by Gayle Swift | Sep 18, 2011 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Difficult Discussions, Foster Parenting, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
Weaving family relationships with a child who has experienced trauma requires a well-stocked parenting toolbox. Unlike Dominoes which always fall in predictable directions when nudged, children sometimes respond to a technique and sometimes they do not. A successful...
by Gayle Swift | Jul 17, 2011 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Difficult Discussions, Foster Parenting, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
As an adult, a nasty little gremlin occasionally lurks in my mind’s ear. Usually, I can activate my mute button and silence the negativity—but not always. This inner voice sabotages efforts, magnifies doubts, inflates faults and rehashes mistakes. This gremlin knows...
by GIFT Coach | Jun 26, 2011 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Lynn Cooper, Difficult Discussions, Foster Parenting, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
The following is an excerpt from Supporting Maltreated Children by Dr. Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D. Helping Maltreated Children Responsive adults—parents, teachers, and other caregivers—make all the difference in the lives of maltreated children, so: Nurture these...
by GIFT Coach | Jun 12, 2011 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Sally Ankerfelt, Difficult Discussions, Faith and Values, Foster Parenting, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
It’s been more than 13 years ago now since I attended a seminar on adoption as my husband and I were anxiously awaiting news that we could go and receive our son who was waiting for us – along with the clearance papers – in the Philippines. I wish I could...
by GIFT Coach | May 15, 2011 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Difficult Discussions, Foster Parenting, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
As a parent, and especially one who has adopted two children, I have come to believe that boundaries and manipulation are two sides of the same coin. It had been my belief that boundaries are the wall that we put up in order to feel safe within ourselves. Without that...
by Gayle Swift | Apr 27, 2011 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Lynn Cooper, Difficult Discussions, Foster Parenting, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
I know I am. My husband once told me I plan too much. I didn’t understand the concept, one can not plan too much. The message he was sending me was that I was too attached to my plans. If things didn’t work out the way I wanted or expected them to, I was...
