by Gayle Swift | Jun 11, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Faith and Values, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
As we continue to explore the importance of fathers in our lives, we came across this TED Talk link to Andrew Solomon’s presentation. A gay man, he shared his parents’ attitude to his “otherness.” While they came to accept his being gay, they...
by GIFT Coach | Jun 5, 2013 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Strengthening Family Relationships
Fatherly guidance can sometimes come across to our children as a subtle message of incapability or over-stepping on a child’s need to make things their own way and do projects themselves. Parental over-helping can reinforce the feelings of shame and incapability...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 17, 2013 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Infertility
Most people have a childhood dream of becoming a parent. Children spend hours in fantasy play, pretending to be like their mommies and daddies and rehearsing their own future role of parent. For many adults, this desire intensifies when their relatives and friends...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 10, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Infant Adoption, The Adoption Process
Adoption is about providing parents for children versus finding children for parents. Whether adoption is an idea you’ve considered for ages or it’s a new possibility for you, this decision is life-changing. The choice should be carefully considered. What...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 3, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
It takes heroic effort to remain calm during a verbal attack launched by an out of control child. The natural inclination is to feel offended by the ugly words hurled. Striving to love and care for their child, a parent may feel crushed to hear, “You’re a...
by GIFT Coach | Mar 28, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Difficult Discussions, Faith and Values, Strengthening Family Relationships
During this past month we’ve explored the way walls function in our lives to protect and defend us. It is important for us to know when to open these defenses and especially vital to teach our children these same skills. When we are in a moment of confrontation,...
