by Sally A | Feb 21, 2013 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion
We continue to learn from Christina White’s blog post chronicling her abusive childhood. She wrote that she “wanted to be normal and loving.” And that she needed a safe haven. As parents we strive to create a safe haven in our home and establish an environment of love...
by Sally A | Feb 13, 2013 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
This week we continue to discuss the story of our guest blogger, child abuse survivor, Christina White. Following her lead, we restrain our pity. Instead we celebrate her survival and recognize the strengths and choices that carried her through. As she learned to...
by GIFT Coach | Oct 8, 2012 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, The Adoption Triad
Would you consider it a privilege to have your legs amputated? Would you cherish your bionic replacements without yearning for your original limbs? Would you be glad you’d been chosen for this honor? Absurd, right? No matter how wonderful your robo-legs were, part of...
by GIFT Coach | Sep 11, 2012 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
What are the Barriers to Sharing Difficult Information? A recent discussion with adoption professionals focused on parents who choose to withhold difficult information from adopted children. A question was posed: Is the motivation to protect the child or for the...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 25, 2012 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Lynn Cooper, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
In the winter 2012 issue of Adoptalk, the NACAC newsletter, an article was published entitled “Traumatized Children Require Different Parenting Techniques” by Debi Grebenik. The author discusses trauma and brain development, parent preparation and parenting...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 20, 2012 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Susan David, Foster Parenting, General Discussion
Many parents, adoptive or otherwise, may be struggling in their relationship, as I was with my daughter a few years ago, as a result of tension created by their child having difficulty reading. Last night, I sat reading aloud the 2nd book in The Hunger Games trilogy...
