139 Growing Up Blended: My Stepdad

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139 Growing Up Blended: My Stepdad

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

June 3, 2024 • Host: Ron Deal, Marshall West

Growing up blended often includes hard transitions and isolation for those involved. But Marshall West’s story is different. He shares with Ron Deal the beauty of God’s provision for two families coming together after loss, giving him a dad he never had and two brothers who were never considered “step.”

Marshall was 12 when his mom married his stepdad, a pivotal point for him. Marshall had been praying to have brothers join his family, and his stepdad had been praying for a Mom for his two boys. Marshall credits the Lord and His goodness for bringing two broken things together and creating a family.

142 Troubled Teens & Addiction Help

July 15, 2024 • Adrian Hickmon

How do we help kids who are struggling with addictive behaviors such as pornography, drinking, drugging, video game addiction, or others? In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr Adrian Hickmon, founder of Capstone Treatment Center, about the best approach, particularly for blended families. Hickmon says it starts by understanding the pain and void in the child's life and using your influence as a parent and stepparent to impact their behavior. He explains the value of creating deeper attachments and practicing healthy boundaries in a way that provides the connection and motivation a child needs to make changes in their life.

141 Overcoming Stepparenting Myths

July 1, 2024 • Gayla Grace

Stepparenting myths have been around a long time, and they can negatively impact stepparents if not understood well. Although there might be some truth to them, the non-truth messages create tension and confusion for us. Ron Deal talks with Gayla Grace about how to sort through the reality and false messages of myths such as: All stepmothers are wicked and all stepfathers are abusive, stepparents can easily take on a high parental role, stepfamilies can behave as traditional families, we will love biological and stepchildren the same, and if you call them "my children," they will like being your children.

140 A Home Built From Love & Loss

June 17, 2024 • Sabrina McDonald

After losing her husband in a tragic accident, Sabrina McDonald looked forward to her young kids having a dad again. But remarriage came with hardship. She shares her lessons of loss and love with Ron Deal and how God met her in the wilderness.