Blending Families, Protecting Marriage

Blending Families, Protecting Marriage Blending Families, Protecting Marriage is a movement dedicated to helping remarried couples navigate the unique challenges of blended family life.

Through education, coaching, community, and live experiences, we help couples build stronger marriages while

07/25/2026

One of the things I appreciate most about Amie is her **honesty**.

In a marriage—and especially in a blended family—honesty matters. **What:** being able to trust that your spouse will tell you the truth, even when the truth isn't always easy. **Why:** because trust creates security, and that security gives a marriage a stronger foundation when family life gets complicated.

After everything we've experienced together, knowing I can trust Amie means more to me than I can put into words.

Watch the Reel to hear why her honesty is something I value so much.

📘 Download our FREE Blended Family Survival Guide:

https://learn.meyouand22.com/products/digital_downloads/blended-family-survival-guide

07/23/2026

One of the biggest changes in my relationship with our children happened after I became a Certified Life Coach.

It wasn't because I had better answers.

It was because I became a better listener.

Over time, several of our children have actually commented that they've noticed the difference.

# # # **What I learned:**

People are far more likely to open up when they feel genuinely heard.

# # # **Why it matters:**

When our spouse or our children don't feel understood, they often stop sharing what's really going on. Over time, misunderstandings grow, walls go up, and relationships become harder than they need to be.

I've found that listening well builds trust, strengthens relationships, and helps create a home where people actually want to communicate.

The **how** takes practice, but understanding **why listening matters** is the first step.

If you're navigating the unique challenges of a blended family, we've created a resource to help.

📘 **Download our FREE Blended Family Survival Guide:**

https://learn.meyouand22.com/products/digital_downloads/blended-family-survival-guide

Have you ever had someone make you feel truly heard? We'd love to hear your experience in the comments.

07/22/2026

A couple of weeks after we got married, we loaded up for Spring Break.

For the first time, I was taking all of Amie's kids on a long road trip... along with my mother-in-law. 😅

The GPS confidently led us into the middle of a mountain range with almost no signs of civilization.

Then I looked at the dashboard.

Our "Miles to Empty" was about 60 miles LESS than the distance to the next town.

Everyone was asleep.

I had to make a decision that completely changed our trip.

What was supposed to be a 12–13 hour drive suddenly became a 17–18 hour marathon... and it still ranks as one of the three worst drives of my life.

Did we make it to Boise in time?

Watch until the end to find out what happened... and why the trip ended up creating one of our favorite family memories.

Every blended family has moments that don't go according to plan. Sometimes those moments become the stories you'll laugh about for years.

If you're building a blended family, we'd love to help make the journey a little easier.

📘 Download our FREE Blended Family Survival Guide:
https://learn.meyouand22.com/products/digital_downloads/blended-family-survival-guide

07/17/2026

One week in June...

25 baseball and softball games. ⚾🥎

One day alone, our kids hit THREE home runs! What a day!

Before the week even started, Amie sat down and mapped out every game, every field, every driver, and every destination. It looked like a military operation! 😂

Somehow, we only had one conflict all week, and that's when we had to phone a friend. We're so thankful for friends who stepped in to help.

What made the week even more special?

The kids didn't complain.

They cheered for each other, piled into the car, spent countless hours at ballparks, and simply enjoyed being together.

The driving, the planning, the early mornings, and the long days can be exhausting...

But watching our kids succeed, seeing their confidence grow, watching them have fun, and seeing our family support one another made every mile and every minute worth it. ❤️

These are the moments we'll remember long after the schedules are forgotten.

Click The Link to Download our FREE Blending Family Survival Guide
https://learn.meyouand22.com/products/digital_downloads/blended-family-survival-guide

07/14/2026

**"Is this normal?"**

It's the question we hear more than any other from blended families.

* Is it normal if my stepchild doesn't accept me?
* Is it normal if our marriage feels harder after blending?
* Is it normal to feel like we're doing everything wrong?

The answer is... many of the challenges you're facing are common.

But "common" doesn't mean you have to stay stuck.

Healthy blended families aren't built by accident—they're built with the right understanding and tools.

Download our **FREE Blended Family Survival Guide** and start building a stronger marriage and family today.

📘 https://learn.meyouand22.com/products/digital_downloads/blended-family-survival-guide

Follow **Me You and 22** for practical, research-based advice from our experience raising a blended family of 22 children and our training as Certified Life Coaches.

