Gayle Swift | Growing Intentional Families Together, LLC

Find Calm in the Midst of Chaos

Lately, I have been feeling unsettled by current events. I suspect I am not alone. Parents and children are feeling the weight of these issues. School shootings. Droughts. Floods. Deadly viruses. Extreme political discord. And an increasing difficulty trying to...

Recipe for a Happy Family

by Gayle Swift | Mar 1, 2023 | Uncategorized

As the yeasty scent of homemade bread baking in my oven filled my kitchen the other day, I had a thought. Wouldn’t it be great if success at parenting were as simple as following a recipe, of carefully assembling ingredients, and precise measuring? Attention to the...

Perspective on Gift-giving for Adoptive Families

by Gayle Swift | Feb 1, 2023 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Difficult Discussions, Faith and Values, Strengthening Family Relationships

What unique factors complicate the art of gift-giving and its connection to relationship building within the context of an adoptive family? It’s February so everyone’s media platforms will be filled with messages about how we can show our families and friends...

Celebrate Family Wins: Start the Year on a Positive Note

by Gayle Swift | Jan 4, 2023 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool|Blogs by Gayle Swift

When you celebrated the new year, did you review and celebrate your family wins as well as your personal wins? Did you savor the sense of accomplishment and add it to the excitement of the holiday? (If you have not yet done this, make time to do so this week.) It...

Create A Memorable Holiday: Focus on Strengthening Connection

by Gayle Swift | Dec 7, 2022 | Family goals, Holiday celebrations, Values

For many folks, December is a month in which they think deeply about peace, goodwill, and family togetherness. Whether your family celebrates primarily from a secular or a religious point of view, I imagine that you strive to nurture feelings of joy, togetherness, and...