If you feel like you’ve “tried empathy” and you’re not a fan of the results, tune into this conversation about what empathy is and why you need more of it in your life. In this episode of the Connected Families podcast, where host Stacy Bellward and Heidi Eaton (Podcast Manager) have a transparent conversation about the role of empathy in parenting. Together they explore the challenges parents face in nurturing empathy, acknowledging that it might not always come naturally.

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*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table and other donors whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*

Heidi Eaton and her family have experienced the transformational power of the Connected Families messages for many years. She loves being on this team and spreading hope and intention to other parents. Heidi and her husband Tim have 3 children and have been married for over 20 years. When Heidi is not managing the podcast, she loves spending time in nature and baking.

© 2025 Connected Families

Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 a month in March and enjoy FREE access to our popular Sensitive & Intense Kids online course PLUS a free enrollment to share with another family.

*This resource was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*

For followers of Jesus, soul care isn’t optional. For burned-out or overwhelmed parents, it offers a rare lifeline. In this podcast, Stacy Bellward chats with Connected Families certified parent coaches Taylor Irby and Amy Nyvall about the vital importance of spiritual self-care while parenting. Through both challenging “valley” seasons and smoother periods, they emphasize that nurturing one’s relationship with God isn’t about fixing problems but creating space to receive His presence. Whether through simple practices like prayer during shower time or scripture reading, maintaining spiritual groundedness is essential – especially when parenting sensitive and intense children.

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*This resource was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*

Amy Nyvall and her husband, Andrew, have been married for 16 years and live among the fir trees outside Portland, Oregon. They enjoy outdoor adventures as much as possible and have a blast homeschooling their three intensely creative, adventurous, and active children. In her spare time, you’ll find Amy encouraging moms and homeschoolers, learning alongside the kids, or slipping away to read from a stack of her own books. Amy is passionate about creating a family culture that equips our children to be prepared to serve the Lord in the days ahead. She is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and has personal experience and knowledge in the sensitive and intense space. You can connect with her for parent coaching at: [email protected].

Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma. She too has sat in the trenches and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over methods that were short-lived. That is when she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylor ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like her. She has seen a transformation in her home through working with a framework that has changed not only her children’s behavior but their hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope, and you can enjoy your children, build that relationship you have wanted, and see behavior change. You can learn more about Taylor at taylorirbycoaching.com and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taylor.irby.5 and Instagram @taylorirbycoaching

© 2025 Connected Families

Join The Table, our monthly donor community, and become part of a dedicated group committed to spreading the same hope and healing you’ve experienced to countless families worldwide.

Predictable support helps us plan effectively and reach more struggling families with life-giving resources.

Have you thought of leading a small group through one of the Connected Families video courses? This episode will answer your questions.

Small groups help combat parental isolation and create supportive communities for lasting family transformation. Host Stacy Bellward discusses the opportunity to lead Connected Families small groups with guests Pam Thompson (Certified Parent Coach) and Jacquie Danz (Small Group Coordinator). Together they discuss the benefits of small groups and answer frequently asked questions.

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Pam Thompson is a licensed Family and Early Childhood Educator and a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. She is a mom of two young adult children and “like a mom” to two young adults who have experienced extensive trauma. Because of her education and experiences, she especially enjoys encouraging and supporting parents of young children, parents of young adult children, parents of kids from hard places, and teachers.

Jacquie Danz is the Marketing & Small Group Coordinator at Connected Families. She first discovered Connected Families over a decade ago and now enjoys being part of the team sharing Connected Families with everyone. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring coffee shops with her husband, reading anything she can get her hands on, and spending time with her lovely teenage daughters.

Got a child with extra big emotions? We get it. And we want to support and equip you. Raising an intense and sensitive child isn’t easy, but it can be filled with hope.

Dr. Nicole Wilke is back in this episode to explore another layer of building resilience in kids–affirming character development. Dr. Wilke shares practical wisdom on speaking healing words to our children and fostering resilience through appropriate levels of challenge and support. In addition, Stacy highlights how you can use the ABC’s of Affirmation tool to practice what the Bible and brain science teach us about resilience.

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Nicole Wilke, Ph.D., is a researcher, missionary, author, and marriage and family therapist dedicated to improving care for vulnerable children and families globally. She currently serves as Director of the Christian Alliance for Orphans’ Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families, bridging research and practice to improve care for vulnerable children and families around the globe. Her passion for this work stems from her family’s experience with adoption and fostering. Having lived on four continents, Nicole currently resides with her family in Peru, where they work to improve the system for children in alternative care.

