When complicated circumstances show up in blended families, relationship-building slows down. Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Darrell Bock about how the death of his mom, a dad who traveled weekly, & a new stepmom with 3 kids created tension and unease for all.
I’ve always wanted to get married, but when fear of commitment takes hold of me, I find myself wondering if it’s worth the risk.
Stepfamilies are fundamentally different than biological families which creates tension & ambiguity. Ron Deal speaks with Dr Patricia Papernow about key principles for healthy relationship building while navigating complex dynamics & competing priorities.
How can you establish your marital relationship as the foundation for the home when children preceded your union? Ron Deal & Gayla Grace offer practical tips on how to put your spouse in the front seat of your heart while still prioritizing your children.
As a single mom, you may never find the perfect work-life balance, but you can be free from the burden of trying to do it all.
Maybe fostering isn't for you, but there's something each of us can do to support foster families. Here are five ideas to get started.
We all desire to teach our children to be better siblings, friends, and someday, adults. But how do we raise compassionate kids?
Blending isn't the goal for stepfamilies; it suggests the family becomes one relationally, which rarely occurs. Other common cooking strategies don't work either. Then what does? Listen to Ron Deal and Gayla Grace discuss how crockpot cooking is the key.
If trends continue, by 2050, 35 million youth may undergo deconversion. How can we help prevent a crisis of faith in our kids?
Do you have a roadmap to follow on your blended family journey? We'd like to encourage using God's Word. Listen to Ron Deal & Gayla Grace, with stepcouple guests, talk about the value of scripture for families who are in need of hope and encouragement.
What are key stepping stones every stepfamily needs that will lead to healthy relationship building? Ron Deal and Gayla Grace discuss how perseverance, flexibility, commitment, Christ-likeness and other core attributes work together to create familyness.
Want to be the spiritual leader of your family but don’t know where to start? Here are seven essentials for leading well.
Family Values Exercise “Is Jesus your first love and is your spouse the love of your life? Everything else falls into place after that.” -David Robbins FamilyLife CEO David Robbins understands that life’s daily pressures make it difficult to stay focused on pursuing the Lord, your spouse, and your family first, so he developed a […]
What rules, principles, or contracts should you make with smartphones and your child? David Eaton, author of Smartphone Sanity, talks with Ron Deal about 8 major concerns to consider to keep smartphones from invading your home and hijacking your child.
Raising a special-needs child has an ongoing effect on your marriage. Be sure not to let it override your marriage in a way that causes it to crumble.
Parents face devastating loss when alienated from their children due to a former spouse. But there is hope for redemption! Dr. Richard Marks shares his story with Ron Deal of re-connecting with his mom as an adult and enjoying a thriving relationship with her.
These ideas will help you develop deeper relationships with your children despite a hectic schedule.
Your relationship with your college kid may change as they grow. So here are five things they may need on Christmas break.
One of the most stressful aspects of blended family life is the relationship between a stepparent and stepkids. Here are four tips to help you manage the emotions you feel.
As parents and stepparents, we want to raise our kids well, but we often feel inadequate. In this episode, Ron Deal talks with Ginger Hubbard about parenting the heart of our children and motivating them to become God-pleasers, not people-pleasers.
Are you in the early years of blending a family and you wonder if life will ever get easier? Listen to Ron Deal & Gayla Grace talk about the honeymoon season that follows hard relationship-building years and the rewards that come as familyness begins.
When my wife was pregnant, I was excited about being a new dad. But balancing fatherhood and marriage was a challenge I needed help with.
After finding out your wife is pregnant, it’s normal to ask, “Am I ready to be a dad?” And where do you find guidance for what’s ahead?
Develop lasting relationships in your community with Your Place, Your People. In today’s hyper-connected world, it can be difficult to make meaningful connections with those around us. Despite the abundance of social media relationships available online, many of us feel isolated and lonely, unable to truly connect with others in a meaningful way. If you’re […]
Our bonus episode offers another question and answer format with Ron Deal and Gayla Grace to address those hard-to-navigate circumstances in your blended family with solutions that offer nuggets of wisdom and practical suggestions.
I love family vacations. But when seven of us are in the minivan, sinful natures threaten family fun. Relate? Here are three reminders.
Do you have stepfamily questions for the experts? We have answers! Listen to Ron Deal and Gayla Grace address everyday issues that our listeners have asked with practical answers.
Do you struggle to find unity as a couple or need help setting boundaries with an ex-spouse? Maybe you want a few tips on navigating the teen years with your stepdaughters. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Kirk McGregor on these common topics & more.
Veteran stepcouples have a wealth of knowledge on best practices for stepfamilies. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Sandi Patty and Don Peslis, married in 1995 with a blended family of 8 children, on wise solutions to common issues stepfamilies face.
Do you need help growing unity and character in your stepfamily? Our convenient online course, Well-Blended, can help! Listen to Ron Deal and Dave & Ann Wilson talk about how it can help you build robust, resilient relationships in your unique stepfamily.
