by GIFT Coach | Aug 27, 2014 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Difficult Discussions, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
How many times have you said, “Through adoption I’ve learned to love unconditionally”? Have you ever doubted that belief? Has it ever been rocked to the core by challenging circumstances or by the vehement disapproval of your child by a neighbor, teacher or family...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 19, 2014 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, School & IEP Support, Strengthening Family Relationships
Over the next few weeks, schools around the country reopen. The air pulses with excitement. The lassitude of summer gives way to the frantic busy-ness of school. New supplies, new teachers, new classes all bring the anticipation of a fresh start. But school also...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 5, 2014 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Difficult Discussions, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, School & IEP Support, Strengthening Family Relationships
GIFT is proud to post this important article which Heather Forbes, LCSW wrote for us. She is renowned for her work through the Beyond Consequences Institute. Through BCI, Heather Forbes advocates a healing, therapeutic response to parenting kids with trauma. She has...
by GIFT Coach | Jul 30, 2014 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
A recent article written by the Adoption Council of Ontario focused on the concept of inducement which they define as “a psychological concept which describes the use of non-verbal communication to induce one’s own emotional state in another. Inducement is a...
by GIFT Coach | May 21, 2014 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Faith and Values, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
Remember when we were kids and we craved our parent’s attention? We’d call their names and plead for them to watch whatever we were doing: a cartwheel, an energetic dance or, perhaps leaping high into the air. It was as if, our actions lacked value until our parents...
by GIFT Coach | Apr 16, 2014 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
Intentional Families recognize the importance of having fun as a family. Creating special family holiday traditions is a great way to accomplish this. Whether the event is religious like Passover and Easter, or secular, holidays are important events in a family’s...
