In this episode of Raising His Kids, Toni and Lauren dive into everything you need to know to get ready for the new school year, whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the back-to-school chaos.

What We Cover:

- Tips for getting your kids back into school routines

- Fun ways to celebrate the last days of summer

- Navigating the financial aspects of back-to-school season with your coparent

- Listener questions about handling school supplies, splitting costs, and making the most of the back-to-school experience

Join us as we share our personal routines, listener tips, and strategies to ensure a smooth transition from summer break to the classroom. Whether you have the kids the day before school starts or not, you can still be a part of their back-to-school excitement.

And don't forget to check out our Patreon for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes goodies. Grab your coffee or your wine, and let’s get this school year off to a great start!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and follow us on all social media platforms at @raisinghiskids.

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In this episode, your hosts Lauren and Toni dive into the exciting and sometimes daunting world of Blended Family Vacations. With summer in full swing in the northern hemisphere for Lauren and planning underway in the southern hemisphere for Toni, this episode is packed with tips and advice to ensure your family trip is memorable, fun, and stress-free.

Toni shares her experience planning a big family trip, while Lauren talks about her upcoming vacation. Together, they provide practical suggestions for involving everyone in the planning process, setting clear boundaries, and being flexible with custody schedules. They also explore the importance of creating new vacation traditions, taking alone time when needed, and being prepared for changes in plans.

Listener questions cover a range of topics, including whether it's okay to plan a vacation without 'his kids', how to handle vacation expenses in blended families, and tips for convincing a co-parent to allow a longer trip. Toni and Lauren also discuss the financial responsibilities of childless stepmoms, deciding between family trips and solo vacations, room arrangements for kids, and handling being called "mum" when you're not the biological mother.

Tune in for all this and more, and don't forget to check out their Patreon for exclusive content and join their Facebook group for ongoing discussions and support from other stepmoms. Grab your coffee or wine, and let’s get started on planning the perfect blended family vacation!

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Today, Lauren & Toni are bringing a bit of festive cheer to your summer (or summer planning) with a special episode all about planning your holiday schedule with your co-parent now.

It might seem a little early to be thinking about the holidays, but trust us, planning ahead can make a huge difference, especially in a blended family. The holidays can be magical but also stressful, so we’re here to help you get a head start on your co-parenting holiday schedule. 

In this episode, we share tips on navigating the tricky parts of holiday planning, from coordinating schedules with your partner and their ex to making sure the kids have a joyful and memorable time. We’ve got lots of great advice and some personal stories to share, so grab your coffee or your wine, get comfy, and let’s start planning for a stress-free, joyous holiday season!

We’ll cover:

- How to bring up holiday plans with your co-parent early

- The importance of getting plans in writing

- How to handle budget constraints while preparing for the holidays

- Setting firm boundaries and making necessary compromises

- Personal stories and listener questions to guide you through your planning

Plus, we have a special gift for you—a free holiday planning template, available via the link in our Instagram bio. We also share a heartfelt Stepmoms Anon story from one of our listeners that you won’t want to miss.

Tune in and let us help you make this holiday season the best one yet. Happy planning and bye for now!

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Toni and Lauren delve into different coparenting styles, with a spotlight on parallel parenting. This episode, a winner of our Patreon vote, is packed with valuable insights for those navigating high-conflict coparenting situations.

We'll cover the three main types of coparenting—cooperative, conflicted, and parallel—based on information from the familyassist.gov website. Toni and Lauren share their personal experiences and discuss how these styles manifest in their own blended families. Focusing on parallel parenting, they highlight essential elements for your parenting plan or court orders to ensure effective parallel parenting.

The hosts also address listener questions on topics such as the necessary shared information in parallel parenting, handling a non-cooperative coparent, transitioning from co-parenting to parallel parenting, and managing communication through court apps.

Tune in for a comprehensive discussion on parallel parenting and practical tips to make it work, all aimed at keeping the peace and prioritizing the well-being of your children.

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In this episode, Toni and Lauren dive into the inspiring world of stepmum wins. We're revisiting this popular topic to share new stories and celebrate the successes of stepmums in our community.

We kick off the episode by following up on our last episode with a listener response that touches on the complexities of summer holiday plans and co-parenting dynamics. Hear how one stepmum navigates the challenges of a high-conflict bio mum and strives to create memorable summer experiences for her stepdaughter.

Then, we share a collection of incredible stepmum wins from our listeners. From small daily victories to significant milestones, these stories highlight the positive impact and love that stepmums bring to their blended families.