© 2025 Connected Families

It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

Got questions about marriage? Feeling like, “My marriage is broken”? Join Jim and Lynne Jackson as they candidly answer real questions about marriage from parents like you. They touch on everything from balancing time for one another with parenting to avoiding “parenting” your spouse and navigating your differences. Jim and Lynne share share their journey of learning to drop judgments, connect intentionally, and maintain hope through difficult seasons. Listen in for some laughs, encouragement, and wisdom for doing life together.

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Jim and Lynne Jackson are the Co-Founders of Connected Families in Plymouth, MN. With over 50 combined years of professionally helping families and a love for working in the church, Jim and Lynne have been dedicated to bringing reliable, God-centered, research-based parenting resources to all families since 2002.

Be part of the team that brings “aha” moments of grace to families.

**Content warning: this podcast discusses mental health issues, including suicide.**

Whether you’re dealing with tantrums or teen anxiety, you won’t want to miss this honest, down-to-earth conversation with Josh and Rachel Keller (Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches) as they dive deep into the topic of building resilience in children. As therapists and educators, they share practical wisdom on why kids aren’t naturally resilient and need to learn this essential life skill.

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Become a Connected Families Donor today, and link arms with others who are passionate about building relational and spiritual health in every family and the future body of Christ.

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Josh and Rachel are a married duo from Central Minnesota. They believe that teenagers are a wonder to behold, not a problem to be fixed. They have been married for 15 years, with three kids, one dog, a bunny, and a bird. After becoming CF Certified Parent Coaches, they launched The Freedom Center MN, a mental health practice in Willmar, MN.

Whether you’re just learning the Four Messages of the Framework or have been at it for years, the Parenting Reminders Bundle can help you parent the way you want to parent!

You won’t want to miss parent coaches Chad Hayenga and Katie Johnson exploring the meaningful practice of blessing your kids. They unpack what “blessing” meant throughout the Bible and what your heart needs to receive so that you can bless your children. And, of course, they offer plenty of ideas about when and how you can start practicing blessing your kids today.

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

Become a Connected Families Donor today, and link arms with others who are passionate about building relational and spiritual health in every family and the future body of Christ.

Take a moment to rate the podcast and help other parents discover the Connected Families Framework.

Katie Johnson is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach living in Madison, WI, with her family. After receiving her M.Ed. from Valparaiso University, she worked for many years in education and is now on the homeschool journey with her three young children. Find out more about Katie and parent coaching here.

It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

Does your child get discouraged? Does it feel like your child’s misbehavior seems to drown out the positive things you might notice? There is science behind the power of affirmation. You can learn to shine a bright spot on the small things that go well and begin to unravel this cycle of discouragement in your child. And it will bring encouragement to you as a parent, too! In today’s podcast, Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) shares a powerful and practical tool she created called the ABC’s of Affirmation.

How have you used the ABC’s of Affirmation with your kids? We’d love to hear your stories! And don’t forget to check out our website for more great resources! Need more encouragement or help? Please contact us; we are here for you!

Lynne Jackson is one of the Co-Founders of Connected Families. As a parent coach and mom of three intense kids herself, Lynne has walked alongside hundreds of parents to encourage and bring hope. She is also a research enthusiast and loves leaning into the brain science and research to better equip parents and caregivers. Most importantly, as a follower of Christ, she brings biblical wisdom, abundant grace, and a “no shame” policy.

Learn to approach motherhood with grace and truth. Take the Grace & Truth for Moms small group course.

In this episode, Connected Families staff discuss the scriptures and spiritual practices that have helped them stay connected to God in the past year. They also share their vision for the coming year and their commitment to providing “bite-sized” encouragement to overwhelmed parents. Listen in for a few simple ideas on staying centered on your Good Shepherd as you lead your family with grace.

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Your donation fuels the work to transform families. Give a gift to Connected Families today!

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It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

In this episode on calming for kids, Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) talk with Stacy about what role parents play in helping their kids calm down. This conversation especially has sensitive or intense kids in mind, and the principles shared are paired with practical examples and stories from parents who’ve tested the ideas. Plus, we’ve got a free PDF for you: 50 Calming Activities (with ideas for engaging each of the senses).

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Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder.

The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos.