81. How a Missing Bio-Parent Impacts Kids in the Delicate Blending Process (Part 1)

The best scenario for kids is when they can have a healthy relationship with both of the parents they love.   

Sadly, many kids in blended families have a gaping hole in their life because one of their parents is absent.   Whether a parent's absence is due to abandonment, inconsistency, or death — the impact can be heartbreaking.

Missing a parent who is absent can be one of the hardest realities for kids to work through.  And it might be one of the most challenging struggles for that remaining parent to face.  Watching your kids grieve over that missing relationship they long for can leave you feeling helpless.

But if you're feeling like there's nothing you can do, we want to bring you some encouragement in this episode.

We're discussing this sensitive topic to understand how kid's grieve the loss of a parent — and how you can best respond when you're left to pick up the pieces.

We'll also explore how this dynamic might impact the blending process.  It can create sometimes create unique barriers in a child's ability to accept a step-parent.

If you or someone you know is facing this reality in their blended family, please don't miss this episode.

You'll Discover:

• How kids experience different kinds of grief
• Why they can idealize their missing parent and how that impacts you
• Why it's important to create a 'safe space' for kids when they're struggling
• How to keep connecting to grieving kids and create security for all the relationships in the home
• How to navigate the fine line of speaking truth without dashing the kid's hopes and dreams of reconnecting with their disengaged parent 

Resources from this Episode:

• Episode 8:  Toxic Exes and Hurting Kids - A Simple Strategy Against Lies and Slander  
• Book Recommendation:  Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by Dr. John Gottman
• Ron Deal's Podcast Episode:  When a Parent Goes M.I.A. with Andy and Heather Hetchler
• Article:  Where's Mom? The Disengaged Biological Parent by Ron Deal 

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