Ron Deal
Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is Director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and Consulting Editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages ® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart with Dr. Gary Chapman and The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family . Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular conference speaker, and host of the FamilyLife Blended Podcast with Ron Deal. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at RonDeal.org and FamilyLife.com/blended.
Episodes appearing in
If your blended family Christmas turned out to be less than you'd hoped for, be encouraged. Bob and Vicki Maday and their grown daughters describe the rough parts of their first Christmas as a stepfamily. View Show Notes →
The holidays can be a challenge for blended families. Ron Deal moderates a panel discussing the complexity of holidays with stepfamilies. View Show Notes →
Holidays for newly blended families can be a minefield of hurt feelings if you don't know the terrain. Ron Deal talks with Michelle Hill to help families navigate the holidays by managing expectations from the start. View Show Notes →
Today on the broadcast, Sandi Patty and her husband Don Peslis tell their story to Ron Deal, and how God has redeemed even their mistakes for His glory. View Show Notes →
Did your wedding gifts include a toaster, crockpot, and a grandchild? View Show Notes →
Never stop listening to instruction. View Show Notes →
Have you ever felt like you married the wrong person? Well, I say, you did. View Show Notes →
You know what a hybrid is, right? It's when two things are combined. View Show Notes →
I see you judging me because my family isn't "normal" but just like you, I didn't choose my family. View Show Notes →
Yes, stepfamilies are different than biological families, but God's principles still apply. View Show Notes →
I mean, come on. What's so special about faith, hope, and love? View Show Notes →
Hey, if your kids and I can't naturally get along then maybe we shouldn't have gotten together in the first place. It shouldn't have to be this much work. View Show Notes →
Yes, Ron, this marriage and family are much better than my first and I feel guilty about it. View Show Notes →
Wise stepparents honor their stepchildren's past. View Show Notes →
After her parent's divorce, Melody Fabien was hearing one thing about relationships from her mom, and something very different from her dad who had recently come to Christ. She tells her story to Ron Deal from the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. View Show Notes →
Do you want to start a fight in a stepfamily with adult kids? Just start talking about money. View Show Notes →
Sometimes announcing an engagement is an opportunity to find forgiveness. View Show Notes →
Ron, this is so hard for me to relate to. I've never experienced a blended family. Well, maybe you have. View Show Notes →
For many kids the summer visitation schedule is over. It's time to transition back to the other home. View Show Notes →
When you woke up today, you got to decide what clothes to put on. View Show Notes →
We expect the world to try to pull our kids away from Christ, but sometimes, it's their own family. View Show Notes →
Sometimes, the road to marital happiness is a lot longer than you thought. View Show Notes →
Do you remember that old adage about why you have two ears and only one mouth? View Show Notes →
Yeah, most couples divorce anyway so if you're having problems, just accept the inevitable. View Show Notes →
Today, a word of encouragement to stepparents: just keep on trucking. View Show Notes →
Have you ever had someone get mad at you...because you forgave them? View Show Notes →
Want to influence someone for good? Speak with the wisdom of God. View Show Notes →
It's a devastating loss when a loved one dies, especially when it is unexpected. Al Hsu talks about the complex grief he experienced when his father took his own life. Ron and Nan Deal talk about the sudden loss of their son, Connor. View Show Notes →
A foolish child will make your soul ache. View Show Notes →
Hey, have you heard this one: Two lips walk into a fight... View Show Notes →
What right do you Christians have to tell us about marriage you can't even get it right yourself? View Show Notes →
When the cat's away, the mice will...try to play the other parent, that's what! View Show Notes →
Being optimistic about the future of your marriage, improves your marriage. View Show Notes →
Sometimes, the best way to avoid a conflict is to just drop it. View Show Notes →
I can't help it, Ron. That's just how I feel. View Show Notes →
Sometimes, kids and parents just don't listen. View Show Notes →
Blending a family isn't easy, but it's definitely worth it. Ron Deal reminds couples that their marriage must be a priority if the marriage is going to thrive. Hear one young woman share what it's like to be a stepdaughter. View Show Notes →
If you've ever been to a foreign country you know just what I mean. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal explains that marriage, while typically a two-person dance, gets complicated as couples try to manage all the lives around them. He encourages couples to hold onto God's hand and never give up. View Show Notes →
