085. How to Uniquely Build More Love and Connection in Your Blended Family [with Ron Deal]
More ways to listen:
Everyone wants a "good blend"…
…the closeness, happiness, trust, and emotional safety that help us experience love in our blended family.
But, many of us quickly find that love is complicated in blended family life. Unmet expectations, confusion, and hurt feelings seem to invade our home and it's hard to know how to make sense of it all.
We've felt those and many more disappointments over the years, but thankfully there was more to the story — and we weren't alone in our journey.
We found some guidance and resources early on from a leading expert in blended family life — Ron Deal.
Recently, we had a chance to talk with Ron about the recent book that he co-authored with Gary Chapman called Building Love Together in Blended Families. In it, he and Gary unpack some of the unique ways that blended families can use Gary's concept of the 5 Love Languages.
In this episode, you'll get to listen in on our discussion and gain some valuable insight directly from Ron. You certainly don't want to miss this episode!
You'll Discover:
Why love is so complicated in a blended family
What Love Language "Dialects" are and how you can use them
How to avoid unintentionally "stepping on" the Love Language of others
Why lowering expectations and letting go can help build love in your blended family
Resources from this Episode:
Building Love Together in Blended Families by Gary Chapman & Ron L. Deal
To check out additional books, go here: Ron Deal
https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/
Preparing to Blend: The Couple's Guide to Becoming a Smart Stepfamily by Ron L. Deal
Episode 72: The Best Way to Create Healthy, Bonded Relationships
Episode 76: How to Restore Your Relationship with a Child After You've Messed Up
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
Subscribe or Follow the Show
Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you to do that today so you don't miss a single episode.
Click here to subscribe 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.
