The Honestly Adoption Blog
Insights, strategies, and personal stories to encourage you on the parenting journey!
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“I’ve Failed Over And Over And Over Again”
The caregiver journey is often characterized by failure, disappointment, and loss. It leaves us feeling hopeless. But what if that was leading us toward success in some small way?
3 Practical Ways To Build An Attachment With Your Child
You’ve been pushed away, rejected, screamed at, and treated as though you’re out to get your child when you’ve tried to love them and care for them the best way possible. This feels quite defeating!
Dear Caregiver: You Can Face This!
The caregiver journey is really, really, REALLY hard. As we’ve stepped into this brand new year, we are re-realizing how true this is. That’s why we want to bring you some encouragement!
Am I Making My Child’s Food Insecurity Worse With My Rules?
Food insecurity is one of the deepest, and complex forms of trauma. Even years after a human being faces this type of trauma, their body keeps the score.
“I Am A Work In Progress”
I saw it happen. Not live, but minutes after. I watched the full unedited version through an Instagram account I follow. The “Slap” seen around the world, on stage, at The Oscars. Maybe not the greatest night in television history but, now, certainly the most infamous.
5 Things To Consider Before You Adopt After Infertility Or Loss
Navigating grief after the loss of a pregnancy, or infertility can be all-consuming. Many parents choose the path of adoption. But before you do, there are some big things to consider first.
How To Parent A Child Who Can’t Recognize Boundaries
A great majority of human life is made up of boundaries. As we grow from early childhood, into the teenage years, and eventually adulthood, we are continuously surrounded by boundaries. Boundaries to keep us safe, boundaries to preserve healthy relationships, boundaries to keep us within the law (to name a few). But what do you do when you are parenting a child who can’t recognize boundaries?
How To Survive This Holiday Season
I want to get one thing straight to begin. This is not a post JUST for parents or caregivers. This is also for our children. When it comes to surviving this high emotion-season, our children need help surviving it. It can be all-crushing to their emotional well-being.
How To Help An Impulsive Child Think Long-Term
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint!” used to describe everything from exercise, to home improvement, to building your savings account. It’s even been used to describe parenting. For the most part, it’s a logical statement that helps us as humans to think long-term about life. But what do you do when you’re parenting a child who can’t think long term?
What Should I Do If I Feel Afraid Of My Child’s Biological Family?
When we used to do in-person events (hello COVID!) the topic of biological family relationships often came up. And in many of those conversations with conference attendees, we’ve been asked, “What should I do if I feel afraid of a biological family member?”
How To Empower Your Child To Build Healthy Attachments
Our children’s trauma history can drastically disrupt the development of a health attachment with you. In fact, it’s something we may spend their entire childhood, or adolescence, working to rebuild. But what about their relationships outside of our care? Or their future relationships? How do we empower them to recognize and build healthy attachments with others, who are trusted and safe?
How Much Should You Tell Teachers About Your Child’s Trauma?
We’re now weeks into the school year and, even though some children are doing virtual school, and some are in person, the fact is they are involved with a teacher. That teacher may notice that comprehension, or attention, is in short supply with your child. That begs the question: How much should you fill your teacher in on your child’s trauma history?
Will My Child And I Ever Have A Healthy Relationship?
“You are in a marathon, not a sprint. Build your relationship slowly and carefully. As children grow our role will shift but we can still be an important part of their lives and a soft place to land.”
Should I Adopt?
It’s a question that comes into our email, and social media, inboxes often. “Should I adopt?” We have some very specific answers to this question.
What Do Children Who Have Experienced Trauma Need From Caregivers?
Children who have gone through significant childhood trauma see and experience the world differently. They also experience relationships differently. This begs the question: what do they need the most from a caregiver?
Why Traditional Parenting Methods Won’t Work With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma
As a parent, you discover pretty quickly that the ways in which your parents parented you, won’t work with children who have a trauma history. Our entire approach must change. But how?
How Should I Respond To People Who Praise Me For Adopting?
Oftentimes, outsiders looking in on the adoption journey can begin to hail you as a ‘hero’ or an ‘angel’ for choosing to adopt. It’s awkward. But sometimes, it’s unending. How then, should you respond?
How To Prepare To Be A Foster Parent
So you’re starting out on the foster parenting journey. Or perhaps you’re stepping back into it. In any case, there are some important steps to take in order to be as prepared as you can be.
How To Empower Your Children To Face Difficult Situations
In this world, our children will struggle, oftentimes more than typically developing children. How do we help them, or empower them, to face these difficult situations? Here are some tips…
How Can I Empower Children With Two Families To Embrace Their Own Identity?
Foster and adoptive families are far from the traditional family unit in many ways. The biggest difference is that our children come from two families. How do we help them embrace their own identity as they grow into adulthood?
