The Honestly Adoption Blog
Insights, strategies, and personal stories to encourage you on the parenting journey!
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How Can I Encourage Family And Friends To Support Our Parenting Style?
Helping family and close friendships understand you and how you parent can be tricky. They mean well, but may not fully understand how to support you. But there are ways you can encourage them and help them gain a healthy understanding.
11 Things Children Who Have Experienced Trauma Need The Most
It can be a challenge to understand what children with a trauma history need the most. Especially since trauma often leaves a child unable to express this in a healthy way. Out of this, there are some crucial needs that we as caregivers must be aware of.
In The Middle Of A Crisis, Our Families Are Strong!
We are living in unprecedented times right now. Some of us parents are being tested to the limits of what we thought was possible. And yet, we are surviving. Step by step, day by day. There’s a reason why…
How To Empower Your Children To Grieve
Perhaps this post is timely given the current, and rapid moving, changes our children are navigating through right now. The fact is, our children carry a lot of loss with them. How do we empower them to grieve this?
What Do You Do When Your Child Lies About Everything?
Lying. It’s so frustrating to deal with as a parent. We want to engage, and battle until we can squeak the truth out of our children. But it’s often futile. How do we respond, and what can we do, when our children constantly lie?
Disney Pixar Onward Inspires And Brings The Tears!
Earlier this week, my daughter and I had the opportunity to pre-screen the Disney Pixar film Onward. In today’s post, I’m giving you my full take on the film.
What An Airplane Taught Me About Self Care
Sometimes we find powerful applications for life in the strangest places. Like an airplane. Where we’ve gained a simple, obvious, yet profound illustration for self care!
Should You Foster Or Adopt Out Of Birth Order?
It’s something prospective parents, or those considering the journey again, have wondered: Should I or should I not foster or adopt out of birth order? Here are some thoughts…
“I’m Not Called To Foster Or Adopt. How Can I Help?”
The foster and adoptive parenting journey may not be for everyone, and that’s okay. But everyone can do something. If you know someone who has asked this question, or you have wondered this, here are some ways you can help…
What Can I Do When My Child Needs Discipline?
We know that children with a trauma history do not respond well to traditional parenting methods, especially when it comes to discipline. How then do you discipline and set boundaries with them when it’s necessary?
Should I Talk To My Child About Their Past Trauma?
It’s a question many of us have wrestled over on this journey. Should we or should we not talk to our child about his or her past trauma? Here are some thoughts…
How To Establish A Solid Safety Plan In Your Home
Safety plans are not an abnormal part of the foster and adoptive journey. In fact, they’re necessary for many reasons. But how do you create and maintain a safety plan that keeps everyone in your home safe?
To The Parent Ready To Give Up: “I See You!”
This is a guest post by Jennie Owens. Jennie and her husband, Lynn, have parented over 100 children and worked with thousands of families. Together, they founded Forever Homes, a non-profit organization that seeks to support, encourage, and empower foster and adoptive families. Jennie has an MA in Education and extensive training in trauma-informed care and therapeutic parenting. She provides trainings at conferences, schools, retreats, and workshops.
How To Manage Your Child’s Food Insecurity
We are in the middle of the Holiday season which means Christmas parties, family gatherings, presents, and food. Lots of it. This may be a trigger for your child if he or she has a history of hunger or malnourishment. How do you successfully navigate this with your child?
Before You React, Remember Their Loss
The Holiday season can bring up a lot of mixed emotions with our children. Often, it’s easy to mistake their extreme behaviors for just “bad behavior.” But there’s so much more happening. And simply remembering a few truths about this time of year and your children can make all the difference.
Is Frozen II A Win For Your Family?
Brand new sing-a-long ballads, funny one-liners, a heart-warming love story, and another heart palpitating adventure make up the highlights of my review of Disney Frozen II.
Is It My Child’s Behavior Or My Ego Causing The Crisis?
Sometimes our kids have big emotions which lead to big behaviors. They seem to come out of nowhere. But if we’re really in tune with our kids, we just might catch the problem before the behaviors come and help them process in a healthy way.
5 Highly Recommended Books For Your Fall Reading List
The leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and the time has changed here in the United States, meaning one thing: it’s fall. We’ve got some great recommended reading to warm up those chilly fall nights.
My Son Has A FASD, But That’s Not His Definition
This post is written by a dad, in hopes of sharing encouragement (and also to brag about his son.)This month is FASD Awareness Month. FASD stands for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. It is the umbrella title over several diagnoses surrounding drug and alcohol exposure in utero. My son has a FASD. But he’s not defined by it.
Missing Her First Steps, But Being Here Now
This post was written by our friend and special guest, Michelle, a lovely adoptive momma, who chooses to make the most of every moment.
We often enter into our children’s lives later in the game which makes bonding and attachment difficult. But we must realize that we are here in this moment, now, and we must make that count…
