by GIFT Coach | Sep 14, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
A cow patty slathered with vanilla frosting still stinks. What!?! A cow patty stinks? Indeed, no amount of frosting can change a cow patty into dessert. What does this statement have to do with Intentional Parenting? More than you might think. Adult adoptees report...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 10, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Family dynamics, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, RAD Reactive Attachment Syndrom
Family building via adoption requires effort, commitment, education, intentionality and a willingness to take a risk–by both parent and child. Each must muster the courage to open emotionally and be vulnerable to the other. When we dare to love, we also...
by GIFT Coach | Jul 20, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Faith and Values, General Discussion
As coaches committed to Intentional Parenting, we strive to support parents’ efforts to successfully fulfill their Purpose for becoming a family and to identify the Values that define them. Adoption is a complicated process which usually involves much...
by GIFT Coach | Jul 13, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
Our recent posts focused on communication, deep listening, and respect. These are foundational values for Intentional Families. In this blog, we also frequently discuss the intrinsic connection adopted families have to Diversity. Our families are rooted in difference....
by GIFT Coach | Jun 15, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Difficult Discussions, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
We all strive to get along well. But, conflict, breaches and breakdown inevitably touch every relationship. This is especially true within families, the home of our most intimate relationships. Here we are most deeply invested, most passionately committed, most...
by GIFT Coach | May 25, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, General Discussion
To the marrow of our bones, adoptive parents understand what we’ve called in earlier blogs “our magnificent obsession”: the consuming desire for children. We pursued adoption with passion and dogged determination, leaped every hurdle and met every requirement that...
