{"id":285638,"date":"2024-08-09T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T10:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/remarried-heres-what-your-kids-need-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T16:55:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T20:55:49","slug":"remarried-heres-what-your-kids-need-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/remarried-heres-what-your-kids-need-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown\/","title":{"rendered":"Remarried? Here&#8217;s What Your Kids Need: Ron Deal and Rod &#038; Rachel Faulkner Brown"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s it like for a child when their parent remarries? Explore the unique losses and needs of children in blended families in this important conversation with Ron Deal and Rod &#038; Rachel Faulkner Brown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s it like for a child when their parent remarries? Explore the unique losses of kids in blended families with Ron Deal and Rod &#038; Rachel Faulkner Brown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47000,"featured_media":280865,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/bbc8f658-14a6-40d8-8d1e-b1b50147d5f1\/audio.mp3","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:27:46","filesize":"25.46M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"2024-08-09 08:00:00","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2894,2858],"tags":[2585],"podcast_series":[8784],"cwp_profile":[9921,3300],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-285638","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stepfamily-living","category-stepparenting-skills","tag-blended-family","podcast_series-remarriage-after-loss-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown","cwp_profile-rod-and-rachel-faulkner-brown","cwp_profile-ron-deal","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/06\/image-scaled.jpg?w=1024","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/285638\/remarried-heres-what-your-kids-need-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/285638\/remarried-heres-what-your-kids-need-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"mJQzqY6p5D\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/remarried-heres-what-your-kids-need-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown\/\">Remarried? Here&#8217;s What Your Kids Need: Ron Deal and Rod &#038; Rachel Faulkner Brown<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/remarried-heres-what-your-kids-need-ron-deal-and-rod-rachel-faulkner-brown\/embed\/#?secret=mJQzqY6p5D\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Remarried? Here&#8217;s What Your Kids Need: Ron Deal and Rod &#038; Rachel Faulkner Brown&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"mJQzqY6p5D\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"spectra_custom_meta":{"secondline_imported_guid":["bbc8f658-14a6-40d8-8d1e-b1b50147d5f1"],"audio_file":["https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/bbc8f658-14a6-40d8-8d1e-b1b50147d5f1\/audio.mp3"],"duration":["00:27:46"],"filesize":["25.46M"],"_thumbnail_id":["280865"],"show_notes":["<ul>\n<li>Help make YOUR mark: Your donation supports crucial resources for families and includes a special FamilyLife Pen and Brant Hansen's book, \"\"Unoffendable\"\"\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/donate.familylife.com\/august-2024\/urgent-need\/?cru_source=FLTD24&amp;cru_medium=Icare&amp;cru_campaign=August2024\">join us today!<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Connect with Rachel and catch more of their ideas at <a href=\"https:\/\/rachelfaulknerbrown.net\/\">rachelfaulknerbrown.com<\/a> and find her on Insta at <a href=\"http:\/\/instagram.com\/rachelfaulknerbrown\">@rachelfaulknerbrown<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-blended-podcast\/133-remarrying-after-loss\/\">Listen to the full episode here<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Discover <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product\/the-smart-stepfamily\/\">more resources<\/a> and listen to more on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-blended-podcast\/\">FamilyLife Blended podcast<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>And think deeper about ministering to blended families at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitonstepfamilies.com\/\">Blended Summit<\/a> -- coming up in October.<\/li>\n<li>Find resources from this podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/radio-resources\/\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/past-radio-resources\/\">See resources from our past podcasts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find more content and resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/\">FamilyLife Podcast Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"],"transcript_content":["<p>FamilyLife Today\u00ae National Radio Version (time edited) Transcript<\/p>\n<p>References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>Remarried? Here\u2019s What Your Kids Need<\/p>\n<p>Guests:Ron Deal, Rod Brown and Rachel Faulkner Brown<\/p>\n<p>From the series:Remarriage after Loss (Day 2 of 2)<\/p>\n<p>Air date:August 9, 2024<\/p>\n<p>Ron: You can try to talk to both little parts of their heart, something like: \u201cYou know what? If I were you, I get it. I can see how calling me \u2018Dad\u2019 just feels weird. And if you need a break from that, that's okay.\u201d You give permission to that child needing to use a different term.\u00a0And then, you try to talk to the other half of their heart, and say, \u201cBut I want you to know that I love you like crazy, and this doesn\u2019t affect our relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: Welcome to FamilyLife Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I\u2019m Shelby Abbott, and your hosts are Dave and Ann Wilson. You can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: This is FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Okay, Dave, did you know this?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I probably didn\u2019t. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Ann: The blended family ministry at FamilyLife\u00ae teaches that no one in a stepfamily has had more loss than the children.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Oh, that has to be true. And I know Ron Deal says the problem is that, often, the adults\u2014the parents and the stepparent\u2014are unaware of what the kids are going through. I know my dad and my stepmom had no idea what I was going through, so they miss the chance to help the kids with their grief.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And I get it, too; because the parents are going through a lot of trauma, anyway.<\/p>\n<p>And you know who else doesn\u2019t get this is church leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Oh, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And that\u2019s one of the reasons we put on the premiere blended family ministry conference for church leaders: the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry is our annual event for church leaders and lay couples.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: October 10 and 11, 2024; it\u2019s going to be in Dallas this year. We\u2019d love for you\/someone in your church to come. You can check the show notes or go to SummitOnStepfamily.com to learn more about it.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Okay, yesterday,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014yes, it was awesome.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014we started listening to this great conversation between Ron and Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown that was released on our FamilyLife Blended\u00ae podcast earlier this year. So far, we\u2019ve heard about Rachel\u2019s loss before they got married; but in today\u2019s episode, we\u2019re going to get to look into the lives of their kids. So let\u2019s pick up that conversation at that point.<\/p>\n<p>[Previous FamilyLife Blended Podcast]<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Now, they were really young,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: \u2014but that doesn't mean they're not grieving; one.<\/p>\n<p>Number two: The way children grieve is over time: when they're ten, and when they're sixteen, and when they're\u2026new layers of life and new things pop up in their mind. They have to think back about how life was or would have been.<\/p>\n<p>I'm just curious\u2014as you guys have looked over the last ten years\u2014\u201cWhat have you seen in the children that you would just say, \u2018Yes, that was grieving,\u2019 \u2018\u2026that was transition,\u2019 \u2018\u2026that was adjustment\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rod: With Davis, I think we saw it, early on. I traveled our whole marriage, and they both were so excited to have a father. I would get emotional even thinking about what Davis was saying as we're up there, getting married.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And he\u2019s like four or five?<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Seven.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Seven at the time; and he\u2019s like: \u201cThank you, Mr. Rod,\u201d \u201cThank you, Mr. Rod,\u201d as we're praying and doing our vows. It\u2019s overwhelming, thinking about that, much less being there. Being there, it was really overwhelming, in a beautiful way, in a beautiful way.<\/p>\n<p>But it seemed like, when I would leave town, he would miss his dad. We started realizing it was only happening when I would leave. We were thinking, \u201cMaybe, that is him, kind of in this in between space, grieving his dad and, somehow, me in there\u201d; because he grieved a ton, growing up, from what Rachel's told me, a lot.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Well, when we moved\u2014you know, moves are like setups by God to upset your routine, upset your utopia\u2014and that happened when we moved to Huntsville from Columbus. We left the house that Blair and I owned. Davis was four; and so he really grieved moving, leaving his friends. He went through this initial grief\u2014had not really grieved before that\u2014but that move; and then, of course, marrying Rod, which was a good bit later.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: And then, never saw Campbell really grieve or talk about any of that until she was probably around ten or eleven. I began to sense a little anger in her towards me and towards anything that was related to me. I just didn't know what was happening. I probably felt it for three or four months; and then, one day, Rach said\u2014I don't know if it was through a counseling session or they were just talking; I can't remember\u2014but she said, \u201cHey, she's grieving. She's grieving her dad, trying to figure out, \u2018Okay, now I have this dad,\u2019 and now grieving her real dad for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I'll never forget\u2014I was in Rhode Island\u2014and she [Campbell] called me after a counseling session, and just said, \u201cHey, I have some things to tell you.\u201d I said, \u201cOkay.