The holiday season is here, and with Christmas just around the corner, we're diving into one of the trickiest parts of blended family life: gift giving. In this episode, we’re unpacking how to navigate the complexities of buying gifts in blended families—from who buys for who, to dealing with judgmental kids, to managing awkward situations with exes or their families.  

We’re answering your listener questions, like:  

- Who should the gifts be signed from?  

- How do you handle gift money from grandparents?  

- What do you do if stepkids criticize or mock every gift?  

- Is it weird for kids not to buy gifts for their coparents?  

Plus, we’re sharing tips to make the season smoother, like setting gift-giving expectations, protecting your peace, and encouraging kids to create thoughtful handmade gifts. Whether you're figuring out how to balance traditions, handle entitlement, or just survive the holiday stress, we've got you covered.  

Grab your cocoa or eggnog and join us for this holiday-themed episode!  

👉 Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @RaisingHisKids for more holiday tips and tricks, and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoyed this episode. Happy Holidays! 

 

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It’s time to celebrate two incredible years of Raising His Kids! In this special episode, Toni and Lauren reflect on how it all began, sharing hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, including their first recording mishaps and funniest bloopers.  

But that’s not all! Test your RHK knowledge alongside them as they tackle trivia questions about the podcast’s most popular episodes, listener favorites, and memorable moments. Plus, they share some of their own blended family chaos from the past year—because what’s a celebration without a little real-life chaos?  

And, of course, they answer your listener questions, diving into the highs, lows, and laughs of stepparenting, co-parenting, and blended family life.  

Join us for a fun, heartfelt look back and an exciting glimpse into what’s next for Raising His Kids. Here’s to another amazing year of connection, laughter, and support!  

Grab your coffee or your wine and hit play now!  

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In this episode, Lauren is joined by Kristen Skiles, the voice behind the ‘Stepmomming’’ blog and host of the ‘Stepmomming Made Easy’ podcast, to explore “outsider syndrome”—a common but rarely discussed challenge for stepmoms. As the holiday season approaches, this feeling of exclusion can intensify, especially during family traditions and gatherings. Kristen shares her personal experiences, practical tips, and mindset shifts to help stepmoms navigate these tough moments and find their place in the family dynamic.  

Whether you’re feeling like a bystander in your own home or struggling with holiday traditions that make you feel disconnected, this episode offers relatable insights and actionable advice to help you move forward.

Find Kristen Here:

https://stepmomming.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stepmomming/?hl=en

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In this special Thanksgiving-themed episode, we’re diving into the power of gratitude in stepparenting. Whether it’s the family we’ve gained, the lessons we’ve learned, or the small moments that remind us why we do what we do, finding gratitude can help us navigate the ups and downs of blended family life.  

Lauren leads today’s discussion as Toni battles a sore throat (but don’t worry—she still shares what she’s grateful for!). Together, we explore your heartfelt responses to what stepparenting has made you thankful for, from building strong bonds to discovering personal growth and resilience.  

If you’re in a challenging season right now, we hope this episode inspires you to reflect on the positives, no matter how small they may seem. Gratitude doesn’t have to be grand—it can simply be a moment of connection, a lesson learned, or the love we’ve built within our families.  

We’re so grateful for you, our listeners, and the incredible community you’ve helped us create. Thank you for sharing your stories and reminding us that we’re all in this together.  

To our American listeners, Happy Thanksgiving! Whether you have the kids or are enjoying some quiet time, we hope you can find a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for today.  

Grab your coffee or your wine, and let’s get into it!  

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In this episode of Raising His Kids, Toni is joined by Kassandra from @WeAreFamilyish to kick off a series of holiday-themed episodes. With Lauren away, Kassandra shares her unique perspective on navigating the festive season, reflecting on her journey from being a stepmum to blending traditions in her "familyish" setup today. Together, they dive into the pressures of managing multiple households, merging family traditions, and setting boundaries to keep the season merry and bright.

Toni and Kassandra explore everything from the magic of Elf on the shelf & December 1st boxes to creative ways to blend traditions across different families. If you’re curious about their new holiday gift exchange idea, you’ll definitely want to tune in. They also tackle some juicy listener questions around custody schedules, co-parenting holiday disputes, and how to keep things fair for all the kids involved.

For the extra chismosa (that’s Spanish for gossip) and Kassandra's cheeky take on handling those "mythical creature" challenges that every blended family faces between homes, be sure to check out our exclusive content over on Patreon.

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In this episode of Raising His Kids, Toni and Lauren revisit one of their most popular topics: all the things you wish you could say to ‘Karen’—the high-conflict biological mother who makes coparenting a challenge. It’s been a while since the first round of venting back in Episode 29, “Gloves Off: StepMoms Speak Up - What You Wished You Could Say,” so it’s time for a refresh!

