by GIFT Coach | Sep 14, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion
A cow patty slathered with vanilla frosting still stinks. What!?! A cow patty stinks? Indeed, no amount of frosting can change a cow patty into dessert. What does this statement have to do with Intentional Parenting? More than you might think. Adult adoptees report...
by GIFT Coach | Jul 13, 2016 | Adoption-attunement, Blogs by Gayle Swift, General Discussion, Strengthening Family Relationships
Our recent posts focused on communication, deep listening, and respect. These are foundational values for Intentional Families. In this blog, we also frequently discuss the intrinsic connection adopted families have to Diversity. Our families are rooted in difference....
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 | Sep 30, 2015 | Blogs by Gayle Swift, Faith and Values, General Discussion
No one accidentally adopts, right? We pursued adoption with passion. determination and single-mindedness. It required significant, time energy and commitment to become adoptive parents. We must pursue parenting with equal intensity, one that is infused with a thorough...
by GIFT Coach | Aug 3, 2015 | General Discussion
Identity formation in adoption is a complicated process and we have explored it from many angles recently. In last week’s GIFT blog post, eighteen-year-old adoptee Elias Ankerfelt shared some insights about his recent visit to the Philippines and the orphanage...