One cultural myth that is very prevalent today is that parents must affirm sinful & harmful lifestyle choices that run contrary to God’s laws, or we cause our children terrible harm —  like feelings of shame, rejection, fear, insecurity, and to generally feel bad about themselves leading to all kinds of problems for them. It is presumed that parents are unkind and unloving if we do not also embrace and adopt these choices.

Did you know that early childhood trauma often leads to a pervasive sense of helplessness in children? This in turn can cause them to overcompensate with age-inappropriate independence and rigid control strategies. If you're noticing these behaviors in your child, know that you are not alone, and together, we can find paths toward healing and connection.

Does your child or teen tend to overreact with excessive & prolonged drama or explosive behavior? Let’s talk about it…WHEN THEIR OVERREACTING IS ACTUALLY A TRAUMA RESPONSE…Today, we're diving deep into an essential trauma tip for adoptive moms. It's all about the ability to CALM DOWN – something that can be particularly challenging for traumatized kids. The key concept here revolves around understanding that their brains and bodies are not as efficient in down-regulating from a heightened state of amygdala activation.

As an experienced adoptive mom and a life coach for Christian adoptive mothers, I recognize the added challenges that our families face. The journey of adoption is both beautiful and complex, and with it can come extraordinary stress that impacts every member of the household. Yet, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we have a profound source of strength and guidance in our faith. Today, we’ll explore a trauma-informed, biblically-centered approach to understanding and managing stress in adoptive families.

A PRAYER OF RESTORATION*The following prayer is based on a Bible passage from 2 Corinthians 13.  When we don’t have the words to pray, we can trust God to provide them. Heavenly Father,I lift up my precious child/children to You, asking that they may continually examine their heart and faith. Grant them the wisdom and clarity to test their own feelings, thoughts, values and beliefs, realizing deeply that Christ Jesus dwells within them.

🎧 Listen to episode - Apple🎧 Listen to episode - SpotifyHave you ever wondered how a tiny seed, when planted in the right environment, receives nurturing care, and is given time to grow, can blossom into a beautiful plant? This natural process mirrors the journey many adoptive families embark upon. In the garden of family life, each member is both a gardener and a budding plant, contributing to and benefiting from the nurturing environment of the family. But as with any garden, there are obstacles along the way.

🎧 Listen to episode - Apple🎧 Listen to episode - SpotifyAre you frustrated & feeling defeated because your adopted daughter won’t let you teach her anything? Or your son always insists he already knows whatever you’re about to tell him?Today’s topic is:Fostering a positive learning environment for adoptive moms with severely attachment-challenged children or teens.As moms we want to teach, train & influence our child/children for good.  We know that attachment challenges affect learning and behavior in children and teens. This can create a looming gap between all we’d otherwise be able to teach our children and what they’ll actually be receptive to. 

🎧 Listen to episode - Apple🎧 Listen to episode - SpotifyIf your adopted child has no memories or very limited memories about their life prior to coming to live with you, does that mean that

🎧 Listen to episode - Apple🎧 Listen to episode - SpotifyDespite growing up a farm girl. I’m not much of a gardener. I’ve done enough to admire the work and commitment of those who are. Ever planted a flower bed or vegetable garden with a very young child? You likely didn’t require them to do all of the work themselves. You probably did some prep work to acquire the seeds and get the soil ready. And I imagine you let them do the most fun and most pivotal part — planting the seeds. Doing the fun part helps motivate us to do the harder parts. As moms we have big jobs in the lives of our children and I know that as a Christian woman you are committed to do this important God-given job to the fullest (or else you feel demoralized and defeated).  

🎧 Listen to episode - Apple🎧 Listen to episode - SpotifyWelcome to Tuesday's Trauma Tips here on the 2nd Moms Circle podcast for Christian Adoptive Moms. I'm Dawn Baggett, your host.