The Honestly Adoption Blog
Every week we publish new posts to give you insights and strategies for the parenting journey!
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Is It Ever Okay To Leave The Toxic Relationship Of Family Or Friends?
This guest post is written by an adoptive mom and colleague of ours. She tackles a subject we know many foster and adoptive parents face.
When we begin the foster or adoptive journey, we need support. Often, we find it through family and close friendships. But sometimes, we don’t. What do you do when you realize it’s time to walk away from those relationships?
There’s A Reason Your Child Always Fights You For Control
This post is from an adoptive parent whose hope is that other parents will learn and grow from his experiences.
As parents of children with a trauma history, we often find ourselves engaged in futile battles with them for control. But when we understand the why behind their fight, the way we parent them can change.
How To Find Therapy For The Caregiver
This post is written by adoptive mom, Kristin.
The children we care for may need to spend time every week seeing a therapist to help them process their trauma history. This is a good thing. However, it begs the question…what about you? The caregiver? What if you need therapy to? How do you find this?
The Ultimate Need Of Every Adoptive Family
This post is anonymously shared by an adoptive mom, to encourage other caregivers. We expect you will appreciate her vulnerability and honesty as much as we do
We are often asked what we need, or how someone can help our family. While these questions are always appreciated, the answer may surprise you.
What to do When Your Child Pushes You Away
This post is written by adoptive mom, Kristin who believes that when we understand our children better, we stop trying to change them and instead change ourselves.
When our child’s behavior becomes off-putting, or prickly, it’s often hard to remember that it’s an indication of something bigger going on with them. Remembering this, however, can change how we approach our children…
When You Still Have to Parent Adult Children
This is a guest post from Melissa Corkum. Melissa is a parent and wellness coach helping parents move from chaos to calm and confidence. She is an adult adoptee and married to Patrick. They live in Maryland and are parents to 6 kids by birth and adoption and soon-to-be grandparents. She writes at thecorkboardonline.com and is the co-founder of The Adoption Connection, a resource site and podcast for adoptive and foster families.
It’s a reality that many of us on the adoption journey will face. We will be actively involved in hands on parenting with our adult children in ways most parents will not. How do you face this with hope and a plan?
Is It Disobedience Or Sensory Input Needs?
In our latest episode of The Honestly Adoption Podcast we answer the question, “Is it disobedience or sensory input needs?”
This Is For Every Child With A Special Need
This post was written by Mike, an adoptive dad who bursts with pride for his children every day.
Like many of you, we watched Kodi Lee’s performance on America’s Got Talent last week through tears and celebration. But his performance meant something beyond deep and meaningful for every child with a special need, and their parents.
How An End Of School Year Awards Ceremony Made Us Proud Of Our Kids!
Sometimes we can become so exhausted on this journey that we lose sight of our children’s accomplishments. They are warriors. Many have had to overcome so much! Even if you’re in a hard season, you have reason to be proud!
Why I Can No Longer Bubble Wrap My Child
This post is written by Mike, an adoptive Dad about a lesson learned from our good friend who is an attachment therapist and also an adoptive mom.
As our children grow into adulthood, we become increasingly helpless to stop them from making choices that could lead to serious consequences. What do you do when you realize you can no longer stop them from doing what they want?
Why You Should Never Bad Mouth Your Child’s First Family
This post is written by Kristin, Kristin is an adoptive mom, an adoptive big sister, an adoptive aunt, and the granddaughter of two adoptees.
It can be a difficult thing to not do, at times, because your child’s storyline may not be very positive. But it’s critical that we never bad mouth our child’s first family. Here’s why…
Will The World Ever Understand My Child’s Disorder?
From frustrating IEP meetings, to disagreeable doctors, inappropriate church goers, and nosey neighbors. The world is full of people who think we’re making our child’s disorder up, or just misunderstand our reality altogether. The question is, will they ever understand?
When Holidays Aren’t All They’re Cracked Up To Be
When most families around the world celebrate a Holiday like Easter Sunday with jubilation, families like ours, with kids who have experienced trauma, brace for a storm. From the candy, overstimulation from church and family gatherings, to the mad rush of an easter egg hunt, it often proves to be disastrous. How can caregivers find hope when this is the case?
Three Things to Do While You Wait to Adopt
How many times have you let your past or incessant focus on the future impede your right now? Maybe your right now is a snapshot of you and your hubby. Maybe your right now is a quest to build your family through adoption. In the midst of planning for your tomorrow, it is important to make space to experience joy in the moment-in the right now.
Kids In Foster Care Are The Heroes Of The New DC Movie Shazam And It’s Awesome! (Movie Review)
Two movie reviews in one week! We’ve never done this before. But as the weather becomes warmer, and families venture out to the theaters, we want to adequately equip you to make the best choices in family entertainment. Check out my full review below…
Is Disney’s Dumbo Appropriate For Kids Who Are In Foster Care Or Adopted?
Disney’s live action take on the classic Dumbo soared across screens nationwide on March 29th, and I’m answering some big questions on how appropriate the film is for children who are in foster care or adopted.
When Your Child Is The Bully
This is not an easy reality to face. Because you never want to admit that your child is bullying others. But there’s something prompting this behavior. And there is hope for this child!
Encouragement For When Parenting Feels Defeating
This journey is hard. There’s no question. When we signed up for it, we never knew loving children from hard places would take so much out of us. We didn’t realize that, even when we felt empty, we’d have to keep going. But that’s what real love is all about.
How To Help Your Children Advocate For Themselves
This post was written by Kristin Berry, (adoptive mom), with insight from S. Berry (adoptee.) As parents, we spend a lot of time advocating for our children, and ensuring their needs are understood, and met. That’s a big part of our job. But we also must begin to teach our children to speak for themselves. How do we successfully do that? Hello, my name is ~. I have an FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Some things are harder for me like focusing, sitting still and remembering things. I’m very good at some things like drawing, problem solving and building things.
How To Recognize Mixed Maturity And Developmental Trauma
There are so many up and down emotions swirling around in our children, and we are often so exhausted, that it’s easy to forget about developmental delays. How do you recognize this in your children? This may help…
