Blended Family Breakthrough

41. Are you unintentionally putting your kids in the middle?


Listen Later

You want your kids to experience freedom from stress and concern as they move between their two homes.  You want them to be able to love both of their parents — without feeling like there are strings attached.

To make sure that's what your kids experience, you're probably very careful about the way you talk about your Ex when the kids are around…

…but are you sure you're not unintentionally putting them in the middle, even in subtle ways?

It can be tough to know when and what to say about an Ex when your kids are around.  You can't read their mind or really understand how they're internalizing a conversation - or how they'll respond to your emotional reactions.

And most of us make some common unintentional mistakes — even when we have the best of intentions.

That's what this episode is all about.  We'll help you understand 2 of the most common conversational mistakes we can make that unintentionally puts kids into a bind called a Parental Allegiance.

And we'll help you think through how these mistakes might be present in your home.

You'll Discover:

  • What it's like for kids who are stuck in a Parental Allegiance
  • Why a Parental Allegiance bind is harmful to your kids and your relationship with them
  • The 2 unintentional mistakes parents and step-parents can make that feed into a Parental Allegiance
  • 4 Questions you can ask yourself to determine if you're inadvertently creating a parental allegiance for your kids.

Resources from this Episode:

  • Episode 29 — What is a Loyalty Bind and What Can You Do About It?
  • Episode 6 — Are Your Kids Stuck in a 'Parental Allegiance' and What Can You Do About It?
  • Episode 7 — Toxic Exes and Hurting Kids - 5 Steps That Help
  • Episode 8 — Toxic Exes and Defiant Kids - A Simple Strategy Against Lies and Slander
  • We referenced this article while discussing Parentification:  Your Child is not your Confidant 

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

Are you subscribed to our podcast yet?  If not, we want to encourage you to subscribe today so you don't miss an episode.  Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Now 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 “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Want to Support the Show?

You can join our mission of safe-guarding marriages and supporting step-couples by connecting with our Patreon community.  By everyone doing just a little, we can create big opportunities.

Consider joining our community for as little as $4 per month and as a "thank you" — you'll have even more access directly to us!  Click here to join our community today

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Blended Family BreakthroughBy Mike & Kim Anderson

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

191 ratings


More shows like Blended Family Breakthrough

View all
The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast by The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

4,833 Listeners

The Life Coach School Podcast by Brooke Castillo

The Life Coach School Podcast

8,838 Listeners

Focus on the Family Strengthening Marriage Podcast by Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family Strengthening Marriage Podcast

1,882 Listeners

Focus on the Family Equipping Parents Podcast by Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family Equipping Parents Podcast

1,073 Listeners

BIG Life Devotional | Daily Devotional for Women by Pamela Crim | Daily Devotional for Women

BIG Life Devotional | Daily Devotional for Women

952 Listeners

The KICK-ASS Stepmom Podcast by Jamie Scrimgeour

The KICK-ASS Stepmom Podcast

688 Listeners

Relationship Renovation: Marriage Advice, Intimacy & Couples Communication by EJ and Tarah Kerwin

Relationship Renovation: Marriage Advice, Intimacy & Couples Communication

170 Listeners

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast by FamilyLife Podcast Network

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

331 Listeners

The Moving On Method® Podcast by Michelle Dempsey-Multack

The Moving On Method® Podcast

307 Listeners

The Joy Filled Podcast | Christian Motherhood & Encouragement by Jenna Griffith

The Joy Filled Podcast | Christian Motherhood & Encouragement

873 Listeners

Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

Good Inside with Dr. Becky

4,525 Listeners

Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi by Ramit Sethi

Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi

3,399 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,214 Listeners

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage by Focus on the Family

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

33 Listeners

The Jefferson Fisher Podcast by Civility Media

The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

8,375 Listeners