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.  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.