\u201d She said, \u201cI realized I'm not going to probably call you Dad. I have a dad; and even though he's dead, I still think of him. I'm not sure how I can love him and love you.\u201d She just told me all these things that were, obviously, heartbreaking; but at the same point, I said, \u201cHey, whatever you need.\u201d At the end of it, I said, \u201cWhatever you need, Cam, that's fine. If you don't need to call me Dad, I love you; and I'm here for you; and it's okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>God had put me in a place: I honestly, Ron, was so excited that she got it out and told me.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Really?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: I was just so grateful. I got off that phone; and I, literally, was saying: \u201cThank You, God. Thank You, God. Thank You, God, that she is getting this out of her into me; so now, it's no longer a secret between her and me. It's out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: So here she is: afraid to say this, and unpacking, and getting it out there. There had to be a sliver of your heart that was sad,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Rod: For sure.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: \u2014just grieving over. But there was another part of your heart that was happy and joyful for her.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And then, say a little bit more about: \u201c\u2026glad it was out\u201d; because that what?\u2014took the pressure off the two of you?\u2014or what?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: I think\/well, probably\u2014it wasn't between the two of them anymore\u2014I feel like, more than anything, \u201cNow, she has told me; so this thing that's been between us, that's been unsaid, is no longer unsaid between us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: It's like a splinter; it's causing infection.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes; so now, she shared this. I was just so grateful. I remember exactly where I was, in the parking lot I was in, and just thanking God for that.<\/p>\n<p>Well, then five minutes later, I get a call; and she said, \u201cHey, I wasn't emotionally satisfied with your response.\u201d Again, 11-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Legit said: \u201c\u2026emotionally satisfied\u2026\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Rod: We just went back through it. I said, \u201cWell, you said you weren't going to call me Dad for a while.\u201d I was like, \u201cHey, I want to support you. I mean, I just want to be what you need. I'm okay with what you need to do as you grieve this and as you figure this out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At some point, she abruptly hung up the phone; and then, I tanked. I went from, in ten minutes, really praising God to tanked. I was tanked for 24 hours. I wasn't coming home for three more days, and so there was a big part of me that was kind of dreading coming home.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: What was it she didn't get from you that she needed?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes, that's a good question. I don't know; maybe, she needed me to fight for her a little bit more?<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes, I think she was mad that he wasn't mad that she was mad. You know what I mean?<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: I think it was like, \u201cWell, I want you to kind of fight back, and reject me, calling you \u2018Rod,\u2019\u201d almost. I\u2019m sure her estrogen was like out of control. I mean, she was very prepubescent; and I think that is a really\u2014knowing the times and seasons of your kids\u2014you know?<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Yes; guys, this is so important for our listener. I just want to add a little commentary. I don't know what was going on for Campbell in that moment; I can't even begin to jump inside that and explain that for her. But here's what I think I can say on behalf of many children; and that is, that her back and forth\u2014her hot and cold: her \u201cI need to not call you \u2018Dad,\u2019 but I need you to fight and want me to call you \u2018Dad,\u2019\u201d\u2014is so exemplary of the confusion that children feel about biological parents and stepparents.<\/p>\n<p>I've said this so many times in seminars: I've had kids sit in my counseling room and say, \u201cI like my stepdad; that's my problem.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Oh, wow!<\/p>\n<p>Ron: \u201cI don't know what to do with him. I don't know where to put him. If I love him too much, it feels like I'm moving my dad out of my heart; and I can't stand that idea. I feel guilty and sad about that\u201d; and so liking you is part of the problem. If they're drawn to you; and at the same time, they don't know what that means for the other caregivers in their world that they appreciate and value.<\/p>\n<p>You can be thoroughly confused, on the receiving end of that, as a stepparent, going, \u201cWhat in the world is going on? I don't understand this messaging.\u201d What you just need to know is: it is confusion trying to work itself out of the heart of a child, who's 11\u2014who's pretty sophisticated, emotionally satisfied\u2014but at the same time, very, very unsure of herself and really doesn't have a good perspective on all of that emotion.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: No; and I will tell you: I did a little interviewing of Campbell, just preparing for this. We sat at the dinner table; and I said, \u201cLet me just ask you some questions.\u201d And she said, \u201cI was afraid that you loved Dad more than me,\u201d meaning Rod. She said, \u201cI think that was the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: There you go!<\/p>\n<p>Rod: So yes, it was a moment\u2014or the time there\/that 36 hours\u2014it was like this beautiful thing happened; and then, now, I'm in the tank. That was my heart towards her; it was like: \u201cHey, I'm patient. I love you; I'll wait. I'll be here with you, grieving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: And pause\u2014this is five years into our marriage; she's been calling him \u201cDad\u201d for five years\u2014like: \u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes; she started calling me \u201cDad\u201d way before we got married.<\/p>\n<p>I was on the trip; I knew I wouldn't go home for three days, so I was getting really nervous about coming home. I think, within two days of getting home, I was taking her to school, or taking her somewhere, and we just started talking. She just kind of revisited that call, not in a negative way, but just sharing it. We talked about it; and then, talked again the next day\/another chance to talk.<\/p>\n<p>It just seemed like, all of a sudden, we started ramping up, just having the best relationship we've ever had over the next years.\u00a0But it was just really\u2014obviously, very important for her to process all that\u2014very important for her to grieve and really important for her to tell me those things. I'm glad she did, and I'm glad that it was short-lived. [Laughter] I'm glad that it was quickly back to calling me \u201cDad\u201d and all that.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: I want to point out some things you did right, buddy; okay? [Laughter] Way to go!<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: A) You didn't pull away from her; you moved toward her. You kind of got back into the routine, driving her to school\u2014the simple little rhythms of life\u2014and yet, emotionally available and connected and not afraid of her anger or rejection.<\/p>\n<p>I think that's mistake number one: \u201cYou don't love me; then, fine; I'm not giving you\u2026\u201d\u2014whatever. No; especially, adults have to manage their pain a lot better than that. And your just unknowing could have made you vulnerable to rejecting her, and it didn't. So way to go; that's the right move.<\/p>\n<p>I'm also imagining somebody's listening right now, going, \u201cYes; so Ron, what do I do? My kid's confused, and they're saying, \u2018I don't want you to be my dad anymore.\u2019 How do I respond to that?\u201d I don't think there's a way to cut the baby in half, and satisfy everybody and have this magical moment, where you do exactly the right thing.<\/p>\n<p>I think what's most important is that you can try to talk to both little parts of their heart, something like: \u201cYou know what? If I were you, I get it. I can see how calling me \u2018Dad\u2019 just feels weird. And if you need a break from that, that's okay.\u201d You give permission to that child needing to use a different term, which you did, by the way.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And then, you try to talk to the other half of their heart, and say, \u201cBut I want you to know that I love you like crazy, and this doesn't affect our relationship. You're my daughter and in my life, and I am going to continue to be family with you. Nothing's changed as far as I'm concerned. I'm still just as crazy about you as I was before\u2014and will be\u2014no matter what you call me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You're sort of talking to both sides of their confusion, if that makes any sense.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Sure; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And you're giving permission to what they need to do; and at the same time, you're pursuing and saying\/affirming their worth and value to you.<\/p>\n<p>Now, at the end of the day, I'm not saying\u2014please don't anybody write me and say, \u201cRon, I didn't satisfy my 11-year-old,\u201d\u2014I'm not saying it's going to make an 11-year-old okay. I'm just saying it's messaging that, eventually, I think they can hold onto and find their way through with. No, it doesn't fix; but it does represent your heart and moves you toward them.<\/p>\n<p>[Studio]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You\u2019re listening to FamilyLife Today. We\u2019re listening to a portion of the FamilyLife Blended podcast with Ron Deal and his guests, Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Here\u2019s what we believe at FamilyLife and FamilyLife Blended: We believe that stepfamilies can be healthy, strong. That\u2019s why our blended family ministry exists, because we believe that.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And if your church would like to make a difference, too, join us at the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry October 10 and 11 in Dallas. You can find the link to sign up in the show notes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And let\u2019s get back to the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>[Previous FamilyLife Blended Podcast]<\/p>\n<p>Ron: I'm curious: let's talk about Campbell's sibling, Davis, older brother. Has he had some similar kind of back-and-forth stuff, or has it been different?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: No.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: [Laughter] No, it is crazy. Davis is really fascinating. Rod is his dad\u2014it's very odd\u2014how he said, \u201cIt throws me off when people call Rod my stepdad.