"We Built This Together: The Power of Inclusion in Blended Families"

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The foundation of any successful blended family begins with intentionality, especially when it comes to involving children in the process. In this deeply personal episode, Greg and Jess take listeners back to the earliest days of their relationship, sharing how they purposefully included their four children from the very beginning.

Rather than presenting their new relationship as a fait accompli, they created meaningful opportunities for their children to feel ownership in the family-building process. From carefully planned introductions to a memorable meeting at a small-town park where they conducted a powerful team activity involving glasses and butter knives, they demonstrate how simple metaphors can help children understand complex family dynamics.

The episode explores their creative approach to family integration—having children decorate personal cups that represented their unique personalities while using butter knives (representing the adults and God) to support each other. This visual demonstration showed the children that building their new family required everyone's participation. "It's not just one of us doing this," Greg explains, "We're all working together and we're all going to hold each other up."

Greg and Jess candidly discuss navigating emotional challenges, including how they honored previous relationships while moving forward together. They share touching details about incorporating all four children into their wedding ceremony with special vows and symbolic rope bracelets tied with fisherman's knots. As they reflect on their journey, they also address the evolving nature of their relationships now that their children are adults, describing the difficult transition from being providers to becoming coaches.

Whether you're part of a blended family or simply looking to foster deeper connections with your children, this conversation offers practical wisdom on giving children a voice without giving them control. How intentional are you with your family time? Share your experiences with Greg and Jess on social media or by texting the show directly through your podcast app.