Blended Family Podcast

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com JODI WOMACK is the CEO of the Get Momentum Leadership Academy and the founder of No More Nylons, a coaching program providing women business leaders with professional networking expertise. She co-founded Get Momentum with her husband, Jason so they could work together from anywhere in the world. Her firsthand experience in business management, marketing, and customer service gets put to good use through their training and coaching firm. Jodi and Jason’s new book titled, Get Momentum: How To Start When You’re Stuck (Wiley, 2016) comes out in May 2016. The Get Momentum book provides you with a process to make meaningful, proactive changes to improve how you approach starting projects that are stuck.   In this interview we discuss   Her personal story and why she wrote the book What kinds of things in our lives this book can help us with How the book can help a blended family What the five stages of momentum are How do we choose what to get started

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Bringing a new baby into a blended family home is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider when you choose to expand your family. There are steps you can take to make sure it is a smooth transition for everyone involved. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Abuse can be very damaging to a blended family, because there are more lives at stake. Instead of worrying about one family, we now have two we have to be concerned about. There are different types of abuse, which are physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual.   There are many factors that determine why people become abusers, and why others become victims. Getting help is essential in order to live a happy peaceful life, and to ensure that your kids live a happy life as well.   National Domestic Violence Hotline Website 1-800-799-7233   Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline Website 1-800-422-4453 Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Back in September we did the perspective series, a month long series focusing on the perspective of people in the blended family. However, we never took into account the perspective of a child in the blended family home. Oftentimes we overlook a child’s feelings because we are too busy worrying about our own relationship and situation. Some common feelings a child may experience while being part of a divorce or a blended family are   Feeling like a divorce is their fault Wanting to know what really happened (why did my parents get divorced?) Wondering why their parent is acting different Wondering or hoping their parents will get back together Feeling like they will be replaced by their new stepparent or step siblings Struggling with feelings of not liking their new stepparent or step siblings Feeling like they are not getting enough attention Feeling like they don't have a say in anything that is happening in their life Join the Private Face

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   This week, I answer some listener questions.   If you want to send me a question for a future show, please email to me, message me in facebook, or send me an audio file via speakpipe. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you want to create more peace in your home so that your blended family can live with ease? Learn how in this episode. I’ll give you some tips on how to become the peacemaker in your family, and how to help your children as well.   Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   It’s essential to be supportive to you partner in any relationship, but it’s needed even more in a blended family. There are four key areas where support is important, which are parenting, work, lifestyle, and personal development.   Parenting Always backup your partner and be their teammate Support them emotionally through painful parenting moments Help with general parenting responsibilities   Work and business life Get interested in your partner's work Be emotionally supportive if they’ve had a tough day Be supportive of work relationships   Lifestyle Encourage and support activities or hobbies that bring your partner joy Be supportive of outside friendships Don’t get jealous of their friends   Personal Growth Encourage them when they succeed Help to hold them accountable Don’t  point out their failures Don’t try to derail them   Aside from this, it’s also a good idea to be a supportive stepparent and a supportive co parent to the ex, or othe

