NTM 417: Healing the stigma and conflict so blended families can thrive

How do you move from high-conflict and separation grief, to wonderful relationships between four parents, and shared care of all the kids?  In this episode we talk to Jess on how she’s created her modern-day village, with powerful insight on traversing separation, re-coupling, boundaries, needs and co-parenting in a blended family.  If there’s any threads in Jess’ story that pull on your own life experience, then you’ll want to play this episode again and again to really get the wisdom - so make sure you save it! In this episode we discuss: - Different re-partnering timelines - Children with past partners and new partners - Being one big family with four children and four adults  - Grief over a ‘new woman’  - Conflict between old and new partners  - Harvesting empathy when you feel insecure  - Respect for different grieving timelines and moving past the hurt - Your own childhood experiences colouring how you process the grief of old and new relationships, and what’s possible for your blended family  - Holding intense grief while also showing up as a parent  - Turning to your toolbox to reset out of fight/flight, to come into empathy and a rational lens  - Being open and honest with kids in age appropriate ways - Including kids in the process  - Ensuring you have your own adult supports that can hold harsh, honest, open and reflective conversations  - Reconciling ‘the ex’ as your family (as your child’s parent) whether you like it or not  - How respecting and backing ‘the other mum’ builds your relationship  - Turning to your care for another single mother  - Moving toward the radical concept that you are the other mums ‘partner’ - so how can you work together and support each other?  - Compromising on parenting approaches - knowing where to let go, and where to remind yourself how loved, safe and supported your child is  - Providing stability and consistency across all homes  - Establishing boundaries as a parent group, and who is responsible for which area of life  - Honouring the needs kids might have for their other parent  - Minimising your child becoming ‘collateral damage’ of the relationship breakdown - Listening to your children but not letting them dictate the choices for the family system  - Working with a high-conflict partner  - Creating a pact with other parents to not talk down ‘the other parent’  - Holding the vision of a cohesive and stronger blended or larger family  - Knowing you can be strong, powerful women who raise their kids together

Connect with Jess at:

https://www.instagram.com/the_blended_family_co/

To explore feminine embodiment, intimacy and relationship in Honey Club with Julie, visit https://julietenner.love/

To explore conscious parenting and inspiring motherhood in Reimagining Motherhood with Bridget, visit https://www.bridgetwood.life/