\u201d He was like, \u201cHe is not my stepdad.\u201d It almost makes him angry that people refer to him that way, so it's really interesting.\u00a0You were Dad pretty much from the beginning [for both children]\u2014but you were Dad in his heart and in his mind\u2014where Campbell, kind of in her mind, you were Dad; but in her heart, she was still\u2026<\/p>\n<p>It's real interesting; because you would think Davis would have maybe struggled more with [being] a male\u2014you know that male-to-male\u2014like, \u201cI miss my dad.\u201d But anyway, it's been: Davis is such an anomaly, I guess.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: He was actually angry at Campbell during that time when she was kind of rejecting me. I had to talk to him through that: \u201cHey, buddy, you grieved back here\u2026she never did, so this is her time of grieving.\u201d Because he'd be like, \u201cYou\u2019re the best thing that's ever happened to us!\u201d\u2014you know, all this stuff. [Laughter] I'd be like, \u201cHey, buddy, just relax. It's okay; she just needs to go through this. It's okay.\u201d And then, \u201cShe's going to work through it. You grieved a lot; she never got to do that, and so here's her grieving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: So the reason I brought this up is because I sort of suspected that it might be like that. There's something about stepsons and stepdads, that bondedness can really fill a gap for a young boy. But you can't narrow it down to gender. It's just within a sibling group\u2014you could have one child who\u2019s on this journey, and another child's on a different journey\u2014sometimes, they're walking side by side; sometimes, they've parted ways, and there's conflict between them because of that, just like that happened there with Davis.<\/p>\n<p>Each child is an individual, right? And they're going to be on their own path. You just can't make any assumptions about where any particular child is going to be. We always teach: \u201cGo with that child\/pace with each child.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So Campbell says, \u201cI need to pull back\u201d; \u201cOkay, that's what we'll do. I'm still loving you; I'm still here, but you can use a different term for me right now.\u201d But Davis is like: \u201cNope; 100 miles an hour forward; we're not slowing down.\u201d Okay, pace with that child and go with that. It can be confusing, as a stepparent, because some days you don't know whether you're coming or going, depending on who's in the room; but that is the journey.<\/p>\n<p>You guys may or may not know we lost our middle son, Connor, when he was 12. As we have journeyed now, for almost 15 years without Connor, we've watched our other two boys. They each have their path: they each have their way, their style, their personality, their expression of their sadness and grief. And there have been plenty of moments, where I had an anxiety about how they were doing it. You have to go: \u201cWait a minute: is this my need?\u201d or \u201c\u2026their need?\u201d or \u201cHow do I meet them where they are?\u201d And sometimes, I do want to offer a little perspective and guidance; but at the same time, it's got to be their journey, not mine.<\/p>\n<p>It's all hard; you feel like you're shooting at a target that's moving, and you're just unsure. So lots of prayer\u2014lots of prayer\u2014talking to other people, getting community around you with folks that maybe have a little more experience with it than you do, and just trying to find your way.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes; and I don't create opportunities for my kids to feel sad. [Laughter] I see that happen a lot with widows, though; they want to manufacture things to help their kids grieve. I'm like, \u201cThey are going to grieve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Just provide the space when they are; right?\u2014and not trying to talk them out of the grief when they're grieving\u2014\u201cOh, but your life is so good,\u201d \u201cYour life is so good now,\u201d\u2014or whatever. I think it's just getting in the well with them; and being that\/you know, grieving with them as best we can.\u00a0Unfortunately, I don't know how much role I can play in that, over the years, except for just be okay when they are. I think just create space for them.<\/p>\n<p>[Studio]<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We\u2019ve been listening to a portion of the FamilyLife Blended podcast with Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown. Ron Deal, the host of that podcast, now joins us in the studio. Ron, welcome back.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: It\u2019s always good to be with you guys; thanks for having me.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Hey, Ron, one of the things you mentioned earlier in the podcast was talking to parts of a child\u2019s heart. I know I need to understand that, so help us understand: \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Yes; well, kids and adults\u2014you and me both, Dave\u2014need to understand this. This is just some language that, sometimes, helps parents and couples to be honest and individuals to sort of understand the parts of themselves when they\u2019re experiencing something.<\/p>\n<p>We were talking about helping kids understand the part of them that is grieving over the loss of their dad, and there\u2019s another part of them that is excited to have Rod as their stepdad. Well, sometimes, those two parts get into a fight in our heart\u2014we call that a loyalty conflict\u2014where we\u2019re not sure if we can move toward the stepparent, in this case, without feeling guilty over missing the biological parent.<\/p>\n<p>The same thing happens with us, as adults. There\u2019s a part of me that\u2019s really stressed about work; there\u2019s a part of me that\u2019s all frustrated or wrapped up with a relationship in my extended family; or there\u2019s another part of me that\u2019s happy and feeling optimistic about life. Sometimes, those things just get into conflict with one another. If you articulate it in a way\u2014\u201cThis part of me feels this\u201d; \u201cThat part of me feels that\u201d; \u201cThis part of me is experiencing this,\u201d\u2014all of a sudden, it sort of helps break it down in a way where you can look at it a little more objectively.<\/p>\n<p>Children, in particular, just sort of feel like: \u201cI just have one big place in my heart. I am feeling this one big emotion, and it\u2019s sort of messing with everything else.\u201d Well, when you can break it into parts, it makes it a little more manageable; and it helps them to see: \u201cWell, wait a minute; I can still be loyal to my father, who is deceased; and now, love this new person in my life.\u201d And that\u2019s really not a conflict; it makes space for new possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That\u2019s helpful for everybody.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; I was going to say, \u201cThat\u2019s marriage advice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes, it is.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Exactly\u2014and here\u2019s the marriage application\u2014a lot of conflicts couples have are about a parenting situation, right?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Well, sometimes, I need\u2014I know in Nan\u2019s and my relationship\u2014I\u2019ll say, \u201cWell, my dad heart is feeling this: I really want to come alongside our child and help them. But my husband heart feels like that puts you in the middle, as my wife; and you\u2019re feeling something different about this. I realize the dad part of me and the husband part of me are sort of in conflict and sort of making conflict for you, as it relates to our child.\u201d Just talking through it that way helps me understand what\u2019s going on with me, but it certainly makes it easier for my wife to understand what\u2019s going on with me.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; one of the things you guys talked about was how different the reactions were of the children to their new stepdad.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Is that common, Ron, for their reactions to be totally different?<\/p>\n<p>Ron: It is. If you just want to think about how hard it can be to be a stepparent, just ponder for a minute: you have four stepchildren, for example:<\/p>\n<p>One of them is so excited you\u2019re in their world, and they are moving toward you in every way imaginable.<\/p>\n<p>Child number two is sort of like: \u201cYes, I can take it or leave it. You\u2019re nice to have around, and your money\u2019s good; and you do wash my underwear, and I appreciate that. But no, I\u2019m not going to be kind to you; because I don\u2019t really know what to do with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And then child number three has a very different response, even from the other two.<\/p>\n<p>And child number four is like: \u201cNo, I\u2019m 22; and I\u2019m moving on with life. I don\u2019t need you at all in my world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Think about how confusing that could be for that stepparent: \u201cI am a totally different person to each one of those individual children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not necessarily common that, in a sibling group, they\u2019re all going to have very different reactions; but it is common that there is some variation between kids. One of the things, because of that, we teach stepparents\u2014and the biological parent, who is also involved in this\u2014is:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeing patient with yourself, not expecting too much out of you. If one thing is going really well with one child, okay, rest in that: enjoy it; feel good about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And this child over here, it\u2019s a challenge\u2014it\u2019s not going so great\u2014\"Okay, keep pressing, but don\u2019t work too hard at it. Meet them where they are. \u2018Pace\u2019 with the child is the word we would use, and just recognize that they have a different level of openness to you. You have to meet them where they are and try to grow from there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Ron, it\u2019s always great to be with you. Having you on with us today; this has been really helpful.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: I\u2019m Shelby Abbott; and you\u2019ve been listening to Dave and Ann Wilson, with Ron Deal and Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown, on FamilyLife Today. As Ron Deal mentioned, the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry is coming up October 10 through 11 in Plano, Texas. You can learn more and get all the details by heading over to FamilyLifeToday.com.