009. A Surprisingly Simple Strategy for Bonding with Step-Kids
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You know your new spouse is an amazing person.
You know they care about your kids and want the best for them.
You know they're going to influence your kids in positive ways and contribute awesome things to their lives. But…
…your kids probably don't know any of this — yet.
It can be frustrating when your kids don't seem to notice the great qualities in your spouse. You can't force them to like their step-parent, but you can help them discover all those great qualities for themselves!
Early in our blended family journey, we discovered a strategy that has helped build a deep and lasting bond between Annika (Kim's Daughter) and Mike.
And in this episode, we're sharing that simple strategy so that you can build healthy and lasting bonds between the step-kids and step-parent in your home too!
Inside this Episode:
Kid's come into blended family life with "relational walls" that can make bonding with a step-parent challenging
Parents and step-parents must work as a team to help kids "pull down the walls" by playing their individual roles well
Leveraging the power of the "sweet spots" with kids to develop bonds with step-parents
Sweet-spot moments create a positive association
Bio-Parents staying in the role of authority are protecting the step-relationships from negative associations
The challenges for step & bio parents that come with entering into those "sweet spot" moments
Bottom Line: Kids need to discover that their step-parent is for them
Challenge: Enter into 3 "sweet spot" moments this week!
Resources from this Episode:
In this episode, we refer to the bonding process in a blended family as being "low and slow". Want to find out more about that? Check out this blog article: What's the BEST Way to 'Blend' and Build Step Family Bonds?
Ready for personalized support? Schedule your free coaching call
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
Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start?
With so many episodes available here on the show, it might feel a bit overwhelming to find the topics that matter most to you. That's why we've created the Blended Family Breakthrough Quiz which will direct you to the most impactful episodes that pertain to you personally.
Join our community
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
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