In today’s episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista Nash welcomes Dr. Ann Ordway, a family law attorney, parenting coordinator, and stepfamily coach. Together, they unpack what it takes to build a healthy blended family, one grounded in patience, emotional awareness, and long-term thinking.

Dr. Ordway shares what works and what fails when families blend too quickly. She draws on her professional expertise and personal experience of raising seven children in a blended family. They explore how children react to transitions, how co-parents can support one another across households, and how step-parents can earn trust instead of expecting it.

This episode gives parents and professionals a roadmap for blending families that prioritizes emotional safety and sets children up to thrive.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Begin stepfamily transitions by acknowledging loss and grief
• Give each child space to adjust at their own pace
• Slow down recoupling to avoid emotional whiplash
• Approach introductions gradually, with clear communication
• Build step-parent relationships through trust, not authority
• Spend one-on-one time to strengthen individual bonds
• Coordinate with co-parents to reduce confusion and fear
• Keep children in familiar spaces when possible
• Treat stepchildren and biological children equitably
• Model respectful relationships between all households

Resources from this Episode

www.afccnet.org/About/Staff/ann

www.stepfamily.org

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

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Episode Credits

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