The Detour is Where the Juice is with Molly: creating a blended family
After having two kids with her first husband, Molly realized she wasn’t in a fulfilling relationship. In this episode, we discuss the process of self-reflection that led her to this realization, how she stepped away from her first marriage and met her current husband, and the dynamics of their large, six child blended family. She discusses dealing with the guilt around the impacts of divorce on her children, her flexible co-parenting arrangement and continued friendship with her ex-husband, and the ways in which she has incorporated more fun and magic into the blending process.
Molly shares that blending families is a work in progress and is always changing. There is no perfect way to blend families and co-parent, yet Molly makes it work and loves the life she’s created. She shares why you shouldn’t be afraid to “take the detour” and how her kids are more resilient as a result of being part of a blending family. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and insight into the lessons she’s learned on her journey.
Takeaways:
Creative projects, traveling, and making time for intentional quality time together are methods of easing the blending of families.
When it comes to co-parenting, there isn’t a perfect way to do it. It’s important to be able to handle the hard moments and to understand that there are many great aspects of co-parenting.
By following your heart and intuition, you’re creating a sense for what could be for your kids.
It’s okay to trust the detour because there’s a reason it’s there. We have an innate navigation system.
The heightened resilience of children in families may be attributed to the change in their lives or the additional adults/parents.
Molly’s definition of family: Family is a soft place to land.
In This Episode:
[ 0:28 ] A bit about Molly, how she currently defines her family, and how she realized she wasn’t fulfilled in her relationship
[ 4:05 ] The moment of awareness that something had to change in your life: The steps Molly took to get out of her relationship
[ 08:38 ] Combatting the guilt of divorce and the impacts on her children
[ 13:19 ] How her blended family came to be
[ 18:36 ] Tips for successfully blending families
[ 20:48 ] Molly’s flexible co-parenting arrangement that allows for rest
[ 24:39 ] Advice for someone who is becoming a step-parent and for someone welcoming another parent into their co-parenting relationship
[ 25:52 ] Surprises and how to add more magical and fairytale energy to your blended families
[ 32:05 ] What do you hope your children learn from you and your experience? + The increased resilience in blended families
[ 36:19 ] What Molly wishes she would have done at the start of the blending of their families
[ 37:12 ] Molly’s definition of family
