I’ve been chatting with a lot of moms who are a sort of crossroads with their older adopted child. There is hurt, resentment, and bewilderment from both sides. The kids are rejecting their family in as many ways possible. The parents are wondering where they went wrong. We’ve been there. In October 2015, we were […]
A lot of moms (myself included) start to see their child as the adversary when bad behavior persists. One of the most helpful visuals that I learned when becoming a parent trainer was to stay on the same side as your child. Instead of imagining you against your child and his aggression, think about you […]
Before parenting children with challenges, I had a pretty bare toolbox. The learning curve after our first adoption was steep. During our journey, we’ve researched and learned a lot. It started with some simple parenting shifts. Then we learned that there is a fascinating mind-body connection. This opened a world of other things to try. […]
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” -Diane Ackerman For children with attachment disorders, hugs and affection may cause acting out. Play can be a non-threatening way to build connection and teach trust. Try doing one of these activities at the same time every day so it becomes part of your routine. Give your child some […]
There are three words that, when uttered together, make dreams come true for millions of women. For millions more, those same words can shatter their dreams. “You are pregnant.” Almost half of all pregnancies in the United States — some 3.1 million each year —are unintended. Among unmarried women in their 20s, seven out […]
Adoptive and foster families often find themselves barely functioning and just trying to survive when caring for children with hard behaviors. I just finished hanging out in Nehemiah (as in the book of the Bible) with the She Reads Truth community. Nehemiah was the guy who rebuilt the temple after it was destroyed by the […]
A lot of adoptive moms tell me that they’d do anything for their kids, but they don’t know where to start or what to do. They are tirelessly seeking out post adoption support and resources and coming up empty handed. Unfortunately, there is a HUGE gap in post adoption support. We’ve felt it personally. I’m […]
I often talk about children from “hard places” when I talk about the whys for using connected parenting. I figured it might be helpful to tell you exactly what the “hard places” are. Who knows? You may be parenting a child from a “hard place” and not be aware. It might help you understand a lot more […]