In this important episode, we’re talking to the spouse who feels stuck, discouraged, or even ready to throw in the towel. We get it. We’ve been there too.

We’re diving into a powerful resource: Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, Loving Your Spouse When You Feel Like Walking Away. We’ll unpack four painful myths that keep couples stuck and explore six powerful “realities” that can spark real change, starting with you. And yes, we’re sharing our own story of how we nearly gave up, what we did instead, and why we’re so thankful we didn’t walk away.

Whether you’re barely hanging on or just in a tough season, this episode is filled with vulnerability, truth, encouragement, and hope. We hope you know you’re not alone, and there is a path forward.

You'll Discover:

• Four common myths that keep couples stuck, feeling hopeless in their relationship
• Six powerful realities that can shift your mindset and help you move forward
• Why shifting your own attitudes and actions is the key to influencing your relationship
• How “reality living” helped us break destructive patterns in our marriage
• The difference between giving up and letting go with peace and clarity

Resources from this Episode:

• Loving Your Spouse When You Feel Like Walking Away by Gary Chapman
• Episode 138. How Relational Dysfunction Plagued Our Marriage and How We Finally Broke Free
• Episode 202. How to Break Free From Painful Cycles and Enjoy Deeper Levels of Intimacy [with Ron and Nan Deal]
• Episode 200. A Heart-to-Heart Conversation Exploring the Secrets to Lasting Love
• Episode 190. Where can you turn for help? Understand the Difference Between Counseling and Coaching
• Episode 65. 6 Simple Steps for Inviting Your Spouse to Get Help with You
• Episode 147. Do Sensitive Conversations End Up Creating Conflict in Your Relationship?
• Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences (The Stranded Stranger & Trapped Teammate Dynamic)
• Episode 120. 3 Valuable Lessons That Saved Our Marriage and Blended Family
• Episode 101. Are you overwhelmed because your marriage feels like too much work? (Part 1 of 2)
• Episode 51. Overcoming Discouragement (Part 1 of 3)

Ready for some extra support?

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

Are you ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click this link: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether

Resources

Episode 214. Does Permissive Parenting Help or Hurt? Discover How to Know and Grow

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman

Love and Logic Parenting Method - Love and Logic is a research-driven, whole-child philosophy founded in 1977. This authoritative approach is used by parents and leading educators worldwide.

Episode 184. The Heart of Motherhood: Navigating Messy Moments with Empathy and Love

Episode 187. Basics for Blending: How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 1 of 2)

Episode 205. 4 Facets of Parenting: What Bio Parents Need to Know to Achieve Best Outcomes (Part 2 of 2)

Episode 168. Actionable Steps for Helping Kids Navigate Through Difficult Emotions and Problem Solve

Episode 172. 2 Key Elements to Resolve Your Parenting Style Differences - And Get United

Episode 124. How to Effectively Parent Through Each Stage of Development - And Reduce Painful Interactions (Part 1 of 2)

Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question

Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know!

We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share

Ready for some extra support?

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://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call

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Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in 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 to 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!

In this episode, we're getting real about something that so many blended family parents struggle with: permissive parenting driven by guilt, fear, or insecurity.

Kim opens up about her personal journey as a single mom, how her guilt and fear led her to parent from a place of pity, and how that impacted her daughter, Annika.

We’re also diving into the difference between pity and empathy and how embracing authoritative parenting—rooted in love and limits—can shift everything for your family.

Whether you're a parent stuck in emotional reactivity or a stepparent struggling to support your spouse, this episode is packed with encouragement, practical insight, and next steps to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

You'll Discover:

• The surprising ways guilt, fear, and insecurity can lead to permissive parenting and the negative impact on kids
• How pity and empathy differ and why it matters for your child’s development
• What authoritative parenting looks like and why it's the most healthy and effective style
• Real-life examples of how blended family dynamics impact parenting decisions and often create stress
• How to begin shifting your mindset and reclaiming your parental authority so that you can be the kind of leader your kids really need

Resources from this Episode:

• CLICK HERE to continue learning and growing in your parenting journey
• Parenting Style Quiz: What's Your Parenting Style?
• Episode 99. 3 Tips to Help You Move Beyond Painful Guilt and Regret
• Episode 179. Conquer Fear and Embrace Your Blend with Confidence and Clarity
• Episode 180. Break Free from Guilt and Blend with Authenticity and Security
• Episode 209. Breaking Free from Self-Doubt: 5 Habits to Build Confidence and Trust in Yourself
• Episode 189. Bring Hope to the Realities of Grief: A Path to Understanding and Healing [with Krista St-Germain]
• Building Love Together in Blended Families by Ron Deal & Gary Chapman

Ready for some extra support?

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

Subscribe or Follow the Show

Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Click here to follow on Spotify

Are you ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click this link: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether