Connected Families Podcast

¡Escucha este nuevo episodio en español del pódcast de Familias Conectadas! Esther Reich conversa con Luisa Wendt acerca de una de las diferentes formas en las que como padres usamos las consecuencias en la crianza. A través de sus historias reales te sentirás inspirado a usar las consecuencias como medio de restauración y vehículo de paz para tu familia. Temas mencionados en este podcast: Marco de referencia para una familia conectada Blog Post: 3 señales de consecuencias poco útiles y que hacer al respecto. Descubre más recursos que te apoyarán en la crianza. ¿Te pareció útil este episodio? ¡Por favor compártelo con tus amigos! *Este podcast fue hecho posible por miembros de La Mesa, cuyo apoyo mensual crea un efecto multiplicador de cambio para futuras generaciones. ¡Nos encantaría que tome un asiento en La Mesa!* ¿Necesita un recordatorio? Aproveche el Imán del Marco de Referencia de Familias Conectadas para ánimo en medio de sus desafíos diarios. Comprar el Imán Acerca de Esther:  Esther Reich es Asesora de Crianza Certificada por Connected Families. Ella es enfermera profesional especializada en asesoría de lactancia materna y ella y su esposo, Roberto, tienen tres hijos y sirven como misioneros con Serge en Guatemala desde 2018. A través de enfrentar retos en la crianza de sus hijos acudieron a Connected Families para recibir coaching/apoyo. El apoyo que recibieron de Chad Hayenga y de Lynne Jackson les ayudó a ver cambios significativos en ellos mismos y en sus hijos. Todavía hay mucho espacio para crecer como familia, pero la diferencia de antes y después de la intervención de Connected Families es significativa. Además de servir con otros ministerios en Guatemala (Sigo Vivo y Servant Harts), apoyan a padres e iglesias a través de talleres y coaching/apoyo individual para los que enfrentan retos en su crianza de sus hijos incluyendo los que son muy sensibles o intensos. El correo de Esther es esther.e.cummings@gmail.com Acerca de Luisa: Luisa Wendt es Asesora de Crianza certificada por Connected Families nació en Bogotá, Colombia y vive en Iowa con su familia. Luisa y su esposo Jarrett tienen seis hijos, tres en el cielo y tres en la tierra. Dos de sus hermosos hijos llegaron a su familia a través de la adopción. Durante un momento muy complejo en la crianza Connected Families los asesoró y continua asesorandolos y guiandolos en el camino de una crianza basada en la gracia de Dios y la confianza y conexión con sus hijos. Jarrett y Luisa tienen un ministerio que se llama Built on Rock Parent Coaching que nació con el gran deseo de compartir esas enseñanzas con tantas familias como sea posible. Te invitamos a seguir su canal de YouTube, donde todos sus videos tienen subtítulos en español: https://www.youtube.com/@builtonrockparentcoaching Para más información acerca de su historia, ministerio y unas lindas fotos de su familia pueden visitar su página de internet: www.builtonrockparentcoaching.org. En este momento toda la información se encuentra en ingles pero si desean contactarlos para más información o asesorías de crianza en español pueden escribirles a jarrettandluisa@builtonrock.org  © 2026 Connected Families Whether you’re just learning the Four Messages of the Framework or have been at it for years, the Parenting Reminders Bundle can help you parent the way you want to parent! GET YOUR BUNDLE NOW!

Strong on correction but struggling to connect? In this third episode of the “Don’t Stay Stuck” series, host Stacy Bellward and Certified Parent Coach Katie Wetsell take on a challenge many who value strict parenting face: how to soften without losing structure? If you value obedience but want warmer relationships with your kids, this episode offers hope and practical next steps. Key Takeaways: Understanding the God-given strengths of parents who lean toward the top of the Connected Families Framework™ Rethinking immediate obedience Living out loud and setting an example for your children Pitfalls of high-demand and low-compassion parenting Practical tools for getting unstuck and finding balance in your parenting Mentioned in this Podcast: Katie Wetsell – Connected Families Certified Parent Coach  Free Parenting Assessment PDF Blog Post – First-Time Obedience: Should I Require Immediate Obedience from My Child? Ephesians 6:4 Galatians 6:1 Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Katie Wetsell has always had a calling on her heart to care for children. She has worked as a pediatric oncology nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. After experiencing the benefits of parent coaching through Connected Families, Katie later resigned from nursing and became a Certified Parent Coach. She and her husband have four children (three boys and a girl) through birth and adoption. Katie is also trained in SPACE treatment to help parents learn how to support their children struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. You can learn more about Katie at parentwithhope.org, and on Facebook @parentwithhopecoach and Instagram @parentwithhopecoach. © 2025 Connected Families Dare to dream of peace again. It’s not hopeless. You can ENJOY YOUR KIDS AGAIN. CONNECT WITH A PARENT COACH

