007 - Samantha Waltz on Prioritizing, Managing Expectations, and Communication

Welcome to the Everything Always podcast! Summer here, and today we’ve got a special guest on the show. Samantha Waltz is the author of a book I recently read called “Blended: Writers on the Stepfamily Experience”. It calls on her experience as a stepparent, family therapist, and teacher of classes and workshops on parenting and child development.

The book features thirty writers who know what blending is like first-hand, and their stories truly capture the complexities of the journey. Oftentimes, people are afraid to put their situations and challenges out there, but these authors bore it all so we could relate and learn. 

Samantha has some great wisdom to share with us about prioritizing, managing expectations, and communication. She also has a Facebook page for the book so we can continue the conversation and connect with others on a similar journey. Listen in to learn more about Samantha, her book, and her tips on how to navigate the stepfamily experience.

00:45 – 06:00 - Introducing today’s guest: Samantha Waltz

06:00 – 20:00 – The book’s stories and Samantha’s personal experience

20:00 – 23:30 - Putting ego aside to appreciate our children’s parents

23:30 – 26:00 - Samantha’s biggest take-away from the book

26:00 – 32:00 - Scheduling and seeking harmony

32:00 – 38:00 - Communicating and acknowledging feelings