When He Won’t Take In His Daughter’s Sister: Would You Let a Child Go Into Care?

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Nathalie and Cilla to unpack a heartbreaking dilemma.A mum writes in devastated after her partner refused to take in his daughter’s older sister meaning she may end up in care. She’s torn apart, not just for the child, but also because she fears what it says about her partner. If he can turn his back on his daughter’s sibling, could he one day do the same to her son?The ladies feel very strongly that siblings should not be split up and urge the mum to fight for the girl to live with them. Cilla and Nathalie share their anger at how a child could be left behind, while Kate calls Rio to join the show to get a male perspective. Rio insists he wouldn’t let a child go into care but he’s also brutally honest that a lot of men might, when faced with financial pressure or the question of biology.Together they explore whether “not my child” is ever a fair excuse, the painful reality of how easy some people can separate siblings, and what responsibility really looks like in blended families.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and Nathalie are joined by Jessica May, the influencer known for her cleaning hacks, parenting advice, and unfiltered honesty. Jessica opens up about one of the worst times of her life: discovering her partner’s betrayal, the devastation that followed, and the painful process of rebuilding not just her life, but her sense of self.She doesn’t sugarcoat a thing dropping raw truths and bombshells that leave the ladies stunned. Nathalie can’t hide her frustration at the injustice Jess has faced, while Kate is in awe of the grace and strength she’s found through it all. At the heart of her story? One focus: making sure her daughters are happy, no matter what.Together, they tackle a dilemma from a mum whose ex and his new partner keep trying to control what happens in her home. Where’s the line between co-parenting and overstepping? The ladies don’t hold back, debating how to set boundaries, when to push back, and what healthy co-parenting really looks like.And when the conversation turns to discipline, the panel is split: Kate believes stepparents should be able to tell a child off if they live with and care for them while Jessica is clear she wouldn’t want anyone but dad stepping in with her girls.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to tackle a dilemma that cuts to the heart of step-parenting. A listener writes in about her stepson, who she’s helped raise for almost a decade after his biological mum wasn’t around. For years, she’s been the one doing the school runs, bedtime routines, and being “mum” in every way that mattered.But now his biological mum has reappeared and everything has shifted. Her stepson’s behaviour has changed, and suddenly the stepmum feels like she’s being pushed out of a role she’s built her life around.The ladies explore the painful truth many stepparents face: the sense that, no matter how much love and care you give, you can still be sidelined when a biological parent decides to step back in. They discuss the emotions at play from a mum’s possible shame for not being there, to a child’s natural pull towards wanting that maternal bond, to the stepmum’s fear of being discarded after years of sacrifice.Kate and Nathalie debate whether the stepmum should hold firm in her place as the one who’s raised him, or whether blended families sometimes have to weather these painful shifts. They also talk about how to stop resentment building, the importance of reassurance for both the child and the step-parent, and why blended families need to be ready for these moments of sudden change.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Nathalie and special guest co-host Joel Beya — presenter, founder of Cheeky Sport, and dad — who brings a raw and honest male perspective to the table. Together, they tackle a dilemma from a woman whose partner won’t let her meet his ex. She’s asked, he keeps avoiding it, and now she’s starting to get suspicious.Is this a massive red flag, or just a man not ready to blend the past with the present? Joel is brutally honest about why some men hold back, admitting he’s hurt people in the past simply because he wasn’t ready or serious. Kate says she’d want to meet the ex and build a relationship for the children’s sake but Joel pushes back, arguing it’s not always that simple.The trio debate Is it about protecting boundaries, or avoiding responsibility? and the ladies discuss why women can't settle for mixed signals instead of acting like the prize. Just when things heat up, Joel drops his belief that there’s no such thing as “one true love” — and that doesn’t sit well with Kate or Nathalie.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand, and co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie invite listeners into their group chat — the place where wild dilemmas get sent. Some never make it to the podcast because they're just too outrageous… but today, they’re tackling two viral moments that had people talking.The first? A woman who bought food for her six biological children but not for her stepchild. Her husband asked, but she didn’t see anything wrong with it. The ladies get heated as they unpack whether this is the ultimate “wicked stepmother” behaviour, and question why the dad stood by and let it happen.The second? A stepdad who wasn’t invited to his stepdaughter’s graduation, despite being in her life since she was four months old. Hurt, he decided to cut off financial support. The panel debates whether this was justified or damaging, asking: what role did the mother play, and is this about boundaries or bitterness?Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand and is joined by co-hosts Nathalie and her husband, Sayce Holmes-Lewis, to unpack a dilemma from a stepmum who feels her partner is still doing a lot for his ex and is starting to wonder if she’s being jealous and petty, or if there’s a real cause for concern.Nathalie believes a man should always be there for the mother of his child but Kate and Sayce disagree they think boundaries are essential, and that being an ex means you don’t get the same privileges as when you were in a relationship. So where is the line?The trio discuss what’s “too far” when it comes to helping an ex, how to keep the focus on the child’s wellbeing, and why clear boundaries protect everyone. Sayce also shares an overlooked male perspective, how moving out of the family home and not seeing your children every day can be an emotional struggle, and why men need to prepare themselves for that shift.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and Nathalie to unpack a heartbreak that many stepmums quietly carry: the grief of losing their stepchildren after a breakup.A listener writes in devastation after her relationship ended not because of the partner, but because she no longer gets to see the children she helped raise. Their mother doesn’t think it’s appropriate, and just like that, it’s like she never existed.The panel discuss the emotional fallout stepmums can face when love isn’t “enough” to grant them long-term connection even after years of parenting. Kate opens up about how this exact scenario has always been one of her biggest fears and admits she doesn’t think she’d cope.Cilla reflects on the reality vs. the ideal reminding us that we don’t live in a world where every bond is protected just because it’s real. And Nathalie asks the big question: what impact does it have on the children when someone who loves them simply disappears?This is a powerful conversation about invisible grief, unspoken heartbreak, and the emotional toll of loving children you don’t legally “own.” Because when stepmums are told to love like a parent but let go like a stranger.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla along with very special guest co-host Nieki Shaw , a child protection solicitor, co-parenting mentor and the founder of Legally Nik, where she helps families navigate complex legal realities around blended families and co-parenting. We get so many legal dilemmas on this podcast, and while we’re always here to share our experiences — this week, we brought in an expert.Nik answers two powerful dilemmas from listeners:One from a stepmum wondering what rights she’d have if something ever happened to her partner and whether she’d legally be able to stay in the child’s life.And another where a stepmum posted a photo online, and the biological mum cut off all contact, raising urgent questions around parental alienation, boundaries, and protecting the child’s relationship with both parents.Nik breaks down what parental responsibility really means, and when a Stepparent Responsibility Order might be needed. She explains the difference between “lives with” orders and “spends time with” orders, when to apply for Specific Issue Orders, and why the Welfare Checklist is at the heart of every child-based legal decision in the UK.They also explore why there’s no such thing as “full custody” in the UK, how to prepare if you’re going to represent yourself in court including the role a McKenzie Friend can play in supporting you through the process. Nik also talks about why it’s so important to put your wishes in writing, especially when it comes to children and wills and why this is even more essential when a stepparent is involved.  Check out Legally Nik's Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by Cilla and Nathalie for an honest conversation about one of the biggest pressures new parents face in blended families — how do you start conversations about the values, routines, and boundaries you want for your first child together… without causing offence?A listener writes in, worried about how to bring up parenting differences with her partner. She’s about to have their first baby together and doesn’t want him assuming things will be the same as with his older kids. But how do you have that conversation without it sounding like you’re criticising his parenting?The ladies discuss why values and routines aren’t just about control they’re about raising healthy, secure children. Nathalie argues that setting boundaries and not encouraging can make kids rebel, while Cilla believes there are times children need firm direction, even if it’s hard in the moment.They also share tips on how to start the conversation without comparing or criticising — and why nothing should be left to chance when it comes to raising kids in a blended home.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Blended, Kate Ferdinand is joined by co-hosts Cilla and special guest co-host Jamelia — singer, songwriter, actress, and mum. Jamelia speaks openly and honestly about her own blended family experience, the heartbreak she faced, what her kids went through, and why she wouldn’t be part of a blended family again. She shares how, at times, she genuinely thought she wouldn’t make it through and why she'd now choose to keep her relationships separate.The panel also tackles a dilemma from a mum whose daughter isn’t coping with her new blended setup; the kids just aren’t clicking, and it’s making life at home uncomfortable. Jamelia reflects on how her own daughter felt when someone moved in, and Kate asks whether you can really be happy in a relationship if the children aren’t.Cilla shares why she believes children are allowed to feel sad about big changes and why sometimes you have to sit in the uncomfortable moments as a family.Follow @blended on Instagram to share your story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.