369: From Tragedy to Togetherness: Donna Kendrick's Story of Blended Family Success

369: From Tragedy to Togetherness: Donna Kendrick's Story of Blended Family Success

Author: Lori Sims & David Sims June 26, 2026 Duration: 50:42

In this heartfelt episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori Sims welcomes guest Donna Kendrick, who shares her deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and blending families. Raised in Philadelphia, Donna Kendrick describes her journey from being married to a Philadelphia police officer, living abroad as a family, and navigating the aftermath of her husband's tragic taking of his own life after their return to the U.S. She candidly discusses how mental health struggles, grief, and trust issues shaped her decisions as a widow and a mother.

Donna Kendrick goes on to recount meeting her current husband, a carpenter who had originally helped with renovations after her first husband's passing, and the slow, organic way their families and children came together. Through life's unexpected twists, including her husband's ex-wife's battle with cancer and the logistical and emotional challenges of moving and merging households, Donna Kendrick highlights the power of empathy, extended family support, and humor in navigating the ups and downs of blended family life.

The episode touches on grief, motherhood, the importance of listening to your body, and the ongoing challenges and blessings of raising six children in a truly blended household. Lori and Donna share relatable stories and insights, with promises to bring Donna Kendrick back for future conversations about financial planning.

In this episode:

  • Grief and Resilience in Blended Families

  • Navigating Blending After Loss and Divorce

  • Compassion, Empathy, and Extended Support

  • Practical Transitional Decisions

  • Humor and Dark Comedy as Coping

  • Importance of Self-care, Community, and Advocacy

  • Adaptability and Open Communication

Listeners will be inspired by themes of hope, community, and the ways that love and laughter can help families heal and grow together.


Navigating the complexities of a stepfamily can feel like an isolating journey, but it doesn’t have to be. The Nacho Kids Podcast: Blended Family Lifesaver offers a genuine conversation for anyone in the thick of it, hosted by Lori and David Sims. As founders of Nacho Kids and experienced blended family coaches themselves, they bring both personal insight and professional guidance to each episode. This isn’t about abstract theory; it’s real talk about the daily struggles, from co-parenting tensions and sibling dynamics to maintaining your own relationship sanity. You’ll hear from the hosts and their guests as they share candid stories of both setbacks and hard-won successes, creating a sense of community. At the heart of this podcast is the practical, life-changing framework of the Nacho Kids Method, which provides tangible strategies for saving relationships and building a peaceful home. Tune in for honest discussions that replace judgment with support, offering the tools and reassurance needed to thrive in your blended family life. Each conversation is designed to make you feel understood and equipped, turning overwhelming challenges into manageable steps forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Nacho Kids Podcast: Blended Family Lifesaver
Podcast Episodes
380: Stepsibling Relationships [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:08
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David discuss the challenges and benefits of stepsibling relationships in blended families. They share personal experiences navigating concerns about stepkids being a "…
379: What You Focus On Will Grow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:48
In this episode, Lori and David Sims discuss the powerful principle that "what you focus on will grow," especially within blended families. Through candid and humorous anecdotes, ranging from household chores to navigati…
378: Co-sleeping With Stepkids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:52
In this episode, we discuss the sensitive topic of cosleeping with stepkids in blended families. A key theme that emerged was the differing comfort levels and emotional reactions between bio parents and stepparents regar…
377: Watch How You Say It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David discuss communication challenges between stepparents and bio parents, especially regarding parenting decisions and stepkids. The hosts share personal anecdotes ab…
376: Birthdays, Blended Style [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:13
On this podcast, we discuss the challenges and humorous realities of planning family events in a blended and extended family setting. A key theme that emerged was the complexity of scheduling birthdays and gatherings to…
375: Family Law Strategies With Jasmine Hernandez Esq [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, family law attorney Jasmine Hernandez shares her extensive experience from over a decade practicing in New York, specializing in representing children in family court. Jasmine c…
374: Back To School In The Blend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:12
In this episode, the Nacho Kids team discusses the upcoming release of the Nacho Kids book, available for Kindle pre-order and set to launch on September 16th - Stepfamily Day. The hosts highlight a moving story from the…
373: Don't Give Up! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:03
In this episode, Lori and David share an inspiring success story from their Facebook group, highlighting how the Nacho Kids method helped transform a strained stepmom-stepdaughter relationship into a loving bond resultin…
372: Building Trust & Security in Blended Families | Dr. Marcus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:42
In this episode, we discuss the complexities of blended families, emphasizing the unique challenges stepfamilies face compared to nuclear families. One concept discussed was the pressure for stepfamilies to function like…
371: Double Standards In The Blend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:23
Lori and David dive into the unique challenges stepparents face in expressing honest feelings, especially compared to what's acceptable for biological parents. They share how phrases like "I need a break from my stepkids…