# **Everyone Needs to Be Heard****Especially in blended families.**Most people agree that children need to be heard whi...
07/13/2026

# **Everyone Needs to Be Heard**

**Especially in blended families.**

Most people agree that children need to be heard which is absolutely true.

But parents also need to be heard.

Many parents carry years of pain from divorce, betrayal, false accusations, rejection, or difficult relationships. Adult children don't have to agree with every conclusion their parent has reached, but a healthy relationship makes room to genuinely hear and understand their experience.

Likewise, parents should listen to their children's experiences with the same sincerity and respect.

**Being heard is not the same as agreeing.**
It is acknowledging that someone's experiences and emotions are real to them.

At the same time, children should never be expected to carry adult conflicts, choose sides, or become responsible for solving adult problems.

# # # **Whether You're in a Traditional or Blended Family... Communication Matters.**

One of the greatest lessons we've learned through research, coaching, and raising a blended family is this:

**Healthy relationships are built when everyone feels safe to speak honestly, genuinely, and respectfully—and when everyone is willing to truly listen.**

When people feel heard...

* Defensiveness decreases.
* Understanding increases.
* Trust begins to grow.
* Healing becomes possible.

**Real relationships don't require everyone to agree.**
They require everyone to be honest enough to listen and respectful enough to care.

Real relationships aren't built by one person. They're built when both people choose honesty, humility, and respect. Too...
07/12/2026

Real relationships aren't built by one person. They're built when both people choose honesty, humility, and respect.
Too many relationships become exhausting because one person is trying to build trust while the other is trying to control the outcome.

Real relationships don't require perfection. They require two people who are willing to:

✔ Tell the truth—even when it's uncomfortable.
✔ Listen to understand—not just to respond.
✔ Respect boundaries.
✔ Take responsibility for mistakes.
✔ Celebrate each other's growth instead of competing with it.
✔ Work through conflict instead of avoiding it.

Manipulation may get short-term results, but it slowly destroys trust.

Real relationships create safety.
Manipulation creates confusion.

Whether you're a parent, an adult child, a spouse, or a friend, healthy relationships follow the same principles.

The question isn't, "Who needs to change?"

The question is, "What kind of relationship do we both want to build?"

07/12/2026

One of our younger boys desperately wanted to jump on the trampoline with his older brothers.

What we didn't know was that they were already jumping with a bowling ball in the middle of the trampoline. (Because apparently that sounded like a great idea at the time. 😆)

The older boys told him, "You can jump with us... but if you get hurt, you can't cry or tell Mom and Dad."

Without hesitation, he agreed.

A few minutes later...

The bowling ball bounced just right and hit him square in the face.

You could tell it hurt.

But true to his word, he didn't cry, didn't come running to us, and didn't tell on his brothers.

Looking back, I think the older boys were more surprised than anyone. From that day on, it seemed like they had a whole new level of respect for their little brother. He had earned his place in the group.

Would we recommend trying this? Absolutely not. 😅

But it's one of those family memories that still makes us laugh years later.

Life with 22 kids was never boring.

What's something your kids did that you didn't find out about until much later? 😂

07/11/2026

What's the funniest—or craziest—thing your kids have ever done while you were gone?

One evening, Amie and I went out for dinner, thinking everything would be just fine.

We came home to one of the strangest sights—and smells—we've ever experienced.

Apparently, someone had discovered an old turkey in a freezer that had been unplugged in our garage for... let's just say... a very long time. 🤢

Instead of throwing it away...

The kids decided it would make the perfect bowling ball.

Our driveway is long and steep, so they sent that rotten, thawed turkey rolling all the way down the hill, laughing the entire time as it bounced, tumbled, and gained speed.

By the time we got home, there was turkey everywhere, the smell was unbelievable, and our driveway looked like the aftermath of the world's strangest bowling tournament.

We still can't believe someone looked at a rotten turkey and thought, "Let's see how far it rolls!"

The worst part?

Even after cleaning everything up, the smell of that rotten turkey lingered in our garage for weeks. Every time we opened the garage door, we were reminded of what we now call The Great Turkey Bowling Championship.

Life with 22 kids was never boring. 😂

Click here for a free Blended Family Survival Guide:
https://learn.meyouand22.com/products/digital_downloads/blended-family-survival-guide

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