Hey co-parents, for the sake of your kids find a way to do business. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal talks with Dave and Ann Wilson about how couples often get blindsided when trying to blend two families. He gives some practical advice for interacting with stepchildren. View Show Notes →
Meddling mother-in-law? What if you have a meddling ex-wife-in-law? View Show Notes →
Hey Ron, when do I introduce my dating partner to my kids? View Show Notes →
Ron, because my children are adults, I thought me dating wouldn't be a problem. Boy was I wrong. View Show Notes →
Dating for two is difficult. Dating in a crowd is downright complicated. View Show Notes →
Harmony at home is far more satisfying than a giant feast. View Show Notes →
Okay, you've already celebrated Mother's Day and now I'm wondering what do you have planned for Father's Day? View Show Notes →
A good father serves and leads his family, and executes authority in the home. Stepdads can do this, too, but in the beginning it may look a little different. View Show Notes →
When no one is talking about the elephant in the room, what you should do is...talk about the elephant in the room. View Show Notes →
When faced with a difficult person, be like Jesus. View Show Notes →
I'll never forget it. The first time I came home from work and my wife said, "Tag, you're it." View Show Notes →
When our kids take their frustration out on a scapegoat, what do we do? View Show Notes →
Managing our anger starts with not having a scapegoat. View Show Notes →
We've all done it. We've all taken our anger out on someone who didn't deserve it. But why? View Show Notes →
There's a shame virus infecting parents and it's time we address it. View Show Notes →
When it comes to social justice, facing adversity with self-control has the biggest impact. View Show Notes →
Want your friends to like who you love? Be careful what you say. View Show Notes →
An axe can split a block of wood and a whisper can divide a relationship. View Show Notes →
So, let me get this straight. I'm expected to raise my stepchildren, provide for them, and pay for college, but I don't have any legal rights to them? View Show Notes →
You may have a deep bond with your stepchild, but you can't give permission for a dental cleaning. View Show Notes →
We expect the law to protect the rights of family members. Sometimes, it doesn't. View Show Notes →
Have you ever run down the road only to discover, it's a dead end? View Show Notes →
Ron, we can't start a stepfamily Bible class or small group-we don't have all the answers. View Show Notes →
Have you ever taken a road trip with friends? Now, that's good times. View Show Notes →
You know, when you shoot par for the course, you're doing pretty good. View Show Notes →
Travel to a foreign land and you'll realize what you consider normal. View Show Notes →
Stepfamilies have a few financial landmines: don't step on them. View Show Notes →
Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:23) View Show Notes →
Okay, ladies. It's time to stop shooting yourself in the foot. View Show Notes →
When you live like Jesus, you make a difference in someone's life. View Show Notes →
You've been more of a mom to me than my real mom, so can I call you mom? View Show Notes →
Can you imagine? Telling a parent to abandon their child? View Show Notes →
She was happily married for 25 years. Then widowed. Then remarried...at age 83!!?? View Show Notes →
As we approach Mother's day in this disruptive spring of 2020, let's consider the effort moms are putting in just to keep our society running as well as possible. Ron Deal, Laura Petherbridge, Kim Anthony, and Tim Challies share about the enduring influence of mothers. View Show Notes →
Discipline and a stern lecture are only for the young, right? Well... View Show Notes →
When a relationship feels fragile, it's tempting to stop speaking the truth. View Show Notes →
Okay, if you have any relationships, anybody you care about, I want to give you a principle that will strengthen those relationships. Are you listening? View Show Notes →
Compared to other siblings stepsiblings have less conflict. That may not be as good as it sounds. View Show Notes →
Laughter is contagious, right? Well, so is a smile. View Show Notes →
Have you ever met a rich person who was miserable? View Show Notes →
How do you let stepchildren know you're not trying to take their parent's place? View Show Notes →
Did you know that when it comes to your neighbor, the Bible says that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all? View Show Notes →
Conversations about money and inheritances can be uncomfortable. But wouldn't it be better to talk about it with family members while you can? Ron Deal gives suggestions about how to make wise money decisions. View Show Notes →
I think it's time to rethink premarital sex and cohabitation. View Show Notes →
You can tell a lot about what a person values by the choices they make with money. Ron Deal says finances and personal values are especially complicated in blended families. He lists practical tools to help make asset management easier, on FamilyLife Today View Show Notes →
Life poses many questions. And when painful things happen, our questions reveal a lot about us. View Show Notes →
When two people have their backs turned, who makes the first move? View Show Notes →