Grab your coffee or wine, get comfortable, and join us for an episode filled with stepmum successes and heartfelt stories. You're not alone on this rollercoaster—we're all in it together.

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Toni and Lauren dive into the seasonal breaks from school, exploring the unique challenges and rewards that come with having the kids home. With Toni in Australia just starting winter break and Lauren in the USA kicking off summer break, they discuss how custody schedules can change dramatically, sometimes even disappearing altogether during these long breaks.

They share personal experiences on how their families are handling these changes, including adjustments to custody schedules and the financial implications that come with school breaks. Lauren brings up the often-overlooked topic of additional payments expected during school breaks and whether these costs are accounted for in child support.

The episode also features listener questions, where Toni and Lauren address real-life scenarios sent in by their audience. From funky schedules and summer camp fees to co-parenting conflicts and unexpected changes in communication with the kids' other parents, they provide insights and advice on navigating these complex situations.

Tune in for a candid discussion filled with practical tips and heartfelt advice. Whether you're sipping coffee or wine, join Toni and Lauren as they tackle the nitty-gritty of school breaks in blended families. Remember, if you're struggling with school breaks, you're not alone.

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In this episode of Raising His Kids, Toni and Lauren dive into one of the most challenging aspects of blended family life: transition days. These days can be tough on everyone, especially the kids, but with the right approach, they can be much smoother and less stressful.

Join Toni and Lauren as they share practical tips and tricks to help make transition days easier for your family. They also discuss the top four phrases to avoid saying to your child during these times to prevent emotional manipulation and ensure your child feels loved and supported.

Plus, we have exciting news to share! Thanks to your amazing support, we've reached 10,000 downloads and are already on our way to 15,000! Don't forget to subscribe, like, and review our podcast to keep supporting our blended family community.

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In this heartfelt episode of Raising His Kids, Lauren and Toni provide crucial advice for new stepmothers. Tune in as they address common concerns like expressing love to stepchildren, adjusting to custody schedules, navigating court proceedings, and building relationships with children influenced by negative perceptions.

You'll hear seasoned stepmoms share their wisdom, including tips on patience, setting boundaries, and managing expectations. This episode is packed with practical advice and supportive insights, making it a must-listen for both new and experienced stepmoms.

Join the conversation and discover helpful strategies to navigate the unique challenges of step-parenting. Don't forget to check out our Patreon for unedited episodes and join our free Facebook group for ongoing support and community.

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In today’s special episode, we dive into the hilarious, frustrating, and sometimes baffling world of co-parenting mishaps—the black hole, or as some of us might call it, the abyss of Karen’s house. Whether you're a stepparent or a biological parent, you've likely dealt with the infuriating black hole where things disappear between homes. 

Inspired by a simple photo shared on our Instagram stories—where one of Toni’s stepsons keeps coming to their home wearing smaller socks than his four-year-old sister—we explore the baffling behaviour of dressing children in the wrong-sized clothing and the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of kids' clothes and other items in blended families.

Join Toni and Lauren as they share their own experiences and read out a treasure trove of listener responses. From forgotten coats on rainy days to the epic struggle over socks and school uniforms, this episode is packed with relatable stories that will make you laugh, nod in agreement, and maybe even feel a bit of solidarity in the shared struggles of stepmotherhood.

We also take a moment to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the amazing bio dads out there who celebrated American Father's Day this past weekend! Tune in for an episode full of emotions, community stories, and a reminder that you’re not alone on this rollercoaster.

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In this episode of "Raising His Kids," Lauren and Toni check in with each other and the community, reflecting on the past six months since their New Year's episode, "You Good Sis?" They dive into their personal updates, sharing their progress, challenges, and how they’ve been navigating 2024 so far.

Lauren and Toni discuss their New Year’s resolutions, the importance of self-care, and maintaining balance in their blended family lives. They also read listener responses, providing a snapshot of how their audience is doing halfway through the year, with experiences ranging from achieving goals to just treading water.

Join Lauren and Toni for an insightful conversation about the importance of regular check-ins, both with yourself and your loved ones. Whether you’re on track with your resolutions, facing unexpected challenges, or simply trying to keep up, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone in your journey.

Highlights:

• Personal updates from Lauren and Toni
• Listener responses to the mid-year check-in
• Reflections on New Year’s resolutions and goals
• The importance of self and community check-ins

Tune in for a heartfelt discussion that underscores the complexities of blended family dynamics and offers a supportive community for those navigating similar paths. Reach out for support and share your experiences—Lauren and Toni are here to help each other through the ups and downs of blended family life.

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