The Nacho Kids Podcast: Blended Family Lifesaver

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David, founders of Nacho Kids, interview Karalee Katsambanis - author of "Stepparenting With Purpose: Everything you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask". Karalee has been blending 15 years, has two stepkids, and three "ours" kids. She is Australian so you know Lori had a fit over Karalee's accent!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Never meeting the bio mum
• Being the first "stepmum" amongst your friends
• Not all counselors understand stepparenting
• Mother's Day
• Focusing more on the stepkids instead of your own kids

*** DISCLAIMER ***

Trigger Warning - Inappropriate Sexual Behavior

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David, founders of Nacho Kids, interview an anonymous stepmom from Florida. This stepmom has been blending for five years, has one stepson and two bio sons. About six weeks after they were married, something unthinkable happened. Her stepson was sexually inappropriate with her bio son. Of course, this is something no one is ever prepared to have to deal with, nor do they expect to have to deal with, but she agreed to share her story with us in hopes of helping someone that may be going through something similar.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Inappropriate behavior between step-siblings
• The shame and embarrassment
• The importance of open communication
• Seeing things from a different perspective
• The long-lasting effects

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews childless stepmom, Dani. Dani has been blending for six years and has three stepkids, ages 20,18, and 15. She has no children of her own. In the beginning, the stepkids were with them every other weekend, then that changed to every other week. Like most blended families, things changed when Dani and her husband got married. Also like most blended families, she didn't research blended families prior to blending because she didn't see the need. Needless to say, the need arose. She came across the Nacho Kids podcast and something resonated with her. She started Nachoing, and it did her good!

In this episode, we discuss:

• When the visitation with the stepkids increase
• Why getting married changes things
• Stepmom needing control
• Feeling defeated
• Letting blended issues consume your life

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews a Nacho Stepmom from Washington State who shares with us her biggest stepmom regret! This stepmom has been blending about four years, she has an 11-year-old stepson, a 9-year-old stepdaughter, a 4-year-old bio daughter, 7-year-old bio son, and a 7-year-old bio daughter. Yep, twins! Like many stepmoms, she was struggling in the "blend". We'll just say a high-conflict bio mom didn't make things any easier for her. She started looking for help and found the Nacho Kids method. Once she started implementing what she learned, things got better instantly!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Dealing with a high conflict bio mom
• Struggling to adjust to the blend
• Nachoing helped
• Dinner time issues
• What she's learned

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews Helen, an evil stepmom from the UK. Of course, she really isn't evil but the bio mom told the stepkids she was! She has been blending for about two and a half years and has two stepdaughters. Helen has learned a lot in her short time in the blend. Like many other stepmoms, she came into the blend and took on the role of the main disciplinarian. One reason she took on this role was that her partner had Guilty Parent Syndrome. Eventually, the stress of being the main disciplinarian and feeling as if she didn't have her partner's support when she disciplined the stepkids, led her to Nacho. Since Nachoing, things have gotten better.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Dealing with a high conflict bio mom
• Struggling to adjust to the blend
• Being the main disciplinarian
• Feeling last on a list of anybody's priorities
• Time to Nacho

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David, founders of Nacho Kids, interview Kristen Skiles with Stepmomming. Kristen has been blending for three years, has a 10-year old stepdaughter, and was a stepchild herself. Although she was a stepchild herself, Kristen still faced many blended family challenges. Kristen and the bio mom had a unique relationship in the beginning and were considered best friends! After some struggles and boundaries being set, Kristen and the bio mom's relationship changed, but they still remain friends.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Being friends with the bio mom
• Unrealistic expectations
• Resentment
• Understanding Nachoing
• Being a childless stepmom

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews stepmom Joni. Joni has been blending 5 years, has two stepkids, and two "ours" kids. At the beginning of the blend, Joni's husband only had visitation with his kids every other weekend. About two years ago, that changed and her husband got full custody. Joni has learned a lot since their blended dynamics have changed. Joni "gets" the Nacho Kids method and utilizes it in her blend!

In this episode, we discuss:

• How being a teacher can make it harder on stepmoms
• Changes in custody with the bio parents
• Different levels of nachoing between stepkids
• Expectations of the blend
• Taking things personally

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews Ali Wilks from Stepcoupling! Ali has been blending for 13 years and has three stepkids, ages 18, 16, and 11, and two "ours" kids, ages 11 and 9. Her stepkids' mom passed away seven years ago adding some unique challenges to the blend. Ali, like many stepmoms, has experienced struggles in her blend. Her biggest struggle was with her stepdaughter. Thankfully, she and her stepdaughter went to therapy together and things have improved.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Bringing an "ours" kid into the blend
• Letting go of the "One big happy family" dreams
• Nachoing isn't easy
• Not claiming the stepkids as your own
• Focusing on your marriage

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews Anna de Acosta ~ The Mindful Stepmom. Anna has been blending for eight years, has two stepkids, and has three "ours" kids. Anna and her husband have had his kids full time for the past few years. She and her husband parallel parent with the stepkids' bio mom, and Anna does not Nacho.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Letting go of the outcome
• Triggers
• Having the stepkids full time
• Having control issues
• Healthy boundaries

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori, co-founder of Nacho Kids, interviews a stepmom from Idaho, who she loving refer to as "The Goody Two Shoes Stepmom". This stepmom has been through a lot! She had an evil stepmom growing up and her dad chose the evil stepmom over her. Prior to this blended relationship, she was a widow. She has been blending for three years and has two stepchildren and one "ours" child with her husband. As a stepmom, she is very involved and does not Nacho her stepkids; however, she does Nacho the high conflict bio mom!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Dealing with a high conflict bio mom
• When your significant other doesn't want to "rock the boat" with the bio mom
• Having an evil stepmom
• Being a widow
• Boundaries