I've been asked many times, "How do people survive tragedy without God?" Answer: I have no idea. View Show Notes →
With COVID-19 we're all in uncharted territory. Brian Goins and Ron Deal offer us a compass for navigating this frightening new normal. Listen as Brian and Ron talk about the four points of the compass beginning with finding true north in God, on FamilyLife Today. View Show Notes →
Well, I'm back with another big mistake that stepfamilies make. View Show Notes →
Have you ever tried to build a home without a blueprint? View Show Notes →
When it comes to stepfamilies, there's not a one-size-fits-all estate plan. View Show Notes →
Ron, we're struggling, and I just need a dose of encouragement. View Show Notes →
Dave Wilson, Ron Deal, Kyle Idleman, Lacey Buchanan, and Mary Kassian tell their stories of hurt and disappointment, and their biblical source of hope. View Show Notes →
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words...well words, can hurt even worse. View Show Notes →
Bob Lepine, Ron Deal, Gary Chapman, Juli Slattery, Charlie and Kirstie Dates, and Dave and Ann Wilson discuss expectations in marriage from the 2020 Love Like You Mean It® marriage cruise. View Show Notes →
Circle the wagons. Put up your shield. And don't let it divide you. View Show Notes →
Join Bob Lepine, Ron Deal, Gary Chapman, Juli Slattery, Charlie and Kirstie Dates, and Dave and Ann Wilson for a panel discussion about marriage recorded aboard the 2020 Love Like You Mean It® marriage cruise. View Show Notes →
So, in your house do you say our "daughter-in-law" or "our daughter"? View Show Notes →
Here's a dilemma: How do you find permanence in a relationship without making a permanent commitment? View Show Notes →
Can you imagine-being deployed in a foreign country and losing your children back home? View Show Notes →
Have you ever made a decision and discovered it wasn't everything you hoped? View Show Notes →
Gary Chapman joins Ron Deal to talk about loving your blended family members through the five love languages: touch, quality time, gifts, words of affirmation, and acts of service. View Show Notes →
Gary Chapman and Ron Deal team up to talk about applying the love languages to a second marriage. Both spouses need to be intentional about protecting their marriage and reassuring their children. View Show Notes →
You know, life can be complicated. So, sometimes, we just need to dumb it down a little. View Show Notes →
What says love to you? A tender touch? A surprise gift? Time with your honey? Gary Chapman joins blended-family expert Ron Deal, to talk about the love languages and the blended family. View Show Notes →
How do you form a loving relationship with someone who isn't motivated to love you? View Show Notes →
Ron, I really want to get married again someday, but before I do, I want to learn as much as I can so I don't repeat the past. View Show Notes →
If you're a single parent or dating one, here's a dating myth to avoid. View Show Notes →
I'm wondering, should you pray for God to change your spouse? View Show Notes →
Hey Ron, can stepparents discipline their stepchildren? View Show Notes →
Michelle Hill tosses tricky dating scenarios to Ron Deal who offers insight into whether the single-parent situation in question is a red light, a caution light, or a green light. View Show Notes →
When it comes to bonding with a stepchild their age matters. View Show Notes →
Corporations have business meetings all the time. Shouldn't families do that? View Show Notes →
Single Parent Dating 101: How to do it successfully and what to avoid. Ron Deal offers a biblical perspective on this minefield of complex relationships. How to date wisely as a single parent. View Show Notes →
So which comes first in your household your marriage or the kids? View Show Notes →
Ron, I so want my kids to love the Lord. So what do I do when their other home is not a good influence? View Show Notes →
She's showing her true colors, Ron, and they're not very pretty. View Show Notes →
What sort of term of endearment do you give a spouse who has the soul of a pterodactyl? View Show Notes →
One of the most common points of contention in marriage is the issue of money. Crystal Paine, Tom Nelson, and Ron Deal offer some strategies to help keep money from being a source of conflict. View Show Notes →
Have you ever thought that one reason kids don't like their stepparent is because they like their stepparent? View Show Notes →
Just how far would you go to care for one of your children? View Show Notes →
Ron, I thought I was going crazy, but now I know I'm not alone. View Show Notes →
Okay, kids, we just gave some money to the homeless man at the last street corner. Do you give some more to the guy at this corner?" View Show Notes →
Benjamin Franklin said, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." View Show Notes →
When kids live between two homes, you can't win every parenting battle, but some issues are a hill worth dying on. View Show Notes →
You know that last argument you had-it was definitely the other person's fault. View Show Notes →
Now here's a resolution for you. Colossians 3 says, "Set your mind on things above." View Show Notes →
When it comes to disagreements, a prideful person just makes things worse. View Show Notes →
Do you remember record albums? How many grooves are there in a 12-inch record? View Show Notes →
