🎧 Listen to episode - Apple🎧 Listen to episode - SpotifyUNILATERAL SHIFT #1 of 3 — NEW VIEW ON PROBLEM BEHAVIORSDiscover how a shift toward an acceptance lens vs an accountability lens can change the way you view problem behaviors.A NEW BEGINNING: EMBRACING ACCEPTANCE FOR A MORE BALANCED, PEACEFUL HOMEDealing with Defiance… Disrespect…Dangerous & Destructive behaviors?Adoptive moms often find ourselves navigating an intricate maze of emotions and behaviors that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and overstressed…and seeking solutions to manage all of this, often through lenses of accountability and control/counter-control.

🎧 Listen to this episodeThe Drive to Develop Personal Autonomy in Adoptive Families is Natural…Personal autonomy in a nutshell is the sense of self-governance and the freedom to make your own choices. And in making our own choices we are able to practice the exercise of self-control.  As Christians we know the Bible teaches us that self-control comes from God’s Holy Spirit and is listed in Galatians as a fruit of the Spirit.  

🎧 Listen to episodeDo you sometimes feel like you're in a fog? Fog = F - O - G  for Fear, Obligation, Guilt. If you feel like you're in a lingering fog in your adoptive family this is for you.

🎧LISTEN TO EPISODE Season 4, Episode 2 Four Foundational Responsibilities of Christian Adoptive Parents Today we're discussing the foundational responsibilities of parenting: protection, provision, and guidance. Plus, particularly if you are a Christian it is crucial to pray for each of your children and your family persistently. #1 - Protection is about keeping your children safe from physical or psychological harm. It can involve a variety of issues that can come up such as shielding them from dangers such as drugs and alcohol, protecting their innocence in terms of exposure to inappropriate topics or activities, providing physical boundaries around the home, enforcing rules that keep your kids away from potentially dangerous situations, setting limits on screen time and internet usage, and more. If this all sounds overwhelming, I totally get it. And I’ll remind you of the old saying, “Don’t borrow trouble”  a biblical principle found in Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 6:34 –“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

🎧 Listen to episodeWouldn’t you agree that parenting is sometimes hard work? How about when the dynamics of family life change with the addition of adopted children or stepchildren? In my experience as an adoptive mom, it can be difficult to navigate through conflicting advice, unreasonable expectations, and ever-evolving relationships in a bustling household. 

🎧 Listen to episodeDoes Your Adopted Child Have Lingering Effects of Their Prior Trauma? When a child is adopted, it is often thought that their previous traumatic experiences will automatically disappear. However, this is not always the case. In fact, many adopted children suffer from the effects of their childhood trauma long after they have been removed from the abusive environment.This can be due to a number of factors. For example, some adoptees may feel like they are not worthy of love and support because they were given up by their birth parents. Others may feel like they are constantly being judged by others because of their adoption status. As a result, these adoptees may struggle to form healthy relationships with others and may struggle with self-esteem issues.

 From the paperwork & legalities to the physical and emotional tolls, there's no denying that adoption is a BIG undertaking. If you're thinking about becoming an adoptive parent, or are in the process of adopting, you're probably aware of many challenges that come with the territory.