<\/p>\n<p>We believe in reaching blended families, obviously; we\u2019ve been talking about that today. If you want to make your mark by helping us reach blended families, or any families for that matter, you can partner with us by making your contribution to the ministry of FamilyLife, linking arms with us and helping us to make every home a godly home. If you want to make your donation, you can head over to FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can check out the show notes. Or feel free to give us a call, with your donation, at 800-358-6329; again, that number is 800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, coming up next week, Allen Parr is going to be joining Dave and Ann Wilson to talk about seven lies that distort the gospel. Learn about those from this famous YouTuber and his mission against false teachings. That\u2019s next week; we hope you\u2019ll join us. On behalf of Dave and Ann Wilson, I\u2019m Shelby Abbott. We will see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLife Today is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife, a Cru\u00ae Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.<\/p>\n<p>We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?<\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2024 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n"],"transcript_url":["https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2024-08-09.pdf"],"_edit_lock":["1749588955:47000"],"_edit_last":["47000"],"theme_header_position":["Sticky"],"post_header_is_sticky":["default"],"is_header_overlay":["0"],"episode_type":["audio"],"date_recorded":["2024-08-09 08:00:00"],"enclosure":["https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/bbc8f658-14a6-40d8-8d1e-b1b50147d5f1\/audio.mp3"],"_seopress_redirections_type":["301"],"_seopress_redirections_logged_status":["both"],"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":[""],"_g_feedback_shortcode_0cb533d0a5cb9c8879a2ef34272d844999225ab9":["\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Name\" type=\"name\"  required=\"true\" \/]\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Email\" type=\"email\" required=\"true\" \/]\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Website\" type=\"url\" \/]\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Message\" type=\"textarea\" \/]"],"_g_feedback_shortcode_atts_0cb533d0a5cb9c8879a2ef34272d844999225ab9":["a:17:{s:2:\"to\";s:29:\"margaret.coyle@familylife.com\";s:7:\"subject\";s:109:\"[FamilyLife - A Cru Ministry] Remarried? Here's What Your Kids Need: Ron Deal and Rod & Rachel Faulkner Brown\";s:12:\"show_subject\";s:2:\"no\";s:6:\"widget\";i:0;s:14:\"block_template\";N;s:19:\"block_template_part\";N;s:2:\"id\";i:285638;s:18:\"submit_button_text\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:14:\"customThankyou\";s:0:\"\";s:21:\"customThankyouHeading\";s:26:\"Your message has been sent\";s:21:\"customThankyouMessage\";s:30:\"Thank you for your submission!\";s:22:\"customThankyouRedirect\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"jetpackCRM\";b:1;s:9:\"className\";N;s:9:\"postToUrl\";N;s:14:\"salesforceData\";N;s:12:\"hiddenFields\";N;}"],"_uag_css_file_name":["uag-css-285638.css"],"_uag_js_file_name":["uag-js-285638.js"],"_uag_page_assets":["a:9:{s:3:\"css\";s:82560:\".wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-e11dbe9f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-e11dbe9f > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 3em;padding-bottom: 3em;padding-left: 1.5em;padding-right: 1.5em;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #f8f8f8;;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-e11dbe9f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-e11dbe9f > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f{padding-top: 3px;padding-bottom: 3px;padding-left: 1.5px;padding-right: 1.5px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #f8f8f8;;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-e11dbe9f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-e11dbe9f > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f{padding-top: 3px;padding-bottom: 3px;padding-left: 1.5px;padding-right: 1.5px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #f8f8f8;;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-85559158{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-85559158 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 960px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 10px;padding-right: 10px;margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ea16301a{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ea16301a > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.uagb-layout-grid > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{row-gap: 40px;column-gap: 40px;grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr)  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: start;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-26ccc5c9{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9{min-height: 710px;box-shadow: 3px 7px 7px -1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15) ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;align-self: start;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;background: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/07\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.jpg) 50% 50%;;background-size: cover;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-84f50fa3{max-width: 100vw;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-84f50fa3 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3{min-height: 250px;box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: 50% 50%;background-size: cover;background-attachment: scroll;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-271bf38d{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-271bf38d > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ab8d0982{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ab8d0982 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.uagb-layout-grid{row-gap: 8px;column-gap: 8px;grid-template-columns: auto  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3 .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 300;font-size: 16px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: left;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-f9d54988 .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 4px;padding-bottom: 4px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;border-top-width: 3px;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #006a5a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36 .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 400;font-size: 26px;line-height: 1.2em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;color: #1573a2;fill: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-radius: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__label{font-size: 20px;text-decoration: !important;line-height: em;color: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__label{text-align: left;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{text-decoration: !important;font-size: 20px;line-height: em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{margin-left: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child {flex-direction: row-reverse;}.uagb-block-fdd052c2.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-fdd052c2.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-679dc0da.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-679dc0da.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-fbb8dca6.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-fbb8dca6.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-b5e9a44d.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-b5e9a44d.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-10525170.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-10525170.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-48a597f8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-48a597f8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8{min-height: 710px;box-shadow: 3px 7px 7px -1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15) ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;align-self: start;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;background: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/07\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.jpg) 50% 50%;;background-size: cover;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-22a41c70{max-width: 100vw;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-22a41c70 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70{min-height: 250px;box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: 50% 50%;background-size: cover;background-attachment: scroll;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/HelpFamiliesGrow2.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-562935bf{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-562935bf > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5a1442f2{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5a1442f2 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.uagb-layout-grid{row-gap: 8px;column-gap: 8px;grid-template-columns: auto  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 300;font-size: 16px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: left;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 4px;padding-bottom: 4px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;border-top-width: 3px;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #006a5a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3 .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 400;font-size: 26px;line-height: 1.2em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;color: #1573a2;fill: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-radius: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__label{font-size: 20px;text-decoration: !important;line-height: em;color: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__label{text-align: left;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{text-decoration: !important;font-size: 20px;line-height: em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{margin-left: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child {flex-direction: row-reverse;}.uagb-block-83befcbf.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-83befcbf.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-75d2f158.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-75d2f158.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-0d14af90.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-0d14af90.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-4dd6f9d3.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-4dd6f9d3.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-28c58e21.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-28c58e21.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-85559158{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-85559158 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 10px;padding-right: 10px;margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ea16301a{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ea16301a > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.uagb-layout-grid > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr)  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-26ccc5c9{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-84f50fa3{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-84f50fa3 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-position: 54% 48%;background-size: cover;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.webp);background-clip: padding-box;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-271bf38d{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-271bf38d > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ab8d0982{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ab8d0982 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3 .uagb-heading-text{font-size: 12px;letter-spacing: 1px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-f9d54988 .