Have you ever gotten the feeling that your relationships are doing a number on you? View Show Notes →
Ron, I just don't think I was cut out to be part of a stepfamily. View Show Notes →
We all have a God-shaped hole in our heart. And a dad-shaped hole. View Show Notes →
Do you know what goes well together? Grandparents and Christmas! View Show Notes →
Is your family walking the path of righteousness? View Show Notes →
Parenting a troubled child always begins with managing ourselves first. View Show Notes →
When someone you care about becomes unavailable to you, what do you do? View Show Notes →
Do you have a plan for your work day or future goals? How about a parenting plan? View Show Notes →
Less than half of engaged couples with kids discuss how they're going to parent those kids after the wedding. Hey, that's not a good idea. View Show Notes →
Here's a holiday inspired tip for parents and stepparents: when you make Christmas cookies this year, remember, there's no cookie cutter kids. View Show Notes →
Holiday pictures should have everyone in the frame, right? But sometimes they don't. View Show Notes →
Does your childhood, or previous relationships, ever creep into your current ones? Ron Deal is talking with USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer on this topic. View Show Notes →
Well, the old adage is true: Rules without relationship leads to rebellion. View Show Notes →
Co-Parents: If you really want to bless your children, here's a quality to strive for. View Show Notes →
Thanksgiving! No, I mean, thanks for giving. View Show Notes →
Hey Ron, what's the best way to tell my kids I'm getting married? View Show Notes →
Have you wondered what's going on inside a child of divorce? Ron Deal and Lauren Reitsema address common questions parents and stepparents ask about kids. View Show Notes →
You know, sometimes members of a stepfamily are confused about what to call each other. View Show Notes →
The Bible says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." What? Speak up! I can't hear you! View Show Notes →
Yeah, kids are sometimes hesitant to warm up to their stepparent. But what do you do when it's the stepparent who won't warm up? View Show Notes →
Have you ever noticed that worry can spoil an otherwise happy day? View Show Notes →
You know that scene in Forrest Gump when he runs back and forth across the country for three years? Hey, stop running! View Show Notes →
Well, he didn't get to walk his daughter down the aisle, but he did get the daddy-daughter dance. View Show Notes →
Licensed counselor Ron Deal talks about the physical and emotional effects of traumatic stress, and Tracy Lane shares her experience regarding her daughter's heart surgeries. View Show Notes →
One way to develop faith in your children is to think out loud. View Show Notes →
Good parenting is in part about managing your children. But often more about managing yourself. View Show Notes →
Parents are lying to their kids...for personal gain. And, it's got to stop. View Show Notes →
A stepmom, Linda, sent me an e-mail. I could see her smile in her words. View Show Notes →
If you want to feel close in your marriage, do things that make you close. View Show Notes →
I'm not sure you want to do this, but if you want to push a friend or family member away, just lie to them. View Show Notes →
Ron, I'm an adult and my mom is dating a guy and I'm having a rough time with it. View Show Notes →
Parents, what's your role when it comes to your kids and the other parent? View Show Notes →
For a woman with no biological children, stepping into the role of stepmom can be a bewildering labyrinth of complexities. Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge discuss how to navigate this winding path. View Show Notes →
Okay, let's face it some people are just easier to forgive than others. View Show Notes →
How do you maintain parental unity when you disagree? View Show Notes →
Parents really must work together. So, here's another tip for maintaining your parental unity. View Show Notes →
Now here's another no-brainer about blended families: adding a stepparent to the parenting team is bound to change something. View Show Notes →
Your strength in parenting comes in part from your unity as a team. View Show Notes →
Fighting barriers in your marriage? Well, here's another tip for reducing the cholesterol in your marital heart: Adapt to life, as needed. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal says there's no need to carry around the baggage of your past sins and we should let God deal with it. He talks us through the story of the woman at the well. View Show Notes →
How can I share the gospel if my family is a mess? Ron Deal reminds us that most of the families featured in Jesus' lineage were dysfunctional, so you're in good company. View Show Notes →
Most grief is not processed in a neat little package of five steps. Ron Deal and Abigail Dodds each talk about processing different kinds of grief. They maintain that all grief should be processed--not avoided--in order to heal properly. View Show Notes →
Stepmoms bear a unique burden, and they often neglect their own care. Melanie Anthony offers hope for balance in the midst of the burden. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal and Michelle Hill talk about the grieving process and how to care for yourself and others you know who may be grieving. We'll also hear from Matthew Arbo and Jonathan Edwards on FamilyLife This Week. View Show Notes →
Rodney and Lisa Webb share their difficult blended journey, as counselor and therapist Helen Wheeler and blended family expert Ron Deal speak wisdom. View Show Notes →
Parenting is difficult, but when you add divorce, the challenge multiplies. Navigating even the most routine parental responsibilities can become difficult. Linda Ranson Jacobs talks to Ron Deal, offering help and hope to parents who may be struggling. View Show Notes →
Ronnie Tyler may have been in love with her husband, Lamar, but she wasn't that interested in his help with raising her two children. Ron Deal explores the complex nuances of blended relationships. View Show Notes →
Pastor and theologian John Ortberg talks with Ron Deal, providing a fresh perspective on the nature of eternity and our own connection to an eternal Creator. View Show Notes →
In this encouraging exploration of the real state of marriage, researcher and author Shaunti Feldhahn teams up with Ron Deal for a deep look at the facts behind the statistics. View Show Notes →
Growing up, Dave Bondeson's father told him, "Remember, you're a Bondeson and a Christian." Dave finds it challenging to translate that into a blended family with a stepdaughter whose last name is not Bondeson. View Show Notes →
Authors Dave and Ann Wilson talk to Ron Deal about the impact divorce can have on a person's life. The Wilsons share how the divorce impacted Dave's ability to resolve conflict in a healthy way. View Show Notes →
Her only complaint? That they didn't come into her life earlier. View Show Notes →
Her only complaint? That they didn't come into her life earlier. View Show Notes →
Dave and Ann Wilson talk to Ron Deal about the hard realities of his parents' divorce when he was seven years old. Hear firsthand how divorce impacts a child. View Show Notes →
A panel of experts answers your questions about forgiveness in marriage. Voddie Baucham, Juli Slattery, DA and Elicia Horton, and Ron Deal address difficult situations with truth from Scripture. View Show Notes →
A panel of experts answers some of your toughest questions about marital intimacy. Voddie Baucham, Juli Slattery, DA and Elicia Horton, and Ron Deal address difficult situations with truth from Scripture. View Show Notes →
No, Ron, I don't think a forever family is possible. At least not for me. View Show Notes →
What happens when a dad and stepdad team up? Kids win-that's what happens. View Show Notes →
Well, you won't hear this in a marriage conference. There's no marriage in heaven. View Show Notes →
Well, you won't hear this in a marriage conference. There's no marriage in heaven. View Show Notes →
This week we've been talking about maximizing the fun-factor in your marriage. But did you know that sometimes the path to fun is full of sacrifice. View Show Notes →
This week we've been talking about maximizing the fun-factor in your marriage. But did you know that sometimes the path to fun is full of sacrifice. View Show Notes →
Guess what? A regular diet of fun predicts whether stepfamily couples have a dynamic, fulfilling relationship or an unhappy one. View Show Notes →
You don't have to be a brain surgeon to guess that having fun together as a couple is good for your marriage. And you'd be right! View Show Notes →
For your kid's sake, wouldn't you like to know the path to great faith? View Show Notes →
Ron, if it weren't for the stepfamily, we'd be a happily married couple." View Show Notes →
But Ron, I don't want to date someone who has kids." Well, good. I don't want you to either. View Show Notes →
Look at your life through someone else's eyes. View Show Notes →
Look at your life through someone else's eyes. View Show Notes →
There are many people, single AND married, who feel isolated and alone on Valentine's Day. Director of FamilyLife Blended and licensed counselor Ron Deal talks about healthy ways of coping with loneliness. View Show Notes →
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. View Show Notes →
Ron, what do you do if you're trying to bond with a stepchild, but all they say is, "Talk to the hand"? View Show Notes →
Ron, what do you do if you're trying to bond with a stepchild, but all they say is, "Talk to the hand"? View Show Notes →
Ron, after the end of a relationship, how long should I wait before dating again? View Show Notes →
Today, I'm stepping into controversy and some of you are going to be irritated. View Show Notes →
Ron, Ron, bo Bon, Bonana fanna fo Fon...Okay, you know what I'm doing. I'm playing the name game. Well, stepfamilies play a different name game. View Show Notes →
We all know that divorce is hard on kids, right? But did you know that adjusting to a parent's remarriage is even harder. View Show Notes →
The book of Proverbs says, listen to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. But what about a stepfather or a stepmother's instruction? Do you have to listen to that, too? View Show Notes →
A good co-parent meeting is worth its weight in gold. View Show Notes →
A good co-parent meeting is worth its weight in gold. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal tackles the delicate topic of sexual intimacy. As Deal explains, to be intimate with someone is to know them at a deep level. But what does a person do with their sexual past, especially as they enter into a new marriage? View Show Notes →
