by GIFT Coach | Oct 26, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
As we discussed in a recent blog, adoptive families are often questioned in one way or another about who the “REAL” relationship figures are in their lives. These questions land like a sucker punch to the chest. Sometimes we can quickly recenter ourselves...
by GIFT Coach | Oct 4, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
Multiple points of view can be true at the same time! Adoption proves this fact every day. We experience this reality in deep, visceral ways. Case in point: adoptive parents celebrate their child’s arrival. Birth parents grieve their loss. Children experience a...
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...