In this second week of our Don’t Stay Stuck series, we’re shifting our focus to parents who are “stuck” at the bottom of the Connected Families Framework™. Being naturally bent toward compassion is a God-given superpower, but what happens when parents are consistently overly permissive? Setting boundaries with kids can be challenging at times. Listen in as Stacy chats with Katie Wetsell, a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, to encourage you to be kind and firm. Key Takeaways: How our parenting defaults can actually come from God-given gifts What does it look like to get stuck at the bottom of the Framework: Am I too soft? How balance helps kids build wisdom and resilience in their long-term relationships Concrete examples you can use to add more firmness to your parenting Mentioned in this Podcast: Free Parenting Assessment Helpful Truths and Hurtful Beliefs PDF download Katie Wetsell – Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Ep. 98 – Can You Parent Well When You’re Anxious? Ep. 99 – How Can I Identify Anxiety In My Child? 2 Timothy 1:7 Blog Post – Am I Too Soft? Finding The Strength To Be Both Kind and Firm Blog Post – First-Time Obedience: Should I Require Immediate Obedience from My Child? The Table Monthly Giving Program Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Katie Wetsell has always had a calling on her heart to care for children. She has worked as a pediatric oncology nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. After experiencing the benefits of parent coaching through Connected Families, Katie later resigned from nursing and became a Certified Parent Coach. She and her husband have four children (three boys and a girl) through birth and adoption. Katie is also trained in SPACE treatment to help parents learn how to support their children struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. You can learn more about Katie at parentwithhope.org, and on Facebook @parentwithhopecoach and Instagram @parentwithhopecoach. © 2025 Connected Families Dare to dream of peace again. It’s not hopeless. You can ENJOY YOUR KIDS AGAIN. CONNECT WITH A PARENT COACH

Ever wonder why you keep defaulting to the same old parenting habits? Stacy Bellward and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Lori Menikheim explore what causes parents to get stuck, and how to find their way forward. Join us as we begin this 3-part series, Don’t Stay Stuck, and gain some practical insights for developing balance in your parenting journey. Key Takeaways: Hear stories of what getting stuck looks like Learn about the 4 messages of the Connected Families Framework and how it helps to move forward Learn how developing balance transforms the parent-child relationship Mentioned in this Podcast:  Free Parenting Assessment  My Child Refuses to Listen: A Compassionate Approach to PDA | Ep. 282 Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Luke 1:17 Power of Questions Online Course Ebook – What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity Lori Menikheim – Connected Families Certified Parent Coach The Table Monthly Giving Program Book – How to Grow a Connected Family Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Lori Menikheim is a wife, mom of two strong-willed teenage girls, and Kids Ministry leader with over 15 years of experience. When she discovered Connected Families, she finally found the language, tools, and hope to parent well and lead ministry well. Now she loves connecting with parents and ministry leaders who want to partner with God in reaching the next generation. © 2025 Connected Families Ready to dive in and learn more about the Framework? Our 8-session online course, Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart will guide you through each level of the Framework. If you’re looking for a grace-filled way to parent, this course is for you! Parent with Confidence Discipline with Love Take the 8-session online course Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart . REGISTER NOW!

Laura Way, Connected Families Content Manager, and Lydia Rex, a Trust-Based Relational Intervention practitioner, dive deep into the world of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). They explain how small demands can trigger fight-or-flight responses in sensitive children. With practical strategies from the Connected Families Framework, they explore fostering safety and autonomy, coaching self-regulation, and the importance of long-term heart change over short-term compliance. Their insights offer parents hope and tools to navigate challenging behaviors with compassion.

In this discussion, Joe Dewey, a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, shares his insights on intentional parenting. He emphasizes the importance of family year-end rhythms, highlighting traditions like Advent breakfasts. Joe also outlines exciting goals for 2026, including fostering family adventures and deepening connections with his kids. The conversation touches on operational improvements at Connected Families, tech upgrades for community engagement, and plans for new parenting courses, ensuring a thoughtful approach to modern challenges.