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap {padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-48a597f8{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-48a597f8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-22a41c70{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-22a41c70 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-position: 54% 48%;background-size: cover;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/HelpFamiliesGrow2.webp);background-clip: padding-box;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-562935bf{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-562935bf > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5a1442f2{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5a1442f2 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f .uagb-heading-text{font-size: 12px;letter-spacing: 1px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap {padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-85559158{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-85559158 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 10px;padding-right: 10px;margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ea16301a{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ea16301a > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.uagb-layout-grid > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-26ccc5c9{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-wrap: wrap;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-84f50fa3{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-84f50fa3 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-271bf38d{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-271bf38d > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ab8d0982{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ab8d0982 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading {padding-left: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3 .uagb-heading-text{letter-spacing: 4px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-f9d54988 .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-48a597f8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-48a597f8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-wrap: wrap;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-22a41c70{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-22a41c70 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/HelpFamiliesGrow2.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-562935bf{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-562935bf > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5a1442f2{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5a1442f2 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading {padding-left: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f .uagb-heading-text{letter-spacing: 4px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ecebc267{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background: linear-gradient(130deg, #ffffff 60%, #f8f8f8 46%);;background-clip: padding-box;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ecebc267{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background: linear-gradient(130deg, #ffffff 60%, #f8f8f8 46%);;background-clip: padding-box;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ecebc267{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background: linear-gradient(130deg, #ffffff 60%, #f8f8f8 46%);;background-clip: padding-box;flex-wrap: wrap;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: row;align-items: flex-start;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 32px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 80px;padding-bottom: 80px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;row-gap: 32px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{padding-top: 80px;padding-bottom: 80px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{padding-top: 80px;padding-bottom: 80px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662.wp-block-uagb-container{color: #ffffff;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662.wp-block-uagb-container *{color: #ffffff;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-f064f662{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-f064f662 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 20px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 20px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #25282a;;row-gap: 20px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: row;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 20px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: row;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 20px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default figure img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure figcaption{font-style: normal;align-self: center;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay figure img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__color-wrapper{opacity: 0.2;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner{left: 15px;right: 15px;top: 15px;bottom: 15px;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-heading{font-style: normal;color: #fff;opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-heading a{color: #fff;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-caption{opacity: 0;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image__figure:hover .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__color-wrapper{opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-separator{width: 30%;border-top-width: 2px;border-top-color: #fff;opacity: 0;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure img{width: 292px;height: 48px;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure:hover .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-caption{opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure:hover .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-separator{opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default figure:hover img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay figure:hover img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-f064f662{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-f064f662 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 20px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #25282a;;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure img{width: 280px;height: 45px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-f064f662{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-f064f662 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 20px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #25282a;;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure img{width: 280px;height: 45px;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #006c5b;;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #006c5b;;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5096eaa1{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5096eaa1 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-89b3b7a8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 2em;padding-bottom: 2em;padding-left: 2em;padding-right: 2em;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-top-left-radius: 30px;border-top-right-radius: 30px;border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;border-bottom-right-radius: 30px;border-color: inherit;background-color: #ebebeb;;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.uagb-block-232092dc.wp-block-uagb-buttons.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {gap: 10px;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {justify-content: left;align-items: center;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-uagb-buttons-child .uagb-buttons-repeater{background: #f3bd48;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link{background: #f3bd48;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link:hover{background: #f4deaa;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link:focus{background: #f4deaa;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__wrapper .uagb-buttons-repeater{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link.has-text-color:hover .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link.has-text-color:focus .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__wrapper  .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000026;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__wrapper  .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link:hover{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000026;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{border-color: #333;border-style: none;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link:hover{border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link:focus{border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater{border-color: #333;border-style: none;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater:hover{border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:hover .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:focus .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__icon > svg{width: 15px;height: 15px;fill: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:hover .uagb-button__icon > svg{fill: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:focus .uagb-button__icon > svg{fill: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__icon-position-after{margin-left: 8px;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__icon-position-before{margin-right: 8px;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__link{text-transform: normal;text-decoration: none;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5096eaa1{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5096eaa1 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-89b3b7a8{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8{padding-top: 2px;padding-bottom: 2px;padding-left: 2px;padding-right: 2px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ebebeb;;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {justify-content: center;align-items: center;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap .wp-block-button{width: auto;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5096eaa1{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5096eaa1 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-89b3b7a8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8{padding-top: 2px;padding-bottom: 2px;padding-left: 2px;padding-right: 2px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ebebeb;;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {justify-content: center;align-items: center;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap .wp-block-button{width: auto;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}}\";s:2:\"js\";s:161:\"document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(){ window.addEventListener( 'load', function() {\n\tUAGBButtonChild.init( '.uagb-block-00708611' );\n});\n });\";s:18:\"current_block_list\";a:17:{i:0;s:14:\"uagb\/container\";i:1;s:12:\"core\/heading\";i:2;s:9:\"core\/html\";i:3;s:10:\"core\/group\";i:6;s:21:\"uagb\/advanced-heading\";i:7;s:14:\"uagb\/separator\";i:8;s:14:\"uagb\/icon-list\";i:9;s:20:\"uagb\/icon-list-child\";i:10;s:11:\"core\/search\";i:13;s:18:\"core\/legacy-widget\";i:16;s:10:\"uagb\/image\";i:17;s:17:\"core\/social-links\";i:18;s:16:\"core\/social-link\";i:19;s:14:\"core\/paragraph\";i:20;s:30:\"meta-box\/fl-conditional-blocks\";i:21;s:12:\"uagb\/buttons\";i:22;s:18:\"uagb\/buttons-child\";}s:8:\"uag_flag\";b:1;s:11:\"uag_version\";i:1776492196;s:6:\"gfonts\";a:1:{s:7:\"Default\";a:2:{s:10:\"fontfamily\";s:7:\"Default\";s:12:\"fontvariants\";a:0:{}}}s:10:\"gfonts_url\";s:71:\"\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css?family=Default&subset=latin&display=fallback\";s:12:\"gfonts_files\";a:0:{}s:14:\"uag_faq_layout\";b:0;}"]},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/06\/image-scaled.jpg",1024,1024,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Margaret","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/margaret-coylefamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"What's it like for a child when their parent remarries? Explore the unique losses of kids in blended families with Ron Deal and Rod & Rachel Faulkner Brown.