In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori Sims welcomes guest Donna Kendrick, who shares her extraordinary story of love, loss, resilience, and blending families after tragedy.
Raised in Philadelphia, Donna describes her journey from a traditional upbringing through international moves, the loss of her first husband, and the challenges of rebuilding life as a widow with three children. She discusses the impact of her husband's mental health struggles, how grief reshaped her ability to trust, and the coping mechanisms she developed for herself and her children.
Donna and Lori dig deeply into the realities of mental health, particularly within the context of stepfamilies, highlighting the prevalence of depression and suicidal thoughts among both stepparents and biological parents. Donna is candid about the aftermath of her loss, the importance of sharing her story, and finding grit as a mom to support her children through tough times.
The conversation takes a hopeful turn as Donna Kendrick explains how she eventually met her current husband, originally a carpenter helping with her home renovations, and how their two families slowly intertwined. After overcoming initial awkwardness, practical challenges, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, their six children (three from each side) learned to bond, especially as they all experienced significant losses, with her husband’s ex-wife also passing from colon cancer.
The episode celebrates the extended, supportive "village" that helped them blend: from Monday night dinners welcoming all sides of the family (including in-laws and members of both late spouses' families) to the quirky moments of daily life that make stepfamily homes unique. The balance of humor and sincerity illustrates how tragedy can be transformed into compassion and togetherness.
Listeners will find hope, camaraderie, and practical insights about grief, resilience, blending households, and building new forms of family out of loss. Donna’s story is a testament to finding joy again, valuing open communication, and creating lasting connections, even in nontraditional family settings.
Tune in to hear:
- An honest look at mental health and suicide within stepfamilies
- The unique challenges and blessings of blending two families after widowhood and loss
- Creative problem-solving for stepfamily logistics (from school transfers to living arrangements)
- The importance of extended family and community support in healing and blending
- How humor, food, and tradition bring comfort and togetherness during hard times
Highlights:
- The power of sharing your story to break the stigma around suicide and depression
- Practical tips for supporting children through grief and big life transitions
- Real-life examples of flexibility, communication, and compassion in stepfamilies
Rate & Review Our Podcast
Please rate and review our podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. This helps others find the podcast and lets us know what our listeners want to hear.
Explore these Resources
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- www.NachoKids.com
- Nacho Kids YouTube Channel
- www.NachoKidsAcademy.com
- Nacho Kids Facebook page
- Nacho Kids Instagram
- Coaching Info
Our Purpose
Nacho Kids' purpose is to dramatically reduce the blended family and stepfamily failure rate by providing the information and tools needed to live a successful and healthy blended life.
Follow or Subscribe To Our Podcast
- On the web: https://nachokids.com/podcast
- iTunes: https://nachokids.com/itunes
- Stitcher: https://nachokids.com/stitcher
- Google Play: https://nachokids.com/googleplay
Join The Conversation
If you’d like to be a guest on the Nacho Kids Podcast, reach out to us and we’ll see what we can do! Or if you have a question you’d like us to answer, send us a message! We are very thankful to all of our guests and our listeners. Our hope for you is that something you hear here will help you in your blend!