Episodes

  • Parenting a Neurodivergent Child: How to Advocate at School

    Parenting a Neurodivergent Child: How to Advocate at School
    Jul 27 2026
    That sinking feeling when another teacher’s email arrives, listing everything your child did “wrong” again? If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, you likely know this feeling well. In this replay episode, host Stacy Bellward talks with Connected Families parent coaches Marni Love and Taylor Irby, two moms who’ve walked this road themselves. Together they talk about what it looks like to advocate for your child with grace and confidence. Through their honest stories and practical wisdom, they explore how a diagnosis can open doors to help, how to partner genuinely with teachers, and how connection can carry families through the hard parts. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why releasing the family you imagined and embracing the child in front of you changes everythingPractical strategies for setting your kids up to thrive at schoolWhat to include on a one-page advocacy sheet that helps teachers truly see your childHow to build the support that your child needs, without doing it alone Whether you’re new to advocacy or years into the journey, this conversation offers wisdom, peace, and real confidence for the road ahead. Mentioned in this Podcast: Focus is FertilizerDiscipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart Online CourseGrace & Truth for Moms Online CourseSensitive & Intense Kids Online CourseParent CoachingABC’s of AffirmationMeet My Child TemplateEpisode 309 – Should I Homeschool? Discerning What’s Best For Your Family Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Marni Love is a former public school teacher who has been a home educator for 16 years. She is a Homeschool Mentor, a Certified Connected Families Parent Coach, and an instructor for CF coaches-in-training. Marni enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and their three sons in the beautiful mountains and beaches of Northern California. Marni is available for coaching and speaking. You can connect with her through her website, marnilove.com. Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma. She, too, has sat in the midst of challenges and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over short-lived methods. That is when she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylor ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like her. She has seen transformation in her home by working with a framework that has changed not only her children’s behavior but their hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope, and you can enjoy your children, build that relationship you have wanted, and see behavior change. You can learn more about Taylor on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taylor.irby.5 and Instagram @taylorirbycoaching Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. 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! © 2026 Connected Families
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    31 mins
  • Should I Homeschool? Discerning What's Best for Your Family

    Should I Homeschool? Discerning What's Best for Your Family
    Jul 20 2026
    Asking yourself, “Should I homeschool,” this school year? It’s a weighty question—and one you don’t have to answer on your own. In this episode, host Stacy Bellward is joined by two Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches and seasoned homeschooling moms, Marni Love and Amy Nyvall, who bring 16+ years of combined experience to this conversation. Rather than handing out a one-size-fits-all answer, Marni and Amy walk through the decision using the Connected Families Framework™. They tackle real questions submitted by the cf community and help you discern what’s best for your family! Key Takeaways: The decision starts with you, not the curriculum. Your educational gaps aren’t a disqualifier. Every parent (and every school) has them. Motivation is built, not demanded. Your child isn’t your report card. Homeschooling doesn’t make you a better parent, and a hard day doesn’t define you Mentioned in this Podcast: Romans 8:39The Connected Families FrameworkSensitive & Intense Kids Online Coursecf communityHomeschool Discipline Online CourseConnected Families Certified Parent CoachesThe Table Monthly Giving Program Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Marni Love is a former public school teacher who has been a home educator for 16 years. She is a Homeschool Mentor, a Certified Connected Families Parent Coach, and an instructor for CF coaches-in-training. Marni enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and their three sons in the beautiful mountains and beaches of Northern California. Marni is available for coaching and speaking. You can connect with her through her website, marnilove.com. Amy Nyvall is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach who lives near Portland, Oregon, where she homeschools her kids ages 14,11, and 9 and leads a vibrant Charlotte Mason Education Community and Co-op. Contact Amy at amynyvall@gmail.com or learn more about her here. Amy is available for coaching and speaking on the Connected Families Framework. You can even find her contributing to events on the CF Community in Mighty so you can interact with here there too. Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. 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! © 2026 Connected Families
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    31 mins
  • How to Stay Calm With Kids Fighting

    How to Stay Calm With Kids Fighting
    Jul 6 2026

    As a self-described sensitive and intense mom raising two sensitive and intense daughters, Laura Way, Content Manager at Connected Families, wraps up our summertime conflict series with a powerful tool we use called Slow, Low, & Listen, which also applies easily when you have kids fighting in the next room!

    Drawing from Scripture, brain science, and her own kitchen-floor moments with her seven-year-old, Laura unpacks why our nervous systems get so easily hijacked by our children’s big emotions and offers a practical, grace-filled path forward. You’ll learn how slowing down, getting low, and listening can transform the way you enter into your kids’ hard moments.

    Whether you’re navigating sibling conflict, meltdowns, or daily chaos, this episode offers wisdom and tools to help you respond with the grace-filled presence you long to bring to your parenting.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Why your calm has to come first—and how to find it when your child’s emotions feel overwhelming
    • The brain science behind why a screaming child can trigger the same response as real danger
    • What “Slow, Low, Listen” actually looks like in real life (with Laura’s honest, in-the-moment examples)
    • How to move from reacting at your child to responding with your child
    Mentioned in this Podcast:
    • Blog Post – How to Break Habits of Harshness: Try Slow, Low, & Listen
    • James 1:19–20
    • John 8:1-11
    • Sibling Conflict Online Course
    • cf community

    Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

    Want to keep this conversation going?

    Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world.

    👉 Join the cf community today

    Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.

    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!

    © 2026 Connected Families
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    19 mins
  • Sibling Conflict: A Christian Parent's Guide to Raising Peacemakers at Home

    Sibling Conflict: A Christian Parent's Guide to Raising Peacemakers at Home
    Jun 30 2026
    Bickering. The escalating voices in the next room make you wonder whether to referee or run the other way. If sibling conflict has become the soundtrack of your home, you are so not alone, and this episode is for you! In week two of our Summertime Conflict series, host Stacy Bellward unpacks the heart of sibling squabbles and offers a refreshing reframe: those arguments happening between your kids right now? As a Christian parent, you have golden opportunities to raise lifelong peacemakers under your own roof. Whether you’re parenting toddlers or teens locked in a week-long standoff, you’ll walk away with wisdom, hope, and tangible tools to pursue peace in your family. Listen in! Key Takeaways: Gain insight into when to step into your kids’ squabblesFrom questions to role-playing, discover practical ways to enter into the heat of the moment with your kidsHow learning true reconciliation points us to Christ Our Episode Sponsor Today’s episode is brought to you by David Richter, owner of SimpleCFO and author of Profit First for Real Estate Investing. We’re grateful for David’s sponsorship, which helps make these conversations possible for families everywhere. You can find more information on his website https://simplecfo.com/. Mentioned in this Podcast: Ephesians 4:32Matthew 5:9Sibling Conflict Online Coursecf communityEpisode 305 – Helping Siblings Make Up After A “Fight”Trash, Truth, Treasure Online CourseCalming Strategies PDFThe Table Monthly Giving Program Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. 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! © 2026 Connected Families
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    23 mins
  • Helping Siblings Make Up After a “Fight”

    Helping Siblings Make Up After a “Fight”
    Jun 30 2026
    What if the goal of your kids’ fighting wasn’t silence, but restored hearts? Most parents want the bickering to stop. But what if helping siblings make up after a fight was actually an invitation? An opportunity to show your kids a glimpse of the gospel itself, where broken relationships are made new, and joy is rediscovered on the other side of hard moments. In today’s replay episode, Jim and Lynne Jackson (Co-founders of Connected Families) join host Stacy Bellward for a rich, hope-filled conversation about building the value of restoration in your home. Drawing from Scripture and decades of personal experience, Jim and Lynne paint a beautiful picture of what’s possible when parents shift from solving conflict to restoring relationships. Key Takeaways: How to develop a value of reconciliation rooted in ChristWhy modeling restoration in your own relationships (marriage, friendships, even with your own parents) is the most powerful teacherPractical, lighthearted ways to guide kids through conflictHow to prepare your kids outside of conflictAge-appropriate ways to celebrate restored hearts Our Episode Sponsor Today’s episode is brought to you by David Richter, owner of SimpleCFO and author of Profit First for Real Estate Investing. We’re grateful for David’s sponsorship, which helps make these conversations possible for families everywhere. You can find more information on his website https://simplecfo.com/. Mentioned in this Podcast: Galatians 6:1Matthew 5:23-24Book of JohnEpisode 139 – How to Help Kids Stop Fighting All The TimeBook – Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s HeartSibling Conflict Online Coursecf community Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! 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. Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. 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! © 2026 Connected Families
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    41 mins
  • Dads, You’re Not Alone: How to Stay Calm When Parenting is Hard | Ep. 304