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"<ul>\n<li>Help make YOUR mark: Your donation supports crucial resources for families and includes a special FamilyLife Pen and Brant Hansen's book, \"\"Unoffendable\"\"\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/donate.familylife.com\/august-2024\/urgent-need\/?cru_source=FLTD24&amp;cru_medium=Icare&amp;cru_campaign=August2024\">join us today!<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Connect with Rachel and catch more of their ideas at <a href=\"https:\/\/rachelfaulknerbrown.net\/\">rachelfaulknerbrown.com<\/a> and find her on Insta at <a href=\"http:\/\/instagram.com\/rachelfaulknerbrown\">@rachelfaulknerbrown<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-blended-podcast\/133-remarrying-after-loss\/\">Listen to the full episode here<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Discover <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product\/the-smart-stepfamily\/\">more resources<\/a> and listen to more on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-blended-podcast\/\">FamilyLife Blended podcast<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>And think deeper about ministering to blended families at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitonstepfamilies.com\/\">Blended Summit<\/a> -- coming up in October.<\/li>\n<li>Find resources from this podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/radio-resources\/\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/past-radio-resources\/\">See resources from our past podcasts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find more content and resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/\">FamilyLife Podcast Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2024-08-09.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>FamilyLife Today\u00ae National Radio Version (time edited) Transcript<\/p>\n<p>References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>Remarried? Here\u2019s What Your Kids Need<\/p>\n<p>Guests:Ron Deal, Rod Brown and Rachel Faulkner Brown<\/p>\n<p>From the series:Remarriage after Loss (Day 2 of 2)<\/p>\n<p>Air date:August 9, 2024<\/p>\n<p>Ron: You can try to talk to both little parts of their heart, something like: \u201cYou know what? If I were you, I get it. I can see how calling me \u2018Dad\u2019 just feels weird. And if you need a break from that, that's okay.\u201d You give permission to that child needing to use a different term.\u00a0And then, you try to talk to the other half of their heart, and say, \u201cBut I want you to know that I love you like crazy, and this doesn\u2019t affect our relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: Welcome to FamilyLife Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I\u2019m Shelby Abbott, and your hosts are Dave and Ann Wilson. You can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: This is FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Okay, Dave, did you know this?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I probably didn\u2019t. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Ann: The blended family ministry at FamilyLife\u00ae teaches that no one in a stepfamily has had more loss than the children.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Oh, that has to be true. And I know Ron Deal says the problem is that, often, the adults\u2014the parents and the stepparent\u2014are unaware of what the kids are going through. I know my dad and my stepmom had no idea what I was going through, so they miss the chance to help the kids with their grief.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And I get it, too; because the parents are going through a lot of trauma, anyway.<\/p>\n<p>And you know who else doesn\u2019t get this is church leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Oh, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And that\u2019s one of the reasons we put on the premiere blended family ministry conference for church leaders: the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry is our annual event for church leaders and lay couples.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: October 10 and 11, 2024; it\u2019s going to be in Dallas this year. We\u2019d love for you\/someone in your church to come. You can check the show notes or go to SummitOnStepfamily.com to learn more about it.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Okay, yesterday,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014yes, it was awesome.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014we started listening to this great conversation between Ron and Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown that was released on our FamilyLife Blended\u00ae podcast earlier this year. So far, we\u2019ve heard about Rachel\u2019s loss before they got married; but in today\u2019s episode, we\u2019re going to get to look into the lives of their kids. So let\u2019s pick up that conversation at that point.<\/p>\n<p>[Previous FamilyLife Blended Podcast]<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Now, they were really young,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: \u2014but that doesn't mean they're not grieving; one.<\/p>\n<p>Number two: The way children grieve is over time: when they're ten, and when they're sixteen, and when they're\u2026new layers of life and new things pop up in their mind. They have to think back about how life was or would have been.<\/p>\n<p>I'm just curious\u2014as you guys have looked over the last ten years\u2014\u201cWhat have you seen in the children that you would just say, \u2018Yes, that was grieving,\u2019 \u2018\u2026that was transition,\u2019 \u2018\u2026that was adjustment\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rod: With Davis, I think we saw it, early on. I traveled our whole marriage, and they both were so excited to have a father. I would get emotional even thinking about what Davis was saying as we're up there, getting married.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And he\u2019s like four or five?<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Seven.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Seven at the time; and he\u2019s like: \u201cThank you, Mr. Rod,\u201d \u201cThank you, Mr. Rod,\u201d as we're praying and doing our vows. It\u2019s overwhelming, thinking about that, much less being there. Being there, it was really overwhelming, in a beautiful way, in a beautiful way.<\/p>\n<p>But it seemed like, when I would leave town, he would miss his dad. We started realizing it was only happening when I would leave. We were thinking, \u201cMaybe, that is him, kind of in this in between space, grieving his dad and, somehow, me in there\u201d; because he grieved a ton, growing up, from what Rachel's told me, a lot.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Well, when we moved\u2014you know, moves are like setups by God to upset your routine, upset your utopia\u2014and that happened when we moved to Huntsville from Columbus. We left the house that Blair and I owned. Davis was four; and so he really grieved moving, leaving his friends. He went through this initial grief\u2014had not really grieved before that\u2014but that move; and then, of course, marrying Rod, which was a good bit later.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: And then, never saw Campbell really grieve or talk about any of that until she was probably around ten or eleven. I began to sense a little anger in her towards me and towards anything that was related to me. I just didn't know what was happening. I probably felt it for three or four months; and then, one day, Rach said\u2014I don't know if it was through a counseling session or they were just talking; I can't remember\u2014but she said, \u201cHey, she's grieving. She's grieving her dad, trying to figure out, \u2018Okay, now I have this dad,\u2019 and now grieving her real dad for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I'll never forget\u2014I was in Rhode Island\u2014and she [Campbell] called me after a counseling session, and just said, \u201cHey, I have some things to tell you.\u201d I said, \u201cOkay.\u201d She said, \u201cI realized I'm not going to probably call you Dad. I have a dad; and even though he's dead, I still think of him. I'm not sure how I can love him and love you.\u201d She just told me all these things that were, obviously, heartbreaking; but at the same point, I said, \u201cHey, whatever you need.\u201d At the end of it, I said, \u201cWhatever you need, Cam, that's fine. If you don't need to call me Dad, I love you; and I'm here for you; and it's okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>God had put me in a place: I honestly, Ron, was so excited that she got it out and told me.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Really?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: I was just so grateful. I got off that phone; and I, literally, was saying: \u201cThank You, God. Thank You, God. Thank You, God, that she is getting this out of her into me; so now, it's no longer a secret between her and me. It's out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: So here she is: afraid to say this, and unpacking, and getting it out there. There had to be a sliver of your heart that was sad,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Rod: For sure.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: \u2014just grieving over. But there was another part of your heart that was happy and joyful for her.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And then, say a little bit more about: \u201c\u2026glad it was out\u201d; because that what?