Well, you never saw this one coming. You just became a step-grandparent. How do you do that? View Show Notes →
Well, you never saw this one coming. You just became a step-grandparent. How do you do that? View Show Notes →
If you're single and dating and at least one of you has kids, you need to do your homework. View Show Notes →
If you're single and dating and at least one of you has kids, you need to do your homework. View Show Notes →
All right, here's a hard one. How do you help an irresponsible person to become responsible? View Show Notes →
Have you ever noticed a parent turning a blind eye to their child's poor behavior? View Show Notes →
Do you know what happens when a boomerang child leaves your home? They come back. View Show Notes →
With well over half of couples today living together before marriage there must be some really good benefits to doing so, right? View Show Notes →
What if we parented according to the beatitudes? View Show Notes →
What if we parented according to the beatitudes? View Show Notes →
We've all heard Romans 5:8; "while we were still sinners Christ died for us." View Show Notes →
We've all heard Romans 5:8; "while we were still sinners Christ died for us." View Show Notes →
Ron, we get married in a couple of months...and now my son gets angry? View Show Notes →
Ideally, kids need two good parents. But what if you only have one? View Show Notes →
If you're in a stepfamily, the holidays can get complicated pretty fast. Ron Deal offers some perspective, and gives counsel for how to navigate Christmas in a stepfamily. View Show Notes →
He who has authority to heal, has authority to rule. View Show Notes →
The best way to love others is to be caught up in a love relationship with God. View Show Notes →
One sure sign of a mature person: grace under fire. View Show Notes →
Have you ever felt caught between two people you love? Stuck between a rock and a hard place? View Show Notes →
Do you know what the difference is between couples who get through rough times and those who don't? View Show Notes →
Do you know what the difference is between couples who get through rough times and those who don't? View Show Notes →
Choosing what's best sometimes comes at a price. View Show Notes →
What would you say to a stepchild who just said, "You are not my dad. I do not have to do what you say." View Show Notes →
What would you say if your stepdaughter just declared, "You're not my dad; I don't have to do what you say." View Show Notes →
Hey stepparents, do you have positional authority or relational authority? View Show Notes →
When you establish family traditions, you put down deep roots. View Show Notes →
For the most part, long-term marriage really pays off. View Show Notes →
For the most part, long-term marriage really pays off. View Show Notes →
Sometimes stepfamily relationships need a kick in the pants. View Show Notes →
Wise new stepparents are like hall monitors. They know what's going on but they aren't always a part of it. View Show Notes →
Sometimes you build a bridge to your stepchild's heart by staying away. View Show Notes →
Sometimes you build a bridge to your stepchild's heart by staying away. View Show Notes →
Here's a tip for building a bridge to your stepchild's heart. Don't take rejection personally. View Show Notes →
A stepparent recently asked me, "Ron, what do you do with the hot and cold from stepkids? I mean, one minute they love me and the next they want nothing to do with me." View Show Notes →
Half of all marriages end in divorce, right? Well, I've got good news. View Show Notes →
Half of all marriages end in divorce, right? Well, I've got good news. View Show Notes →
Have you ever been left out of the family portrait? View Show Notes →
Ron Deal explains the benefits of "cooking" your stepfamily with a crock pot and not a blender. He stresses the value of being patient as your blended family blends at its own pace. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal talks about struggles that take place in a blended family between the biological children and the new spouse. While it's tempting to want to put the children first, Deal cautions against it. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended, talks about the vital role step-grandparents provide as they help create connection in their families. View Show Notes →
What is the difference between giving grace and giving in? Paul David Tripp, Tim Kimmel, Ron Deal, and Caleb Kaltenbach explain what grace is: in parenting, marriage, or relationships with a watching world. View Show Notes →
Ron and Nan Deal lost their 12-year-old son Connor in 2009. The Deals discuss how they regained their footing, especially in their marriage, after experiencing such a tragic loss. View Show Notes →
Ron and Nan Deal share how losing their middle son, Connor, in 2009 at the age of 12 still has them reeling. The Deals share what has helped them, and hurt them, as they've grieved the loss of their son. View Show Notes →
Ron and Nan Deal walk us through the events in 2009 that took the life of their 12-year old son, Connor. The Deals tells how their family got through this tremendous loss. View Show Notes →