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Blended families have been portrayed in TV and film for many years. I’ve compiled a list of the most popular movies and shows you should check out with your own blended family!   In Television Brady Bunch Who’s the Boss Full House Drake and Josh The Foster’s Modern Family Life with Derek Step by Step Sister Sister Two and a half Men Different Strokes   In Film Brady Bunch Yours, Mine, and Ours Stepmom The Parent Trap Mrs. Doubtfire Step Brothers Elf Blended Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Many adolescents struggle with their sexual identity.  If they identify as bisexual, lesbian, gay, or transexual, it can be much easier for them if they come from a home that is sex positive.   Blended families can be harder for a child to reveal their sexual identity to, as there are more people involved, each whom may have a differing opinion. It’s important for the entire family to come together and support the child in the coming out process. Learn more about the It Gets Better Project click here   Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you have a home that is sex positive? Do you even know what that means? Raising children comes with lots of questions, especially when it comes to sex. How much are we supposed to say? Should we tell the truth? We are living in quite a different world now than when we were young. Homes that are blended have a bit more of a challenge, as both sides need to decide what is right for their family. There are many benefits to being a sex positive parent, and many ways in which you can achieve it! Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Learning to balance both business and family life can be challenging, but even more so in the blended family. If you don’t get it right, you can end up being overwhelmed or filled with guilt and regret. Some tips I have for you in this show include… give yourself some downtime schedule family time phone free dinners leave work at work delegate use a calendar effectively do the most important things first multi tasking is not always best be patient and ask for patience Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Jealousy is a normal human emotion, but sometimes it can interfere with our relationships. It is very common in the blended family to struggle with feelings of jealousy when it comes to your partner's ex spouse or their children. Some common types of jealousy blended families face are   jealousy of the partner's ex spouse and their history together jealousy of the partner's ex spouse and their current relationship as co parents jealousy of spouse and their relationship with their children jealousy of spouse and the time they spend with their children jealousy of spouse life outside of the family, including friends and work overall jealousy of spouse regarding trust   In this episode I break those down for you in hopes to help you overcome them.   There are also 5 helpful tips to remember when trying to overcome jealousy   trust and believe in your partner understand that jealousy comes from within don’t compare yourself to others stop the end

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   When Valentine's Day comes once a year, it reminds us of the importance of connecting with our partner. However, we don’t need to wait until Valentine's Day to connect. There are simple things we can do every day to show our partner we care for them and to help us stay connected. In this week’s episode, I have 20 easy things you can do! Complement one another Kiss Send your partner a card Give gifts Make eye contact Have date nights Cook together Take interest in something your partner likes Couples massage Laugh together Shower together Leave each other love notes Cuddle Acts of service Flirt Exercise together Send texts when you’re apart Play together Make time for intimacy Take 10 minutes a day to talk www.5lovelanguages.com Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe V

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Judge Susan Sexton is the host of the 50 Shades of Divorce podcast. She has been on both sides,as she has been a judge, and she has also experienced her own divorce. In this interview we discuss…   Susan’s own journey what to expect from her podcast common court issues from divorce mistakes couples make process of divorce hiring an attorney judge selection state laws   To connect with Susan, please use the links below Website Facebook Podcast Website www.findlaw.com Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you ever get frustrated when people pass judgement on you just because you have a blended family? Or do you sometimes realize that you have your own misconceptions about your blended family? In this episode I talk about some of those and what to do about it. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com  

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com This is the second part of the meditation podcast that we started last week with expert Chel Hamilton. She created a special meditation mini just for us. Connect with Chel and hear all of her podcasts www.meditationminis.com Donate to my cupid run www.blendedfamilypodcast.com/cupid Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com  

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Connect with Chel Hamilton Website Twitter   In this interview, I speak with Chel Hamilton, host of the Meditaion Mini’s Podcast. She teaches us all about the practice of meditation. In this show, we discuss Chels own story with meditation what is a guided meditation how to overcome feelings of discomfort how do we find the time to meditate proper methods or practices of meditation physical and mental benefits of meditation how to help children learn a practice of meditation   and more. Chel is creating a special guided meditation just for blended families, which will be next week’s episode. In the meantime, please check out Chel Hamilton using the links below. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com  

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com The beginning of the year is a great time to set new goal, or healthy habits for the year to come. In this show, I tell you how to set those goals, plus I give you many ideas to get you started. I encourage you to make your own list of specific, measurable, and realistic goals. My list here are the ideas mentioned in the show.   financial goals fitness goals nutrition goals family goals connect with people cut stress have more couples time practice being nicer practice gratitude watch less TV become more organized don't overextend yourself do things for yourself   Please share your goals with me! I’d love to hear about them! Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Arguing with your kids is a part of parenting that we all could do without. Children are great at it, and they do it to use their power. You can have a more peaceful home by learning how to diffuse these arguments.   My ten tips Don't argue back Learn to walk away Provide choices Encourage Communication Model good behavior Set boundaries Learn to compromise Only discuss the issue at hand Let your child walk away Learn how to recover from the argument Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Update on our son, who was recently in a car accident Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com