels torn between a bio parent and a stepparent) and parental allegiance (when a child feels pressure ...
Resources Last week's episode : Episode 228. How 4 Simple Steps Can Transform Your Family's Struggles into Amazing Wins This Year Moving Beyond Fear: Episode 50: How to Openly Communicate What You Really Want Episode 147: Do Sensitive Conversations end up creating conflict in your relationship?Episode 179. Conquer Fear and Embrace Your Blend with Confidence and ClarityEpisode 98. Is fear of being vulnerable keeping you from loving your spouse wholeheartedly?Coping with Impatience: E...
Those of us facing the common challenges of blending often feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or discouraged. It’s easy to drift into survival mode and settle for “not that bad.” In this episode, we'll share a clear plan to move forward in a simple way that's not about the pressure of big, dramatic New Year's resolutions. Here's the truth: transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and there are no easy fixes to the complex dynamics stepfamilies face. But change can happen with small, faithfu...
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 ho...
Do you ever spend time reminiscing? We seem to think back a lot from our current empty next vantage point. It can be great to recall some of those funny moments in our history. And it's meaningful when we recount the tough seasons we've endured together as well. As we head into the holidays, we thought it would be fun to pull an interview with our kids out of the archives. So, in this episode, you'll listen in on a conversation with our family reminiscing over some of the ups and ...
Questions to Ask Yourself Am I continuing to engage in “first-family” activities with my ex (even though we’re divorced), mainly because I’m trying to guard my children from experiencing any disappointment or discomfort?Have I noticed any confusion or resentment from my children when they observe our Perfect Pal relationship and compare it to what’s actually happened in their lives?Do I feel compelled to continue as Perfect Pals because I’m worried that if I don’t, my ex will react poorly, po...
If you’re co-parenting between two homes, you already know: your kids are watching everything. How you talk about their other parent, handle handoffs, respond to schedule changes, and react when the ex sends that text. These everyday issues impact and shape your children’s well-being. In this episode, we sit down with co-parenting experts Jay & Tammy Daughtry, who are both adult children of divorce and co-parents themselves. They share their TEAMM mindset: The End Adult Matter...
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 h...
You want this season to feel special for your blended family. But instead of joy, you’re feeling grumpy, anxious, or even a little hopeless. Schedule changes, empty chairs at the table, tension with an ex, and slow bonding in step-relationships can make gratitude feel out of reach. Deep down you might be wondering, “How am I supposed to be thankful when life really hurts?” In this episode, we'll sit with you in that question. And we'll introduce three simple “gratitude lenses” that will help ...
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 h...
The holidays can turn magical… …or messy! This is especially true when two households, multiple calendars, and big expectations collide. You want peace, memories, and connection; the problem is last-minute schedule changes, mixed emotions, and the pressure to please everyone. We’ve been there. In this conversation, we'll offer practical guidance with a simple plan: five respectful negotiation tips for working with the other home and a kid-centered framework to navigate...
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I am so thankful that you have added what the bio parent can do. There are so many resources out there and this is the 1st I have come across that address what the bio parent can do. Thank you!