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 greatest gift of...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 29, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
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 child...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 22, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
Mirroring and Belonging: Building an Emotional Vocabulary When we introduced the relationship pyramid and discussed how safety and security provide the foundation on which relationships depend. The more substantial the experience of feeling safe and secure, the...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 8, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
Winter still holds much of the country in its chilly grip. Easter/Passover have come and gone. Spring is on the horizon. Crocuses burst through the snow displaying a welcome burst of color and beauty. This climactic swirl serves as a metaphor for adoptive families who...
by GIFT Coach | Feb 25, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Difficult Discussions, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
In our recent blog post we discussed The 5 Love Languages of Children, by Chapman & Campbell and learned the benefits of using a child’s primary Love Language because it provides a direct way to connect with them. The 5 Love Languages of Children asserts that once...