Robbie and Sabrina McDonald, both widowed before they met and now married to each other for three years, talk about the challenges of blending a family. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal joins Robbie and Sabrina McDonald to talk about their blended family three years after saying "I Do." View Show Notes →
Elizabeth Oates reminds us that the family we grew up in marks us, but it doesn't have to define us. Oates and Ron Deal talk about establishing new relational patterns in marriage. View Show Notes →
Elizabeth Oates shares how growing up in a single-parent home, and then in a home with a stepfather, shaped her views on dating and marriage. View Show Notes →
Elizabeth Oates recalls her troubled childhood marked by abuse and loneliness and tells how that emptiness eventually led her to a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. View Show Notes →
How does it feel when one of your divorced parents remarries? Shannon Simmons and Lauren Reitsema share the stories of their blended family experiences. View Show Notes →
As parents, our job is to make sure our children grow into responsible adults. Dru Joyce II and Ron Deal share different character traits to instill in your children and some helpful ways to teach them. View Show Notes →
Parents need to help their kids process difficult things in healthy ways. Meg Robbins talks about walking with her kids through a cross-country move. Sabrina McDonald tells how she coached her kids through the process of becoming a blended family. View Show Notes →
Emerson Eggerichs, along with author Ron Deal, share practical ways for moms to relate to and honor their sons. Even when upset, moms need to continue to speak respectfully. View Show Notes →
Emerson Eggerichs explains that one compelling desire of a mother is to connect to her son, and she can do that by what she says and how she says it. View Show Notes →
Steve and Misty Arterburn talk about the unique way blended families function. Steve and Misty recall bringing three children into the early years of their marriage and what they did to build a firm foundation for their family. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal joins Steve and Misty Arterburn to talk about the complexities of a second marriage. Steve and Misty both experienced divorce in their first marriages. The Arterburns share what they have done to make their marriage work. View Show Notes →
Shaunti Feldhahn and Ron Deal team up to talk about kindness and the stepfamily. Feldhahn helps us pinpoint our patterns of negativity, and Deal reminds us that kindness can melt the hardest of hearts. View Show Notes →
Robert Wolgemuth, along with his wife, Nancy, and Ron Deal, talk to husbands about how to lead their wives as loving shepherds. View Show Notes →
Within the heart of a woman is a desire to be protected. Robert and Nancy Wolgemuth, along with Ron Deal, talk about the challenges of shepherding a wife in a blended family. View Show Notes →
Robert and Nancy Wolgemuth fondly remember the days of their courtship when they discussed becoming a blended family. Robert gives his best advice for husbands seeking to shepherd well. Ron Deal joins them. View Show Notes →
Licensed counselor Ron Deal talks about the physical and emotional effects of traumatic stress, and Tracy Lane shares her experience regarding her daughter's heart surgeries. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal answers some of your most perplexing questions about being a stepfather. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal gives insight into the stepdad's role in the family. Hear him tell stepdads positive ways to impact their new families and how to avoid causing division. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended, talks to men about the realities of being a stepdad and encourages men to step out in faith, relying on God's wisdom, if they're ready to take the risk. View Show Notes →
Pushing through and doing hard things can make the biggest impact on your kids. "That's what Dads do." Find out more from Steve Farrar, Roland Warren, Ron Deal, R.V. Brown and Ben Rainey. View Show Notes →
Barbara Rainey and Tracy Lane encourage families to read more this summer. Ron Deal shares strategies for dealing with the unique challenges a stepfamily faces. View Show Notes →
Dennis and Barbara Rainey, Bob Lepine, and Ron Deal provide solid biblical answers on questions concerning different ministry opportunities for lay-people within the church. View Show Notes →
Lisa Anderson reveals what it's like being a Christian single woman trying to date in this culture. Ron Deal gives advice to those who have been previously married and are ready to date again. View Show Notes →
One of the most common points of contention in marriage is the issue of money. Crystal Paine, Tom Nelson, and Ron Deal offer some strategies to help keep money from being a source of conflict. View Show Notes →
Whether it's family you know and love, or strangers that need to feel welcome, Barbara Rainey and Rosaria Butterfield share about opportunities to express hospitality. View Show Notes →
How does fear affect our walk with God? It depends on how we handle it. Trillia Newbell, Donovan Campbell, Ron Deal, and Ed Harrell share accounts of facing fear with faith. View Show Notes →
