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"We had no idea what we were doing." Those words might not be what you expect to hear from podcast hosts sharing advice about blended families, but that's exactly what makes Baggage Claim so refreshingly honest. In this vulnerable episode, Greg and Jess pull back the curtain on their 13-year journey of blending families to reveal the messy, beautiful truth: nobody really knows what they're doing.

The highlight reels we often see of blended families can be intimidating. Core values, behavior lists, and carefully structured routines make it seem like some families have it all figured out. But behind those Instagram-worthy moments are real people navigating uncharted waters, making mistakes, and learning as they go. Greg and Jess share some of their biggest failures—from leaving kids at practice because they missed calendar invites to writing checks for groceries they knew wouldn't clear—and how those challenging moments actually created some of their family's most cherished traditions.

What stands out most is their resilience through financial hardships and communication challenges. As Greg shares the humbling experience of not being able to afford medical care for Jess during a time of illness, they reflect on how these struggles shaped their family philosophy: "If we can't be happy with a hundred dollars in our bank account, we'll never be happy with hundreds of thousands." This perspective shift transformed their approach to both money and marriage.

Whether you're in the trenches of early blended family life or navigating the evolving relationships with adult children, this episode offers comfort in knowing you're not alone. The real magic happens not in having all the answers, but in showing up consistently with love, curiosity, and the willingness to fail forward. After all, if you're failing, it means you're trying—and that's something worth celebrating.