\u2014took the pressure off the two of you?\u2014or what?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: I think\/well, probably\u2014it wasn't between the two of them anymore\u2014I feel like, more than anything, \u201cNow, she has told me; so this thing that's been between us, that's been unsaid, is no longer unsaid between us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: It's like a splinter; it's causing infection.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes; so now, she shared this. I was just so grateful. I remember exactly where I was, in the parking lot I was in, and just thanking God for that.<\/p>\n<p>Well, then five minutes later, I get a call; and she said, \u201cHey, I wasn't emotionally satisfied with your response.\u201d Again, 11-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Legit said: \u201c\u2026emotionally satisfied\u2026\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Rod: We just went back through it. I said, \u201cWell, you said you weren't going to call me Dad for a while.\u201d I was like, \u201cHey, I want to support you. I mean, I just want to be what you need. I'm okay with what you need to do as you grieve this and as you figure this out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At some point, she abruptly hung up the phone; and then, I tanked. I went from, in ten minutes, really praising God to tanked. I was tanked for 24 hours. I wasn't coming home for three more days, and so there was a big part of me that was kind of dreading coming home.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: What was it she didn't get from you that she needed?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes, that's a good question. I don't know; maybe, she needed me to fight for her a little bit more?<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes, I think she was mad that he wasn't mad that she was mad. You know what I mean?<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: I think it was like, \u201cWell, I want you to kind of fight back, and reject me, calling you \u2018Rod,\u2019\u201d almost. I\u2019m sure her estrogen was like out of control. I mean, she was very prepubescent; and I think that is a really\u2014knowing the times and seasons of your kids\u2014you know?<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Yes; guys, this is so important for our listener. I just want to add a little commentary. I don't know what was going on for Campbell in that moment; I can't even begin to jump inside that and explain that for her. But here's what I think I can say on behalf of many children; and that is, that her back and forth\u2014her hot and cold: her \u201cI need to not call you \u2018Dad,\u2019 but I need you to fight and want me to call you \u2018Dad,\u2019\u201d\u2014is so exemplary of the confusion that children feel about biological parents and stepparents.<\/p>\n<p>I've said this so many times in seminars: I've had kids sit in my counseling room and say, \u201cI like my stepdad; that's my problem.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Oh, wow!<\/p>\n<p>Ron: \u201cI don't know what to do with him. I don't know where to put him. If I love him too much, it feels like I'm moving my dad out of my heart; and I can't stand that idea. I feel guilty and sad about that\u201d; and so liking you is part of the problem. If they're drawn to you; and at the same time, they don't know what that means for the other caregivers in their world that they appreciate and value.<\/p>\n<p>You can be thoroughly confused, on the receiving end of that, as a stepparent, going, \u201cWhat in the world is going on? I don't understand this messaging.\u201d What you just need to know is: it is confusion trying to work itself out of the heart of a child, who's 11\u2014who's pretty sophisticated, emotionally satisfied\u2014but at the same time, very, very unsure of herself and really doesn't have a good perspective on all of that emotion.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: No; and I will tell you: I did a little interviewing of Campbell, just preparing for this. We sat at the dinner table; and I said, \u201cLet me just ask you some questions.\u201d And she said, \u201cI was afraid that you loved Dad more than me,\u201d meaning Rod. She said, \u201cI think that was the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: There you go!<\/p>\n<p>Rod: So yes, it was a moment\u2014or the time there\/that 36 hours\u2014it was like this beautiful thing happened; and then, now, I'm in the tank. That was my heart towards her; it was like: \u201cHey, I'm patient. I love you; I'll wait. I'll be here with you, grieving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: And pause\u2014this is five years into our marriage; she's been calling him \u201cDad\u201d for five years\u2014like: \u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Yes; she started calling me \u201cDad\u201d way before we got married.<\/p>\n<p>I was on the trip; I knew I wouldn't go home for three days, so I was getting really nervous about coming home. I think, within two days of getting home, I was taking her to school, or taking her somewhere, and we just started talking. She just kind of revisited that call, not in a negative way, but just sharing it. We talked about it; and then, talked again the next day\/another chance to talk.<\/p>\n<p>It just seemed like, all of a sudden, we started ramping up, just having the best relationship we've ever had over the next years.\u00a0But it was just really\u2014obviously, very important for her to process all that\u2014very important for her to grieve and really important for her to tell me those things. I'm glad she did, and I'm glad that it was short-lived. [Laughter] I'm glad that it was quickly back to calling me \u201cDad\u201d and all that.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: I want to point out some things you did right, buddy; okay? [Laughter] Way to go!<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: A) You didn't pull away from her; you moved toward her. You kind of got back into the routine, driving her to school\u2014the simple little rhythms of life\u2014and yet, emotionally available and connected and not afraid of her anger or rejection.<\/p>\n<p>I think that's mistake number one: \u201cYou don't love me; then, fine; I'm not giving you\u2026\u201d\u2014whatever. No; especially, adults have to manage their pain a lot better than that. And your just unknowing could have made you vulnerable to rejecting her, and it didn't. So way to go; that's the right move.<\/p>\n<p>I'm also imagining somebody's listening right now, going, \u201cYes; so Ron, what do I do? My kid's confused, and they're saying, \u2018I don't want you to be my dad anymore.\u2019 How do I respond to that?\u201d I don't think there's a way to cut the baby in half, and satisfy everybody and have this magical moment, where you do exactly the right thing.<\/p>\n<p>I think what's most important is that you can try to talk to both little parts of their heart, something like: \u201cYou know what? If I were you, I get it. I can see how calling me \u2018Dad\u2019 just feels weird. And if you need a break from that, that's okay.\u201d You give permission to that child needing to use a different term, which you did, by the way.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And then, you try to talk to the other half of their heart, and say, \u201cBut I want you to know that I love you like crazy, and this doesn't affect our relationship. You're my daughter and in my life, and I am going to continue to be family with you. Nothing's changed as far as I'm concerned. I'm still just as crazy about you as I was before\u2014and will be\u2014no matter what you call me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You're sort of talking to both sides of their confusion, if that makes any sense.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Sure; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: And you're giving permission to what they need to do; and at the same time, you're pursuing and saying\/affirming their worth and value to you.<\/p>\n<p>Now, at the end of the day, I'm not saying\u2014please don't anybody write me and say, \u201cRon, I didn't satisfy my 11-year-old,\u201d\u2014I'm not saying it's going to make an 11-year-old okay. I'm just saying it's messaging that, eventually, I think they can hold onto and find their way through with. No, it doesn't fix; but it does represent your heart and moves you toward them.<\/p>\n<p>[Studio]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You\u2019re listening to FamilyLife Today. We\u2019re listening to a portion of the FamilyLife Blended podcast with Ron Deal and his guests, Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Here\u2019s what we believe at FamilyLife and FamilyLife Blended: We believe that stepfamilies can be healthy, strong. That\u2019s why our blended family ministry exists, because we believe that.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And if your church would like to make a difference, too, join us at the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry October 10 and 11 in Dallas. You can find the link to sign up in the show notes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And let\u2019s get back to the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>[Previous FamilyLife Blended Podcast]<\/p>\n<p>Ron: I'm curious: let's talk about Campbell's sibling, Davis, older brother. Has he had some similar kind of back-and-forth stuff, or has it been different?<\/p>\n<p>Rod: No.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: [Laughter] No, it is crazy. Davis is really fascinating. Rod is his dad\u2014it's very odd\u2014how he said, \u201cIt throws me off when people call Rod my stepdad.\u201d He was like, \u201cHe is not my stepdad.\u201d It almost makes him angry that people refer to him that way, so it's really interesting.\u00a0You were Dad pretty much from the beginning [for both children]\u2014but you were Dad in his heart and in his mind\u2014where Campbell, kind of in her mind, you were Dad; but in her heart, she was still\u2026<\/p>\n<p>It's real interesting; because you would think Davis would have maybe struggled more with [being] a male\u2014you know that male-to-male\u2014like, \u201cI miss my dad.\u201d But anyway, it's been: Davis is such an anomaly, I guess.<\/p>\n<p>Rod: He was actually angry at Campbell during that time when she was kind of rejecting me. I had to talk to him through that: \u201cHey, buddy, you grieved back here\u2026she never did, so this is her time of grieving.\u201d Because he'd be like, \u201cYou\u2019re the best thing that's ever happened to us!\u201d\u2014you know, all this stuff. [Laughter] I'd be like, \u201cHey, buddy, just relax. It's okay; she just needs to go through this. It's okay.\u201d And then, \u201cShe's going to work through it. You grieved a lot; she never got to do that, and so here's her grieving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: So the reason I brought this up is because I sort of suspected that it might be like that. There's something about stepsons and stepdads, that bondedness can really fill a gap for a young boy. But you can't narrow it down to gender. It's just within a sibling group\u2014you could have one child who\u2019s on this journey, and another child's on a different journey\u2014sometimes, they're walking side by side; sometimes, they've parted ways, and there's conflict between them because of that, just like that happened there with Davis.