350: Your Partner Can Be The Problem

Blending families isn't for the faint of heart—and losing yourself in the process is all too common. Tune in as Lori and guest Jackie Faber get real about boundaries, guilt, and reclaiming your identity in stepfamily life. In this raw and relatable episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori welcomes former stepmom Jackie Faber to discuss what it's really like to blend families, navigate unfair expectations, and fight back against the emotional traps that so many stepfamilies fall into. Jackie shares her personal story of discovering Nacho Kids, recognizing patterns of self-abandonment, and ultimately choosing her own well-being over staying in an unhealthy relationship. Listeners will learn: How stepmoms and stepdads often lose themselves trying to "do it right" in a blended family. Why resentment and guilt are so common, and how to recognize who's really responsible for family problems. The difference between partner problems and parenting problems. The power of boundaries, self-care, and not letting others' expectations dictate your happiness. Strategies for managing "fairness," finances, and emotional labor in blended family life. How to communicate your needs (and why most of us were never taught how!). Eye-opening insights about stepfamily love, parental alienation, and not repeating unhealthy patterns from the past. Whether you're in the trenches of a stepfamily or still considering blending, this candid conversation will help you find your way back to yourself.