In this episode, we’re talking about how to get unstuck when you’re feeling Trapped between your spouse and your kids. We call that being a Trapped Teammate and just about every parent in a blended family experiences this to some level. We’re sharing a couple of mindset shifts, some “stories” to avoid, and even a simple 5-step process to help relieve the pressure of feeling trapped.

I (Mike) often felt stuck on the outside as a step-parent. Kim and Annika had their little inside routines and jokes that I couldn’t seem to connect with. What I really wanted was to instantly feel included…but blended family life just doesn’t work that way. When I was feeling like a Stranded Stranger, what I was really wanting was for our family to “blend”. But one stepfamily expert says that “compartmentalizing” is a better approach…

If you want to show up better in the moments when one or both of you is feeling Trapped or Stranded — then you’ve got to start from a place of already being connected, rather than trying to “connect” in the moment of stress…

Step Parents, have you ever felt left out? Has it ever felt like there's a big relational chasm that you just can't seem to cross — like you're Stranded?

Bio-Parents, have you ever felt stuck between your spouse and your kids? Do you feel pulled back and forth trying to please both, but not seeming to please anyone — like you're Trapped?

Sooner or later, every step-couple experiences these feelings of being Trapped or Stranded. For some, the feelings are paralyzing and for others, they're just annoying…

What do you want for your family over the next year? If you're like most couples in a blended family, you might feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to move forward. 1 year from now, you probably don't want everyone experiencing the same challenges they are now. You want something new…something better. But how do you make that happen? That's where we come in. Check out this week's episode to discover your starting point to something new for your family this year!

How does a blended family couple come together around discipline? That's a question we recently received — and that's what we're tackling in this podcast episode. We'll discuss the first things we should focus on as bio-parent and step-parent to become a great parenting team. Check it out…

Are we the only ones who want to avoid budgeting for the holidays?! Can't we just spend whatever we want to bring a little happiness to our blended family this one time per year? We wish that were the case. The truth is budgeting in a blended family is more about relationships and emotions than it is about money. As you head into the holidays this year, consider adopting these 4 mindsets…they may just keep you connected as a couple and as a family!

It's natural for us to view new relationships through the lens of our experiences with previous partners. Even though we may have left our past behind and we're moving on, sometimes circumstances in our current relationship can remind us of a negative experience from the past.

In this episode, we'll talk about why this can be so challenging and then give you 3 specific action steps you can take to get over those hurts and triggers from your past.

Eventually, step-couples feel stuck because their parenting-styles seem to be so different. Their differences often lead to conflict — but what if there's more to the story?

In this episode, we'll explore what parenting-styles really are — and what most couples really mean when they are feeling frustrated that their styles are just too different. Then we'll offer practical insights and resources that will help you take the next step toward getting united in your parenting.