by Gayle Swift | Jul 11, 2018 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Family dynamics, General Discussion
As adherents of Adoption Attunement, we believe that having fun together as a family is an integral factor in building successful connection and attachment. It is far too easy to get hyper-focused on the education and discipline aspect of parenting and to lose sight...
by Gayle Swift | May 2, 2018 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Family dynamics, General Discussion
Last weekend my son turned thirty-three.* (He’s grown a fair bit since this photo was taken!) We marked the day with the usual festivities including ice cream cake, candles to blow out, voices raised in off-key song. Sounds pretty typical but it was far from...
by Gayle Swift | May 17, 2017 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Family dynamics, Strengthening Family Relationships
After a very lengthy and debilitating illness, my husband died in December. During these difficult eight years, we lived with Intention. We resolved not to allow the future to spoil our present and decided how we wanted to spend his remaining time together. This meant...
by GIFT Coach | Feb 8, 2017 | Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Family dynamics, General Discussion, Intentional Parenting
Last month we focused on accumulating information to underpin some intentional change-making. Today’s tips can help you implement change even if you didn’t participate in last month’s series. (It’s not too late to follow the exercise outlined...
by GIFT Coach | Nov 23, 2016 | Adoption constellation, Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Family dynamics, General Discussion
Thanksgiving centers on gratitude; that is the very reason for its existence. As adoptive parents we must be mindful of the hot button issue that often connects gratitude and adoption. Adoptees frequently hear that they “should” feel “lucky” that they were adopted and...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 15, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Family dynamics, General Discussion, Intentional Parenting
As a first-time grandmother, I watch my year-old grandson with fascination and amazement. Like all babies, fierce determination drives him to learn. He takes trial and error in stride and innately understands that failure is the cost of mastery. I watch him and...
