by GIFT Coach | Feb 3, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
Most of us adoptive parents spent many childless years pursuing the holy grail of parenthood. During the waiting process, we promised ourselves and our partners, that we would do “anything” if only we could become parents. (And we meant it!) We envisioned...
by GIFT Coach | Jan 20, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, community, Difficult Discussions, General Discussion, International Adoption, Strengthening Family Relationships
Adoptees tell us that they frequently feel like they don’t quite fit in either their adoptive or birth families. This is not to say that they don’t feel attached, loved and welcomed. Rather it speaks to their challenge of living with the influences of...
by GIFT Coach | Jan 7, 2016 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Faith and Values, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
As we zip into this new year, how can we keep the lessons learned while leaving behind the weight of anger and regret? By choosing forgiveness–not amnesia– we can avoid the potholes inherent in “expectation” and instead choose acceptance. This...
by GIFT Coach | Dec 3, 2015 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships, The Adoption Triad
Last week we explored one tenet of our philosophy of adoption. (The entire twenty-five point manifesto is posted on our website home page.) This week we turn to point four: 4. Support systems are vital in assisting families with the realities of living as an adopted...
by GIFT Coach | Nov 5, 2015 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Gayle Swift, Difficult Discussions, General Discussion, Open Adoption, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships, The Adoption Triad
This post originally appeared on the Long Island Support Group Blog As an adoptive parent, I know what it is like to feel challenged by the unique and complicated demands of life as an adoptive family. As an adoption coach, I know how other families struggle to locate...
by GIFT Coach | Oct 27, 2015 | Difficult Discussions, faith, Faith and Values, Faith communities, General Discussion, paradigm shift, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
Final of a 4 part series examining the promise of faith communities as sources of healing and connection and GIFT coaches, Sally Ankerfelt and Susan David’s recent presentation at the 2015 ATTACh Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To bring you up to speed in this 4...
