by GIFT Coach | Sep 27, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
One of the most demeaning questions thrown at adoptees and their families centers on the concept of REAL. Do you know your REAL parents? Do you have any REAL brothers or sisters? In addition to your adopted children, do you have any REAL ones? These questions strike...
by GIFT Coach | Sep 14, 2016 | Adoptioin Attunement, Adoption Attuned Parenting, 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 | Sep 7, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
Labor day sits in our rear view mirror. Now our thoughts focus on a new school year. As our children’s education shapes the family schedule we are mindful of the need to also teach our children how to navigate what it means to be adopted. We understand that...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 15, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Family dynamics, General Discussion, Intentional Parenting
As a first-time grandmother, I watch my year-old grandson with fascination and amazement. Like all babies, fierce determination drives him to learn. He takes trial and error in stride and innately understands that failure is the cost of mastery. I watch him and...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 3, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Empathy, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Intentional Parenting, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
Americans value success. We believe our land of opportunity rewards hard work and determination. Last week we discussed Dr. Michele Borba’s excellent book, Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World. Dr. Borba asked us to consider that we...
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...