Lauren and Toni dive into candid listener responses, sharing the unfiltered thoughts, frustrations, and truths stepmums hold back for the sake of peace. From double standards and child support battles to never-ending pick-up drama, nothing is off the table. And yes, some of these confessions might even be their own! Want to know for sure? Join their Gold Tier Patreon for the full scoop.

Grab your coffee or wine, and get ready for some laughs, relatable rants, and maybe even a little cathartic release. Whether you’re navigating the emotional roller coaster of blended family life or just need to know you’re not alone, this episode is for you.

*Note: This episode is a bit shorter than our usual ones, but it definitely gets straight to the point!*

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In this episode, Toni and Lauren dive into the unique sibling dynamics of blended families, focusing on the connections and challenges between bio, step, and half-siblings. They explore distinct sibling types—bio siblings who share both parents, step-siblings who live together through marriage, and half-siblings who share one parent, with at least one child often navigating two households. From competition and jealousy to personality differences and varied parenting styles, Toni and Lauren discuss common struggles and share practical strategies to foster healthy sibling bonds.

Listen in as they share listener stories, answer questions on managing sibling conflict, and offer insights on helping kids build connections at their own pace. Whether you’re a stepmother, biological mother, or navigating the blended family journey in any role, this episode offers relatable stories and advice to support positive sibling relationships. Grab your coffee or your wine, and join us for a thoughtful conversation on Raising His Kids!

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Thanks for sticking with us through 100 episodes! In this milestone celebration, Toni and Lauren dive headfirst into the spooky, chaotic, and sometimes downright terrifying realities of stepmotherhood.  

In honour of Halloween, we’ve themed this episode accordingly, sharing the creepiest, funniest, and most intense listener-submitted stepmum horror stories. From awkward run-ins with exes to bone-chilling custody battles—including every mother and stepmother's worst nightmare—no story is off-limits!  

You'll hear about:  

- 🫣 Jump scares from late-night texts and custody dramas.  

- 😬 Awkward family encounters that make you wish you were invisible.  

- 💔 Intense personal experiences, including one with a “trigger warning” —mention of child sexual abuse.  

- 🎃 A hilarious 'A Haunted House, But...' segment, where listeners put a stepmum spin on everyday situations.

Whether you’re in the thick of stepmotherhood or just love a good story, this episode will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even feel seen. Thank you for joining us for 100 episodes and helping us reach almost 18,000 downloads—we wouldn’t be here without your support!  

- ✨ Patreon Exclusive Episode – Join us on Patreon for a never-before-released episode we managed to recover!  

- 👻 Facebook Group – Once you have listened to this episode, share your own stepmum scaries and join the conversation with other listeners.  

Trigger Warning:

This episode contains sensitive topics, including a story with mention of child sexual abuse. Please listen with care. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse, please reach out to a support service for help.  

Australia 🇦🇺  

- Lifeline (24/7 Crisis Support): 13 11 14  

- 1800 RESPECT (24/7 Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Support): 1800 737 732  

- Kids Helpline (For young people aged 5-25): 1800 55 1800  

- Blue Knot Foundation (Survivors of Childhood Trauma & Abuse): 1300 657 380  

- Parentline (Parenting Support): 1300 30 1300  

United States 🇺🇸  

- National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  

- National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)  

- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7 Crisis Support): 988  

- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741  

- Parent Helpline (Parenting Stress Support): 1-855-427-2736  

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In this episode of *Raising His Kids*, Toni and Lauren explore one of the toughest challenges for stepmums: building meaningful connections with stepkids, especially when loyalty binds them to their biological mum. 

We unpack what loyalty binds are, why they happen, and how they can create emotional distance. Toni and Lauren share practical tips for fostering trust, staying patient, and creating safe spaces—without forcing a bond or feeling like you're competing with their mum. 

Tune in as we answer listener questions about rejection, overstepping boundaries, and dealing with bio-mums who stir the pot. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in your blended family, this episode will remind you that connection takes time, and you’re not alone in the journey.

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In this heartfelt episode, Toni and Lauren dive into a topic that’s rarely discussed but deeply felt—losing friendships after divorce or when stepping into the role of a stepmother. They share their own personal stories about how life changes can create distance in old friendships and explore why relationships sometimes dissolve during these transitions.  

From navigating grief to building new support systems, Toni and Lauren offer practical tips on how to rebuild your social circle with friendships that align with where you are now. If you’ve felt the sting of shifting relationships or the isolation that can come with blending families, this episode is for you. Tune in, take a deep breath, and know you’re not alone.  

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