We all want to love our kids well.  We want to be a safe place for them to process.  We want them to be open and authentic with us.

The problem is, their losses and emotions can be hard for us to understand.  Sometimes we do our best to help them move through those old hurts and hang-ups without realizing our efforts are keeping them stuck.

That was something I (Mike) experienced growing up.  My dad and step-mom simply wanted to move forward, but some of their choices kept us kids stuck.  I'm sharing more about that in this episode.

I grew up in challenging blended family dynamics — and I'm hoping my story will give you valuable insight into some practical ways you can love your kids well, even when it feels painful or awkward.

Resources from this Episode:

• Episode 108 :  3 Unity Breakers that are Detrimental to Your Connections and How You Can Avoid Them
• Episode 72:  The Best Way to Create Healthy, Bonded Relationships
• We mentioned the skill of Emotion Coaching.  To learn more check out the Book:  Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by Dr. John Gottman
• Episode 71:  How to Help Kids Cope with Painful Disappointment
• We mentioned The Smart Family Resources by Ron Deal

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