    Dads, You’re Not Alone: How to Stay Calm When Parenting is Hard | Ep. 304
    Jun 30 2026
    Father’s Day can stir up a lot for dads. For some, it’s breakfast in bed and handmade cards. For others, it’s a quiet moment of reflection: Am I really the dad I want to be? In this special Father’s Day episode, guest host and Director of Development, Chad Hayenga, sits down with Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches David Cervenka and Joe Dewey for an honest, encouraging conversation about what it looks like to stay calm as dads, especially when things get challenging at home. Together, they share real stories from their own parenting journeys, and share the kind of wisdom that comes from walking the same journey many of you may be on. If you’re a dad who sometimes wonders if you’re getting it right, this episode is for you. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep showing up, and our loving God, who redeems the lives of His servants (Psalm 34:22), is in the business of redeeming our parenting moments, too. Key Takeaways: Hear why your presence matters more than your performance Learn how to do a quick self-inventory, because a dysregulated parent can’t help a dysregulated child Shift your intensity from correction toward connection, encouragement, and coachingGod is in the business of redemption Our Episode Sponsor Today’s episode is brought to you by David Richter, owner of SimpleCFO and author of Profit First for Real Estate Investing. We’re grateful for David’s sponsorship, which helps make these conversations possible for families everywhere. You can find more information on his website https://simplecfo.com/. Mentioned in this Podcast: Psalm 34: 221 Thessalonians 2:11–12 Book – Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s HeartSensitive & Intense Kids Online CourseConnected Families Parent CoachingJust for Dads – Included in the Free Learning LibraryThe cf communityThe Table Monthly Giving Program Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: Joe Dewey is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. He has a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and has served in full-time ministry with Cru in Leader Development and Human Resources since 2010. He has been a certified life coach since 2017. These experiences and more have molded him into a leader who leads with solutions. Whether in ministry or parenting, he finds clarity amid complexity, providing win-win solutions. David Cervenka is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and loves helping people connect with God’s heart. He has found that the Connected Families framework has deeply impacted his own relationship with the Lord. He has almost twenty years of experience in mentoring and coaching ministry leaders in spiritual and family rhythms. David lives in Texas with his wife, Danielle, and their children. Want to keep this conversation going? Join us inside the cf community — a faith-anchored, coach-supported space where parents grow together. Reflect on episodes like this one, ask hard questions, and celebrate the small wins alongside parents from around the world. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. 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! © 2026 Connected Families
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    32 mins
  • Sibling Competition and Bedtime Chaos: Hear from the cf community

