by GIFT Coach | Apr 13, 2016 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Difficult Discussions, General Discussion
For most of us the carefully wrought, precarious balance of our family systems depends on everything operating as expected. But what happens when an event smashes that equilibrium? Last week I had a come-to-Jesus encounter with that kind of disruption. I have...
by Gayle Swift | Apr 6, 2016 | Adoption Attuned Parenting, General Discussion
All families have differences. We are after all, not clones but individuals. Adoptive families are even more likely to have areas where preferences and inclinations don’t quite synchronize. Most of the time we can appreciate the zest and spice that our...
by GIFT Coach | Mar 30, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
Did you know that March 29 is National Smoke and Mirrors Day? Smoke and mirrors is a familiar expression to describe the distraction techniques used by magicians as they try to entertain with their illusions. The audience enjoys the deception even while they struggle...
by GIFT Coach | Mar 23, 2016 | Adoptive parenting, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors
Subscribers to this blog know that I recently became a grandmother. My husband and I are fortunate to spend time with him while his parents work. This has provided many opportunities to connect with him, to be intentional about how we spend time together, and...
by GIFT Coach | Mar 16, 2016 | Adoptee experience, Adoption-attunement, Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
During this month folks who are Irish –literally or metaphorically– celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Like many holidays, a non-sectarian sense of fun has overtaken the religious aspects of the day’s origins. So what does St. Patrick’s Day...
by GIFT Coach | Feb 24, 2016 | General Discussion
In our two previous posts we asked you to bring intentionality to time management as a way to create opportunities to be available to your family. We avoided the burden of piling additional items on your already overcrowded to do list. Instead we invited you to take...