The Homework House

This episode is a heavier one.We’re talking about the Carnival Horizon case involving a blended family, step-siblings, and a situation that ended in the worst possible way.But this isn’t about the crime itself.It’s about the conversations that come from it.The uncomfortable ones.The ones people don’t want to say out loud.The ones many blended families quietly navigate behind closed doors.We unpack step-sibling dynamics, boundaries, what happens when kids feel uncomfortable, and whether we sometimes prioritise “keeping the peace” over actually listening.This is one of those conversations where we don’t have all the answers… but we ask the questions anyway.Because avoiding it doesn’t make it go away.If you’ve ever questioned dynamics in your blended home, or wondered where the line is between normal tension and something that needs attention, this episode will make you think.

If communication in your blended family has ever felt hard, tense, or like it keeps going in circles, this one is for you.In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley, founder of Blended Bond, and we’re talking all things communication in blended families.We get into why these conversations can feel so difficult, how quickly things can escalate, and what it actually looks like to create emotional safety when there are so many moving parts involved.Ashley shares the heart behind Blended Bond and how it’s helping families open up conversations in a way that feels more intentional and less reactive.If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking “that could have gone better,” you’re not alone… and this episode will definitely resonate 🤍Want 15% off Blended Bond? Send me a DM and I’ll send you the code 🤍Follow & Support Ashley here:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

In this episode, Toni is joined by Lauren as they dive into what stepmums wish they could say to bio mums — and what bio mums wish they could say to stepmums. They read comments from recent posts, unpack the unsaid thoughts, and explore perspectives that rarely get spoken out loud.Whether you’re a bio mum, a bonus mum, or somewhere in between, this episode is for anyone navigating the blended family roller coaster.

In this episode, I sit down with Jyl Barlow to talk honestly about the new year — and why neither of us believe in resolutions. Instead, we dive into the goals, intentions, and hopes we’re carrying into this year while navigating blended family life, co-parenting, mental health, and personal growth.From setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care to exploring therapy, writing, and creative goals, this conversation is about choosing what you want to move toward — without the pressure or perfection. Reflective, real, and unscripted, it’s the kind of chat you’d have with a friend about what truly matters.If you’re done with unrealistic expectations and ready to focus on intentional growth, this episode is for you.

Christmas in a blended family rarely looks like the movies.In this episode, Toni and Jyl talk about how Christmas traditions change after separation and how expectations often need to shift once you’re navigating shared custody and blended family life. They reflect on the traditions they’ve kept, the ones they’ve let go of, and how the holidays can bring up unexpected emotions for both parents and stepparents.The conversation then turns to the Netflix movie A Merry Little Ex-Mas, unpacking what it gets right about blended family dynamics — and where it completely misses the mark. From awkward stepmum moments to unrealistic co-parenting portrayals, they explore how media shapes expectations and why real life is often far more complicated.This episode is an honest look at Christmas on the blended family roller coaster, with one focus at the centre: keeping the magic alive for the kids, even when the holidays feel anything but simple.

Lauren is back and we’re diving into your AITA submissions and anonymous stepmum stories — and yes, the chaos absolutely delivered this week. Between the petty, the justified, the unhinged, and the “only in a blended family” moments, we had a LOT to unpack.But as always, when Lauren and I get talking, everything else comes up too — parenting wins and fails, mental health moments, ADHD life, family dynamics, the emotional needs of kids in blended families, step-parenting challenges, and the real-life stuff that happens around holidays, budgeting, and co-parenting communication.We talk about the things no one warns you about: navigating different household rules, trying to teach gratitude, dealing with tricky holiday expectations, and figuring out how to protect your kids’ emotional wellbeing while also not losing your mind. The episode still has all the laughs and honesty you expect, but with the actual structured version that didn’t go off on every tangent (you’re welcome).If you’ve ever wondered “Am I the arsehole… or am I just in a blended family?” this episode is basically your sign.