What does it look like to live out the Connected Families Framework? What does it look like to live it out in your own heart and relationships? In this final episode of our 3-part series, Hope for the Long Haul, Jim and Lynne Jackson share how the Framework has shaped their lives over time: from finding their identity in Jesus, to marriage, to navigating the joys and challenges of parenting adult children. If you’re wondering whether this stuff really helps in the long term, this one’s for you. Key Takeaways: How and what the Connected Families Framework has looked like in their marriage Learning that Jesus is our “report card” What it looks like to keep the connection alive in marriage and in parenting How gifts gone awry and “Foundation” messages impacted their working careers Mentioned in this Podcast: Genesis 12:1-3 Book mentioned – Connecting: Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships by Dr. Larry Crabb The Entitlement Fix online course Donate to Connected Families Trash, Truth, Treasure online mini-course The Connected Families Framework Podcast – Payoffs & Accidental Rewards: How to Focus on the Right Stuff Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Jim and Lynne Jackson are the Co-Founders of Connected Families in Plymouth, MN. With over 50 combined years of professionally helping families and a love for working in the church, Jim and Lynne have been dedicated to bringing reliable, God-centered, research-based parenting resources to all families since 2002. © 2025 Connected Families

In this audioblog, we take on a topic relevant to holiday gatherings: what to do when you receive unsolicited advice from well-meaning relatives? From preparing ahead of time to helping your kids navigate criticisms, today you’ll hear some practical strategies to help you continue to parent confidently in your grace-based approach. Key Takeaways: How to have empathetic responses with your family members before redirecting their approaches Confident responses to practice in advance How to equip your kids with truth before the gathering Mentioned in this Podcast: Blog – How to Handle Unsolicited Parenting Advice from Family (4 Grace-Filled Tips) PDF – Scripts for Unsolicited Advice  Holiday Family Stress? How to Actually Enjoy Family Gatherings | Ep. 276 Luke 1:17 Free E-Book –  What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity The Table Monthly Giving Program Give a Gift to Connected Families Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! © 2025 Connected Families

Keeping “like” alive is what an enduring connection is all about! This week, Connected Families Co-Founders Jim and Lynne Jackson share more about the importance and benefits of lasting connection over time and why it’s the cornerstone of lasting family relationships. Hear from a long-time friend and Connected Families board member on how the framework has impacted his relationships over time, like a compass redirecting him back to loving his kids well and what’s most important when life gets off center. Learn how connection becomes the pathway toward true discipleship and godly influence. Key Takeaways: Staying light even in hard times can transform your love into enduring like Discover how parents turning their hearts to their children influences generations How connection grew from an idea to taking root in Dave Scouler’s family over time Connection is the springboard into authentic discipleship Mentioned in this Podcast: When Parenting Styles Differ: Finding Unity with Your Strong-Willed Child | Ep. 277 John 17 The Table Monthly Giving Program Give a Gift to Connected Families Luke 1:17 Want to Build a Connected Family? Be Intentional | Ep. 84 How to Build a Connected Family – Book The Scouler Family Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Dave Scouler has been married for over 30 years and has two amazing boys who joined their family through adoption from Russia. He has been a champion of Connected Families since its founding. Dave has worked in a diverse set of consulting environments and has over 40 years of experience helping clients respond to changing realities. He has served on multiple non-profit Boards and gets excited when given the chance to think strategically. When he is not working, he enjoys working on projects with his boys, being with his four dogs, swimming, and sailing. © 2025 Connected Families

Whether you’re just starting your parenting journey or you’ve hit a rough spot, today’s episode is a reminder that God’s grace is sufficient through it all. Seeing God’s mercy toward us in the midst of challenging family messes (like disagreeing about how to approach parenting a “strong-willed” child) is the hope of the Gospel! Connected Families Co-Founders, Jim and Lynne Jackson, sit down with longtime friends of Connected Families, Jay and Debi Allsup, to encourage families with their experience with their own adult daughters. They remind us that our kids’ biggest challenges now can become their greatest assets when they are older! Yes… even the “strong-willed” child! Key Takeaways: What it initially looked like for Jay and Debi to approach parenting with two completely different styles Learn how Connected Families tools help parents to develop a common parenting language and a path forward to model reconciliation after they have had an imperfect parenting moment Impact on their daughters in the present God’s grace grows with your family Mentioned in this Podcast: Connected Families Framework Magnet Ezekiel 47:8-9 NIV Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Jay and Debi Allsup are long-time friends of Connected Families and were part of the original board. Jay serves business leaders with his financial acumen and deep Biblical insights, providing a unique perspective to companies and nonprofit organizations that leads them to fiscally responsible decisions and managed growth. Debi works as a Director of HR at a national community-based support services company. © 2025 Connected Families