Counselor Ron Deal breaks down the most common and vexing issues facing remarried couples, as he provides real solutions and keen insights into the complexities of remarriage. View Show Notes →
When it comes to the issues of marriage, according to blended family expert Ron Deal, remarried couples sail in a completely different ocean. View Show Notes →
Jay and Tammy Daughtry and Ron Deal talk about co-parenting children of divorce in a way that leaves them happier and healthier. View Show Notes →
Jay and Tammy Daughtry and Ron Deal talk about what's required to raise emotionally healthy children after a divorce. View Show Notes →
Stepparenting has its challenges. That's what Jerry and Kate Angelo found out when they married and became a blended family of six. View Show Notes →
Jerry and Kate Angelo reflect on the issues that thwarted their first marriages, and remember with gratitude the circumstances that brought them back to God and to each other. View Show Notes →
When there is a root of pride present in one or both spouses, peace cannot flourish. Ron Deal explains that when you face your own fear and pride first, that opens the door to love and peace in your marriage. View Show Notes →
Fear is one of the core things that gets families "stuck." Ron Deal tells couples how to break out of the fear cycle, and rest in the sovereignty and power of God. View Show Notes →
Blending family Christmas traditions is very challenging. Bob and Vicki Maday's respective daughters describe the uncomfortable but inevitable tension that exists in a new blended family's Christmas traditions. View Show Notes →
Bob and Vicki Maday each had adult children when they got married. Bob and Vicki's adult daughters share the complicated emotions they had to wade through when their parents married and created a new blended family. View Show Notes →
How would you grade your kissing? Ron Deal shares more about kissing, passion, and romance in marriage. Add spice to your relationship by taking the 30-second kiss challenge. View Show Notes →
Want to improve the intimacy in your marriage? Ron Deal explains that while sex isn't everything in a marriage, it's also not nothing. Hear Ron explain a biblical perspective on sexual intimacy. View Show Notes →
Are you wondering what is going on in your stepchild's mind? Some stepchildren are here to tell you about their blended experience. Josh and Emily Gangl and Jenifer Thigpen tell their stories. View Show Notes →
Robbie and Sabrina McDonald join Ron Deal and talk about the good and bad surprises they experienced as they were establishing their blended family. View Show Notes →
Sabrina and Robbie McDonald married quickly but didn't take into account the grief her young son was still experiencing since his father's death. Ron Deal explains how children grieve. View Show Notes →
It was difficult for Sabrina to keep the promise to her late husband, to remarry after his death. But today she is Sabrina McDonald. Her new husband, Robbie, joins her to tell their story. View Show Notes →
Pastor Dave Wilson recalls one of his Sunday sermons when he publicly apologized to the broken and blended families in his congregation for the church's weak attempts to reach out to them. View Show Notes →
Bill and Evelyn Thompson join Ron Deal to talk about their surprising courtship and remarriage, as well as the adjustments blending families has required of them. View Show Notes →
Bill and Evelyn Thompson talk about their first phone call and the launch of their budding romance. View Show Notes →
Bill and Evelyn Thompson join us to share more about their losses, and their second chance at love View Show Notes →
In some step families, parents try to force their kids into a relationship with their stepparent. Ron Deal suggests letting the kids set the pace for the relationship with their stepparent. View Show Notes →
Blending a family is easy, right? Ron Deal says "not so fast". Blending two families is a lot slower, more complicated and more fraught with challenges than anyone expects. View Show Notes →
At the memorial service for Cheryl Spangler, Mathew Spangler shares a moving tribute to his stepmom. View Show Notes →
A father's loyalty and support toward their wives can make a world of difference in a blended family.
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Laura tells you how to avoid making some of the most wicked step parenting mistakes.
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If being a mother is hard work, then being a stepmother is twice as difficult.
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In the midst of deepest suffering, where is God and why doesn't He deliver us and answer our prayers? View Show Notes →
Dating again has its pluses and minuses. When do you know to take caution? View Show Notes →
Dating is hard, and dating again after divorce or loss can be even more complex. View Show Notes →
Parenting is difficult enough when it's your own kids, but throw someone else's into the mix and you may have problems. View Show Notes →
We vowed to love our spouse forever, but the marriage ended in divorce. View Show Notes →
Marriage and family therapist Ron Deal will tell you how to blend a stepfamily so that it comes out just right! View Show Notes →
Blending two families in remarriage can be a daunting task. View Show Notes →
Ron Deal talks about the covenant of marriage and how that applies to remarried men and women. View Show Notes →