    Sibling Competition and Bedtime Chaos: Hear from the cf community
    Jun 30 2026
    Ever wished you could pull up a chair with seasoned parent coaches and ask your most pressing questions? Whether you’re in the midst of bedtime challenges or working through sibling competition, host Stacy Bellward invites listeners into a real taste of what’s happening inside the new cf community. Katie Johnson, a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and dedicated cf community moderator, is joined by fellow certified coaches Jared Kingry and Bekah Idle for a conversation about two real questions that parents submitted in the community! This episode is a heartfelt reminder that you’re not alone, there’s no silver bullet, and growth happens through hard moments, not around them. Press play to listen in, and when you’re ready for more, the door to the cf community is wide open. Key Takeaways: A behind-the-scenes look at the new cf communityHow to reframe competition as an opportunity for connectionDiscover three practical bedtime strategiesThe power of speaking identity statements over your children Mentioned in this Podcast: Join the cf community!Free Learning LibraryBook – Domestic Monastery by Ronald RolheiserConnected Families Ministry Partnership ProgramConnected Families Monthly Giving Program – The TableJared Kingry – Connected Families Certified Parent CoachBekah Idle – Connected Families Certified Parent Coach What we loved from the podcast: “What’s most important is not that I get it right all the time, but that I can stay regulated… “ — Jared Kingry Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: As a former teacher-turned-homeschool mom with a sensitive & intense child, Katie Johnson came to Connected Families at the end of her rope. As a CF coach, she now helps struggling families adopt a whole-Bible, whole-brain approach for Christ-centered transformation. She loves providing practical tools to help families apply the CF framework to their unique situations. Katie lives in Madison, WI, with her husband, three young kids, a dog, and three chickens. Katie holds a Master’s in Education and has a special passion for supporting families with toddlers. Jared Kingry is a youth pastor, husband, and father of three, bringing both personal and professional perspectives to parenthood. With over a decade in youth ministry, he’s walked alongside families through the challenges and joys of doing life together. He has worked to expand his church’s ministry to include parent coaching that supports discipleship at home, offering a holistic approach that integrates faith, love, and compassion into every aspect of parenting. As a mom of 6 kids (biological and foster), Bekah Idle is a Certified Parent Coach with Connected Families. She walks alongside parents who are ready to move from frustration to fruitfulness. Through years in ministry, homeschool co-ops, and children’s theater, she’s seen it again and again: kids thrive when they feel connected, understood, and deeply loved. She encourages parents with this: You CAN raise wise, confident, connected kids—and ENJOY doing it. 🏡 Ready to Take a Seat in the cf community? This episode is your personal invitation. If anything shared today resonated, if you felt that quiet “yes, I need that” while you listened — we’d love to welcome you in. The cf community is open and ready for you, with coach-led conversations, faith-anchored courses, and parents from around the world walking this road right alongside you. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one. 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! © 2026 Connected Families
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    42 mins
  • You're Not Parenting Alone: Inside the cf community with Katie Johnson

    You're Not Parenting Alone: Inside the cf community with Katie Johnson
    Jun 1 2026
    In this special episode, host Stacy Bellward sits down with Katie Johnson, Connected Families’ new Community Engagement Manager, Certified Parent Coach, and former educator, to unveil something brand new: the cf community! A place where you’re not parenting alone. After years of watching the Connected Families Framework™ transform households, the team noticed one consistent truth: parents grow faster when they’re not parenting alone. The cf community is designed to be that “people in your corner” space. A faith-anchored, research-informed gathering place where parents can slow down, reflect, ask hard questions, and celebrate small wins alongside a coach and like-minded community. Stacy and Katie walk through what’s inside, who it’s for, and the deep biblical why behind this new chapter of the ministry. Whether you’re a grandparent helping raise grandkids, a parent in a particularly hard season, or someone simply hungry to keep growing, this episode is an invitation to find a resting place for your parenting journey. Key Takeaways: Growth happens in community, not isolation. Learn about what’s inside the cf community!Join others from around the world. Mentioned in this Podcast: Join the cf community today! Philippians 1:62 Peter 3:18Episode 289 – Teaching Kids Responsibility Without Nagging Episode 213 – The Art of Blessing Your Kids Episode 139 – Helping With Sibling Conflict When Kids Fight All the Time Heard in the cf community When Katie shared a post from a mom who had just experienced a profound mindset shift inside the community: “I’m working through Grace and Truth for Moms, and today’s lesson was so impactful. What a mindset shift from ‘it’s my job to get my kids to obey’ to ‘it’s my job to parent wisely.'” Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Guest Bio: As a former teacher-turned-homeschool mom with a sensitive & intense child, Katie Johnson came to Connected Families at the end of her rope. As a CF coach, she now helps struggling families adopt a whole-Bible, whole-brain approach for Christ-centered transformation. She loves providing practical tools to help families apply the CF framework to their unique situations. Katie lives in Madison, WI, with her husband, three young kids, a dog, and three chickens. Katie holds a Master’s in Education and has a special passion for supporting families with toddlers. 🏡 Ready to Take a Seat in the cf community? This episode is your personal invitation. If anything Katie or Stacy shared today resonated, if you felt that quiet “yes, I need that” while you listened, we’d love to welcome you in. The cf community is open and ready for you, with coach-led conversations, faith-anchored courses, and parents from around the world walking this road right alongside you. 👉 Join the cf community today Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents find shows like this one.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! © 2026 Connected Families
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    24 mins