In this episode, Toni sits down with Jyl to talk about how Unforgettable mirrors so many real-life blended family dynamics — from those awkward mood-killing moments, to the pressure of perfection, to the kind of “helpfulness” that feels more like surveillance than support.We also chat about:the relatable tension between new relationships and old attachmentsthe curated, image-driven motherhood we’ve all bumped up againsthow control can hide behind routines, reminders, and “just being helpful”those unexpected drop-ins that send every stepmum’s blood pressure upthe school-gate politics that make you feel like you’re walking into enemy territorythe emotional manipulation and identity spirals blended families know too welland the truly unhinged moments in the film that had us saying, “Honestly… been there.”This isn’t a movie recap — it’s a stepmum conversation about the wild accuracy buried inside a Hollywood thriller

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses pregnancy and infant loss. Please listen with care and take a break if you need to. 💗In this episode, I’m joined by my beautiful friend Bekks for an open and honest chat about pregnancy and infant loss. Between us, we’ve experienced multiple losses, and we wanted to talk about what it’s really like to let go of the family you thought you’d have and find your way through grief.We share how those experiences changed us — as women, as mothers, and as partners — and what healing looks like years later. It’s not a heavy conversation, but a real one. We talk about the quiet ways loss shows up, the things people don’t always say out loud, and how we’ve learned to honour what could have been while still finding peace in what is.Follow & Support:Raising His Kids Facebook Group Facebook Instagram Threads Tiktok Patreon

It’s back to school in the U.S. and the end of spring break here in Australia — which means chaos for parents everywhere. This week, Toni and Jyl dive into what it really looks like to reset the school routine on both sides of the world. From uniforms and lunchboxes to co-parenting coordination and mental load, nothing’s off limits.Jyl shares how she became a recovered school mom, and together they unpack what’s worth stressing over — and what’s better to just let go. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about us… it’s about the kids. Follow & Support us Here:Raising His Kids: https://raisinghiskids.my.canva.site/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaa_DJPPjVXUICfG2osbftxYJAw6dX0a0ajyQdis4317ndikWcx-CQrV3x4_aem_AWpIBMCZzQL60BCybo8GvLLLErIUmE8Pt1wvvylUXkFqmhiYC4eJUy0qFm4v-_ocZhTGMPyzHXkZv3fs3RWvvUbqFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/56nZsJ1M4e7NumVf/?mibextid=adzO7lFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/raisinghiskids?mibextid=LQQJ4dInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisinghiskids?igsh=eG9nOXNuZTR3MjdlThreads: https://www.threads.net/@raisinghiskidsTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raisinghiskids?_t=8mbr7JFEBAc&_r=1Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/RaisingHisKids?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creatorJyl:https://jylbarlow.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jylbarlow?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

In this week’s episode, I sit down with one of the podcast’s long-time listeners to talk about what it really feels like to be the homework house — the stable, consistent home that carries the weight of rules, boundaries, responsibility, and yep, all the homework.We dive into the pride, the pressure, and the emotional toll of always being the reliable one in a blended family. From setting routines to holding firm boundaries, this conversation is a reminder that while being the “safe base” isn’t easy, it matters more than we often give ourselves credit for.Follow & Support:Raising His Kids: https://raisinghiskids.my.canva.site/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaa_DJPPjVXUICfG2osbftxYJAw6dX0a0ajyQdis4317ndikWcx-CQrV3x4_aem_AWpIBMCZzQL60BCybo8GvLLLErIUmE8Pt1wvvylUXkFqmhiYC4eJUy0qFm4v-_ocZhTGMPyzHXkZv3fs3RWvvUbqFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/56nZsJ1M4e7NumVf/?mibextid=adzO7lFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/raisinghiskids?mibextid=LQQJ4dInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisinghiskids?igsh=eG9nOXNuZTR3MjdlThreads: https://www.threads.net/@raisinghiskidsTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raisinghiskids?_t=8mbr7JFEBAc&_r=1Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/RaisingHisKids?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator