by GIFT Coach | Nov 13, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
What compelled you to write “ABC, Adoption & Me”? Adoption brought great joy to my husband and me. We were thrilled to leave childlessness behind and to join the ranks of “Parents.” As the children were growing up, we worked hard to make adoption a normal part of...
by GIFT Coach | Oct 30, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Difficult Discussions, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
When we brought home our adopted child, dreams of a wonderful life filled our hearts. In the distant recesses of our minds, however, some fears may have lingered. Fears that our child may not attach and accept us. Fears that our child might repeat some of the mistakes...
by GIFT Coach | Oct 17, 2013 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
Before your child joined your family and you and your child’s birth parents chose Open Adoption, it probably seemed fairly simple. You developed a plan that suited your child and both sets of parents. The reality of Open Adoptions, however, often becomes more...
by GIFT Coach | Oct 9, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
What are your goals as a parent and how do you know you’re progressing toward them? Have you and your partner identified a clear idea that is based on shared definitions? Or are you operating on assumptions that you both want the same results? Successful family...
by GIFT Coach | Oct 2, 2013 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
On our weekly conference call with my GIFT partners, we talked about the influence our kids choices have on one another. Some of us notice that when one child shines the other frequently implodes—finds himself choosing behaviors that produce dramatic,...
by GIFT Coach | Sep 25, 2013 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships, The Adoption Triad
According to Steven Covey, “The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are.” I would assert, that the pivot point which governs a parent/child relationship revolves around feelings—our own and our child’s....
