Welcome back to the Nacho Kids Podcast! In today’s episode, Lori and David dive deep into the realities of sacrifice within stepfamilies. Lori shares a heartfelt personal story about giving up a long-awaited lunch with a friend to help her stepson, Ethan, navigate buying a car, a perfect example of the countless everyday choices stepfamilies make for each other. Together, Lori and David discuss how sacrifice isn’t just about doing things for your own kids, but often includes stepkids and even partners.

They challenge the misconception that “nachoing” means not caring or refusing to help, and explain how setting boundaries can actually strengthen relationships and protect your mental health. The hosts also touch on stepfamily celebrations, like Stepmother’s Day, the importance of not keeping score, and why caring for your own well-being is essential. Join Lori and David as they get real about being kind, both to others and to yourself, and find out why sometimes, the healthiest choice is to Nacho.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Reflections on Sacrifice In Stepfamilies
• Nacho Parenting and Relationship Nuances
• The Importance (and Limits)of Sacrifice
• Emotional Realtities and Acceptance

Nacho Kids Academy Success Stories:

"Having my stepkids full-time was overwhelming. I felt like I had to step up and fill shoes that weren’t mine, and it nearly broke me. Nachoing showed me that I can support their mom without trying to be their dad. Now there’s less stress, more peace, and the start of real trust growing between us." ~ Todd, WI

On today’s episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori sits down with Chad Bignac, transformationist, consultant, author, and coauthor of the new book “Blend, Don’t Break.” Drawing from over 22 years of blended family experience, Chad opens up about the challenges he and his wife faced merging their families after personal tragedies, including the loss of his first wife and his current wife’s ex-husband.

Chad shares candidly about the painful missteps and valuable lessons learned along their journey, from clashing parenting styles and personal assumptions to the importance of unity, compassion, and self-growth. He details the turning point in his family’s story, catalyzed by his wife’s severe health crisis, and how choosing to respond rather than react helped heal deep family rifts.

Through heartfelt stories and practical wisdom, Chad emphasizes the power of compassion, influence over authority, and the need to unpack old emotional baggage before starting anew. Whether you’re in a blended family or looking for guidance on overcoming personal and family struggles, this episode offers honest insights and hope for healing and connection.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Early Challenges in Blending

- Authority vs. Influence in Parenting

- Becoming a “Student of Your Children”

- Creating Environments for Healing in Blended Families

- Advice for Prospective Stepfamilies

Nacho Kids Success Story:

I thought stepping up meant stepping all the way in, but it was destroying me.

As a stepdad, I believed it was my job to take the lead and fix everything. I disciplined, managed homework, scheduled appointments… and got nothing but pushback. My wife and I were constantly arguing, and I felt like an outsider in my own home. Then we found Nacho Kids. Learning to Nacho helped me stop parenting by proxy and start supporting my wife as her partner, not as a replacement dad. The stress lifted, and surprisingly, my stepkids started warming up to me once I stepped out of the power struggle. Nacho Kids didn’t just change our home, it gave me my peace back. ~Mark T., Stepdad of 2

Welcome back to another episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast! In today’s show, Lori and David dive into a challenge faced by many blended families: What happens when one partner feels that their stepchild is being disrespectful, and the biological parent doesn’t step in? Kicking things off with a listener's heartfelt question, Lori and David unpack the complexities of stepkids shouting or insulting their stepparent and stepsibling, as well as the tension that arises when boundaries and respect are on the line.

Throughout the episode, they discuss practical strategies for handling disrespect without overstepping boundaries, the importance of focusing on your own responses, and how to talk to your partner about these challenging issues without stirring up more conflict. The hosts also highlight why sibling (and step-sibling) rivalry can sometimes be just as much about building bonds as it is about butting heads, and why letting kids work out their differences can lead to healthier relationships in the long run.

Whether you're a parent, stepparent, or somewhere in between, today's episode offers real-life insights and actionable advice on navigating respect and boundaries in a blended family. Grab your headphones and get ready to "nacho" your way to a happier home!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Nacho Parenting Philosophy in Conflict Scenarios

• Responding to Disrespect from Stepchildren

• Perceptions of Respect and Boundaries

• Stepparent vs. Biological Parent Discipline Dynamics

• Navigating Sibling and Stepsibling Relationships

Nacho Kids Academy Success Stories:

"Nacho Kids Academy saved my sanity and my marriage. It took a little while because my husband wasn’t happy with me Nachoing. He didn’t understand it. But once he saw the positive changes from my Nachoing, he couldn’t deny that Nachoing was changing things for the better.” ~ Ellison - Happy stepmom in TX