by GIFT Coach | Jul 22, 2015 | Birth Day--A Study in Contrast, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
I’ve mentioned earlier this year that our first grandchild will be born any day. I’ve been caught up in the tidal wave of excitement along with other family members and friends. A wide swath of support and joy has surrounded the delighted expectant...
by GIFT Coach | Jun 3, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
During the last month or so, our family has celebrated several family milestones. My son turned thirty. My husband turned sixty-seven. We observed our forty-fourth (!) wedding anniversary. With great hoopla (and decked out in costumes,) we gathered for a baby shower...
by GIFT Coach | May 27, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
Adopted families, like those formed exclusively by birth are fundamentally the same: parents and children love and are committed to one another forever. But our journey included more twists, turns, and an array of “intermediaries” (social workers, lawyers,...
by GIFT Coach | May 21, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Open Adoption, Strengthening Family Relationships
My children are now adults –twenty-eight and thirty years old. (Of course, in my heart, they will always be my babies.) Each is steadily pursuing relationships and careers guided by an inner compass that evolved from a combination of factors: nurture, DNA, personal...
by GIFT Coach | May 5, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
Since September, I have had the privilege to be in relationship with my thirty-year–old son’s birth mother. (Earlier this year she shared her thoughts on their reunion in this blog post.) I’ve discovered many things during the past eight months. The...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 29, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Emotional Literacy
In last week’s blog we explored the Mirroring and Belonging level of the Relationship Pyramid and discussed how important it is for a child to learn an extensive Emotional Vocabulary. Having the ability to name and recognize various emotions in oneself allows a...
