How do you identify narcissism? How do you deal with a narcissist in marriage or co-parenting? Ron Deal talks with counselor Laurel Slade-Waggoner about her personal journey with narcissism and now the professional help she offers to those in a relationship when someone seeks to control, manipulate, shift blame, gaslight, create fear, or act out in other narcissistic ways.

Counselor Slade-Waggoner offers an understanding of how narcissism develops, what it looks like in a relationship, and biblical strategies to manage the behavior, particularly in a blended family setting. Waggoner says you don't have to stay stuck in an unhealthy cycle—there is help!

Show Notes and Resources

Check out Laurel's website and available books.
Laurel's Podcast
Join us for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!
Ron's comprehensive list of Recognized Smart Stepfamily Therapy Providers
Check out everything FamilyLife Blended has to offer.
Send in a tax deductible gift to the FamilyLife Blended Team.

Does your family have a designated Sabbath? How do you spend that day? Author Kathi Lipp shares with Ron Deal her suggestions for reimagining Christian Sabbath that is a meaningful day with the Lord and one another as you prioritize rest and share a meal together. On Sabbath, we want to focus on who God is and His provision for us as we rest and connect with one another.

Lipp suggests that food provides the platform to linger in relationships, and feeding your family shows you care for them. She shares recipes from her new book, Sabbath Soup, and offers ideas on preparing for Sabbath and creating a special day each week.
Show Notes and Resources

Watch Women and Blended Families!
Join us for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!
Learn more about Kathi and get her new book: Sabbath Soup
Thank you for supporting FamilyLife Blended with a donation!

The intersection of marriage and parenting often creates tension for stepcouples that leads to disagreements and, as a result, slows down relationship building.

Listen to Ron Deal and Gayla Grace give valuable input on how to become a parenting team and strengthen your marriage in the process as you cope with common stepfamily dynamics such as: different parenting styles, co-parenting struggles, rejection from stepchildren, stepparent ambiguity, fear of failure, a paralyzed biological parent, a stepparent who oversteps their place, guilt from the past and fear to parent well because of what the children have already walked through, and other challenging dynamics.
Show Notes and Resources

Register for this year's Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!
Watch Women and Blended Families
Watch: No Threat video
Check out Stepparenting with Grace and Building Love Together.
The Smart Stepfamily on RightNow Media