Dwayne talks about his father leaving while he was young, how it impacted him through adulthood and influences how he raises his kids. In this episode, Dwayne and Jess also discuss the "Absent Father" narrative, fatherhood after a divorce, and how a dad should be present in their child's life - physically, mentally, and emotionally. 19.5 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without their father in the home (U.S. Census Bureau)

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What are toxic traits in a person? How do you get out of a toxic relationship? Are you in a toxic friendship? How do you know if you are the toxic one? These are some questions discussed in this episode. "Times of self-reflection are critical and it's not something you do just once." (Dwayne Curry)

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Co-Parenting styles (high conflict, parallel, and cooperative), Disney Dad or parent, having a mediator, and parental alienation. These are a few topics discussed in this episode. "It's helpful to know what approaches you can take as you navigate through difficult coparenting situations." (Dwayne Curry)

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Here's The Life and Blended Podcast in under 60 seconds!
Season 2 coming May 25th 2021!

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Jess discusses how society has shaped the image of a man with Dwayne and her brother Danny and how it may influence our perspective on men expressing their feelings. In this episode they also talk about the impact of parents not allowing children to express their emotions,  the pain in dealing with invisible struggles, and the importance of community. "You never know who's listening when you're being vulnerable. Someone may be experiencing the same thing you're going through but have no one to relate to." (Danny Padilla)

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Is it ok to not love your stepchild in the same way as your biological child? What is the role of a stepparent? Which title should be used, stepparent, bonus parent, or parent? What is the Nacho Kids method? What is the authoritative parenting style? When should they be used? These are a few questions discussed in this episode. "Nothing is set in stone, a child changes and you may have to change too... Hold on to what gives you peace." (Jess Curry)

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No matter how hard you tried, a marriage may have painfully ended or a relationship may have crumbled over time. It does not make you a failure in life, it makes you human. Blending a family is not easy and it requires a strong foundation. In this episode we discuss creating a safe space for your partner, the steps we took to begin to blend our family, engaging children struggling with the new family dynamics, and the three types of stepfamilies. "46% of married/cohabiting couples  under 55 have at least one adult stepchild." (Wiemers, 2017)

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What is the "in-love" phase, how long does it lasts, and what typically happens afterwards? What is your personality type and how does it impact your happiness? What are the 5 love languages and how can you love your partner in new ways? What can you do if your primary way of receiving love is different from your partner's? How can you love through difficult times?  These are a few questions discussed in this episode. "The sense of connection during the early 'in love' stage gives us a false sense of intimacy." (Gary Chapman)

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