<\/p>\n<p>Each child is an individual, right? And they're going to be on their own path. You just can't make any assumptions about where any particular child is going to be. We always teach: \u201cGo with that child\/pace with each child.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So Campbell says, \u201cI need to pull back\u201d; \u201cOkay, that's what we'll do. I'm still loving you; I'm still here, but you can use a different term for me right now.\u201d But Davis is like: \u201cNope; 100 miles an hour forward; we're not slowing down.\u201d Okay, pace with that child and go with that. It can be confusing, as a stepparent, because some days you don't know whether you're coming or going, depending on who's in the room; but that is the journey.<\/p>\n<p>You guys may or may not know we lost our middle son, Connor, when he was 12. As we have journeyed now, for almost 15 years without Connor, we've watched our other two boys. They each have their path: they each have their way, their style, their personality, their expression of their sadness and grief. And there have been plenty of moments, where I had an anxiety about how they were doing it. You have to go: \u201cWait a minute: is this my need?\u201d or \u201c\u2026their need?\u201d or \u201cHow do I meet them where they are?\u201d And sometimes, I do want to offer a little perspective and guidance; but at the same time, it's got to be their journey, not mine.<\/p>\n<p>It's all hard; you feel like you're shooting at a target that's moving, and you're just unsure. So lots of prayer\u2014lots of prayer\u2014talking to other people, getting community around you with folks that maybe have a little more experience with it than you do, and just trying to find your way.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel: Yes; and I don't create opportunities for my kids to feel sad. [Laughter] I see that happen a lot with widows, though; they want to manufacture things to help their kids grieve. I'm like, \u201cThey are going to grieve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rod: Just provide the space when they are; right?\u2014and not trying to talk them out of the grief when they're grieving\u2014\u201cOh, but your life is so good,\u201d \u201cYour life is so good now,\u201d\u2014or whatever. I think it's just getting in the well with them; and being that\/you know, grieving with them as best we can.\u00a0Unfortunately, I don't know how much role I can play in that, over the years, except for just be okay when they are. I think just create space for them.<\/p>\n<p>[Studio]<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We\u2019ve been listening to a portion of the FamilyLife Blended podcast with Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown. Ron Deal, the host of that podcast, now joins us in the studio. Ron, welcome back.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: It\u2019s always good to be with you guys; thanks for having me.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Hey, Ron, one of the things you mentioned earlier in the podcast was talking to parts of a child\u2019s heart. I know I need to understand that, so help us understand: \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Yes; well, kids and adults\u2014you and me both, Dave\u2014need to understand this. This is just some language that, sometimes, helps parents and couples to be honest and individuals to sort of understand the parts of themselves when they\u2019re experiencing something.<\/p>\n<p>We were talking about helping kids understand the part of them that is grieving over the loss of their dad, and there\u2019s another part of them that is excited to have Rod as their stepdad. Well, sometimes, those two parts get into a fight in our heart\u2014we call that a loyalty conflict\u2014where we\u2019re not sure if we can move toward the stepparent, in this case, without feeling guilty over missing the biological parent.<\/p>\n<p>The same thing happens with us, as adults. There\u2019s a part of me that\u2019s really stressed about work; there\u2019s a part of me that\u2019s all frustrated or wrapped up with a relationship in my extended family; or there\u2019s another part of me that\u2019s happy and feeling optimistic about life. Sometimes, those things just get into conflict with one another. If you articulate it in a way\u2014\u201cThis part of me feels this\u201d; \u201cThat part of me feels that\u201d; \u201cThis part of me is experiencing this,\u201d\u2014all of a sudden, it sort of helps break it down in a way where you can look at it a little more objectively.<\/p>\n<p>Children, in particular, just sort of feel like: \u201cI just have one big place in my heart. I am feeling this one big emotion, and it\u2019s sort of messing with everything else.\u201d Well, when you can break it into parts, it makes it a little more manageable; and it helps them to see: \u201cWell, wait a minute; I can still be loyal to my father, who is deceased; and now, love this new person in my life.\u201d And that\u2019s really not a conflict; it makes space for new possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That\u2019s helpful for everybody.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; I was going to say, \u201cThat\u2019s marriage advice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes, it is.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Exactly\u2014and here\u2019s the marriage application\u2014a lot of conflicts couples have are about a parenting situation, right?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Well, sometimes, I need\u2014I know in Nan\u2019s and my relationship\u2014I\u2019ll say, \u201cWell, my dad heart is feeling this: I really want to come alongside our child and help them. But my husband heart feels like that puts you in the middle, as my wife; and you\u2019re feeling something different about this. I realize the dad part of me and the husband part of me are sort of in conflict and sort of making conflict for you, as it relates to our child.\u201d Just talking through it that way helps me understand what\u2019s going on with me, but it certainly makes it easier for my wife to understand what\u2019s going on with me.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; one of the things you guys talked about was how different the reactions were of the children to their new stepdad.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Is that common, Ron, for their reactions to be totally different?<\/p>\n<p>Ron: It is. If you just want to think about how hard it can be to be a stepparent, just ponder for a minute: you have four stepchildren, for example:<\/p>\n<p>One of them is so excited you\u2019re in their world, and they are moving toward you in every way imaginable.<\/p>\n<p>Child number two is sort of like: \u201cYes, I can take it or leave it. You\u2019re nice to have around, and your money\u2019s good; and you do wash my underwear, and I appreciate that. But no, I\u2019m not going to be kind to you; because I don\u2019t really know what to do with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And then child number three has a very different response, even from the other two.<\/p>\n<p>And child number four is like: \u201cNo, I\u2019m 22; and I\u2019m moving on with life. I don\u2019t need you at all in my world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Think about how confusing that could be for that stepparent: \u201cI am a totally different person to each one of those individual children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not necessarily common that, in a sibling group, they\u2019re all going to have very different reactions; but it is common that there is some variation between kids. One of the things, because of that, we teach stepparents\u2014and the biological parent, who is also involved in this\u2014is:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeing patient with yourself, not expecting too much out of you. If one thing is going really well with one child, okay, rest in that: enjoy it; feel good about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And this child over here, it\u2019s a challenge\u2014it\u2019s not going so great\u2014\"Okay, keep pressing, but don\u2019t work too hard at it. Meet them where they are. \u2018Pace\u2019 with the child is the word we would use, and just recognize that they have a different level of openness to you. You have to meet them where they are and try to grow from there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Ron, it\u2019s always great to be with you. Having you on with us today; this has been really helpful.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Ron: Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: I\u2019m Shelby Abbott; and you\u2019ve been listening to Dave and Ann Wilson, with Ron Deal and Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown, on FamilyLife Today. As Ron Deal mentioned, the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry is coming up October 10 through 11 in Plano, Texas. You can learn more and get all the details by heading over to FamilyLifeToday.com.<\/p>\n<p>We believe in reaching blended families, obviously; we\u2019ve been talking about that today. If you want to make your mark by helping us reach blended families, or any families for that matter, you can partner with us by making your contribution to the ministry of FamilyLife, linking arms with us and helping us to make every home a godly home. If you want to make your donation, you can head over to FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can check out the show notes. Or feel free to give us a call, with your donation, at 800-358-6329; again, that number is 800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, coming up next week, Allen Parr is going to be joining Dave and Ann Wilson to talk about seven lies that distort the gospel. Learn about those from this famous YouTuber and his mission against false teachings. That\u2019s next week; we hope you\u2019ll join us. On behalf of Dave and Ann Wilson, I\u2019m Shelby Abbott. We will see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLife Today is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife, a Cru\u00ae Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.<\/p>\n<p>We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?<\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2024 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","theme_header_position":"Sticky","post_header_is_sticky":"default","is_header_overlay":"0"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/285638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47000"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285638"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285638"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=285638"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=285638"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=285638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}