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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*This podcast 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!*

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.

© 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.

**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.

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

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.

In this podcast we chat with Danika Delello, who shares how desperate she was for help when dealing with her strong-willed child’s frequent, lengthy tantrums. She talks about switching her parenting mindset from an obedience-focused approach to one based on connection and grace through the Connected Families Framework. Danika relates how this shift allowed her to be present in a loving, affectionate way during her child’s difficult meltdowns and gave her insight into her own relation to God. We know you’ll relate to and feel encouraged by this mom’s journey to joy and connection.

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Danika Delello and her husband Jared live in central Virginia, where she homeschools their three children. They love hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, playing board games, and reading copious amounts of books. They always seek to become more like Jesus and be a family that exemplifies him to others.

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.

If you imagine your most recent parenting fail, do you cringe or just laugh? Do you wallow in shame or regret? Today, we’re talking with Dijea Young about moving beyond regret into hope. She shares experiences as a mom to 8, grandmother, and Certified Connected Families Parent Coach and explains helpful strategies for transforming regrets into opportunities, particularly during the holidays.

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

Your donation fuels our work. Make a donation to Connected Families today!

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Dijea Young is a teacher, mother of eight, and grandma. For over 35 years, she has served children and families in a variety of roles. Now as a Certified Parent Coach, she combines her professional training and personal experience to help parents and grandparents nurture relationships across generations. For more information about Dijea or her services, visit www.Room4HopeCoaching.com or email [email protected]

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.