Adoption Wise

Infertility and pregnancy loss are often a part of an adoptive family's story. This week, Erin Gaeng, shares her story of infertility and loss with both vulnerability and hope. We also talk about the husbands. Everyone forgets the husbands!

If you want to connect with Erin, you can pretty much always find her at Disney World. She hangs out on Instagram @erinfrommaryland.

Relevant Links:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

 

Infertility and pregnancy loss are often a part of an adoptive family's story. This week, Erin Gaeng, shares her story of infertility and loss with both vulnerability and hope. We also talk about the husbands. Everyone forgets the husbands!

If you want to connect with Erin, you can pretty much always find her at Disney World. She hangs out on Instagram @erinfrommaryland.

Relevant Links:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

 

Our kids are struggling with disappointment over things that have been lost due to quarantine - track season, dance recitals, and prom, for example. Lisa's daughter, Claire, is finishing her senior year of high school without a graduation ceremony. Today we're talking about recognizing grief and supporting our kids.

Additionally in this episode, we talk honestly about grief surrounding foster care and adoption through the lens of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief, plus an additional sixth stage.

Links Relevant to this episode:

5 Stage of Grief

Episode 20: The Bitter and Sweet of Foster Care Reunification with Jamie Finn

Episode 31: 7 Ways for Parents to Relieve a Stressed-Out Brain

Our kids are struggling with disappointment over things that have been lost due to quarantine - track season, dance recitals, and prom, for example. Lisa's daughter, Claire, is finishing her senior year of high school without a graduation ceremony. Today we're talking about recognizing grief and supporting our kids.

Additionally in this episode, we talk honestly about grief surrounding foster care and adoption through the lens of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief, plus an additional sixth stage.

Links Relevant to this episode:

5 Stage of Grief

Episode 20: The Bitter and Sweet of Foster Care Reunification with Jamie Finn

Episode 31: 7 Ways for Parents to Relieve a Stressed-Out Brain

Our kids are struggling with disappointment over things that have been lost due to quarantine - track season, dance recitals, and prom, for example. Lisa's daughter, Claire, is finishing her senior year of high school without a graduation ceremony. Today we're talking about recognizing grief and supporting our kids.

Additionally in this episode, we talk honestly about grief surrounding foster care and adoption through the lens of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief, plus an additional sixth stage.

Links Relevant to this episode:

5 Stage of Grief

Episode 20: The Bitter and Sweet of Foster Care Reunification with Jamie Finn

Episode 31: 7 Ways for Parents to Relieve a Stressed-Out Brain

We love a good book, and if it's about adoption, all the better. We were delighted to discover the Instagram account Adoption.books where Lanaya Graham reviews adoption and foster care themed books, particularly those with adoptee and birthparent voices.

Relevant Links:

Lanaya's website

Connect with Lanaya on Instagram

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Primal Wound*

The Connected Child*

Growing Grace*

Little Fires Everywhere*

The Cactus*

The Language of Flowers*

You Don't Look Adopted*

Far From the Tree*

Families Change*

The Girls Who Went Away*

Star of the Week*

Lion*

*This is an affiliate link

We love a good book, and if it's about adoption, all the better. We were delighted to discover the Instagram account Adoption.books where Lanaya Graham reviews adoption and foster care themed books, particularly those with adoptee and birthparent voices.

Relevant Links:

Lanaya's website

Connect with Lanaya on Instagram

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Primal Wound*

The Connected Child*

Growing Grace*

Little Fires Everywhere*

The Cactus*

The Language of Flowers*

You Don't Look Adopted*

Far From the Tree*

Families Change*

The Girls Who Went Away*

Star of the Week*

Lion*

*This is an affiliate link

 

We love a good book, and if it's about adoption, all the better. We were delighted to discover the Instagram account Adoption.books where Lanaya Graham reviews adoption and foster care themed books, particularly those with adoptee and birthparent voices.

Relevant Links:

Lanaya's website

Connect with Lanaya on Instagram

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Primal Wound*

The Connected Child*

Growing Grace*

Little Fires Everywhere*

The Cactus*

The Language of Flowers*

You Don't Look Adopted*

Far From the Tree*

Families Change*

The Girls Who Went Away*

Star of the Week*

Lion*

*This is an affiliate link

 

Surprise! Your kids are now doing school at home. Have you gotten past the shock? You may be wondering just what a school day should look like. You may also be trying to figure out how much of the work planned by teachers needs to be completed.

Our guest today is Maria Hansen-Quine. She is a school counselor and the mom of nine kids including some who joined her family through adoption.

With insight into parenting and educating children with trauma histories, Maria shares her tips for navigating the uncharted waters of education during a pandemic.

Regulation Ideas:

Our Before-School Regulation Plan (using with her 4th grade boy)

- Keep it tight (no last minute changes)

- Pre-agreed upon breakfast (food schedule)

- Pre-agreed upon clothes laid out the night before

- No electronic OR playing with toys before school

- 10 minutes of jumping on the trampoline by themselves before breakfast (and if really heightened - after breakfast as well)

- For bad weather, use rocking chair or inside swing

- Pet Time (2-5 minutes)

- Times of connection with parent (2-5 minutes)

- If not regulated, does not start school

Throughout the Day Regulation Ideas

- Rocking chair for 10 minutes

- Running and/or walking

- Playing basketball outside or inside (shooting hoops)

- Music

- Chewing Gum and or hard candy to suck on

- Weighted blanket

- Drawing and/or coloring

- Keeping a Thankful Journal

- Bath/Hot Tub/Shower

- Sports and/or something active

- Weighted lap blanket

- Sensory Sock

- Jump Rope

- Pull Up Bar for the door

- Push Ups and/or sit-ups and/or wall push ups

- Planks

- Agreed Upon Time with Toys (Legos)

- Protein snack such as cheese, nuts, meat or eggs

- Physical Competitions

- Inside Hopscotch (use strong tape to mark it off)

- Chalking in the garage

- Bike ride/scootering/skateboard

- Daily writing positive self-affirming sentences, i.e. “I can stay calm. I can trust my family. I can do my school work and if I need help I will ask”

- Something non-electronic which your child normally enjoys (yet something which they will not get so completely lost in that stopping it will cause frustration)

- Breathing Apps (“Breathe” or “Calm Down”)

Relevant Links:

Maria's Blog

Connect with Maria on Instagram

Connect with Maria on Facebook

Brain Quest books*

*This is an affiliate link

Surprise! Your kids are now doing school at home. Have you gotten past the shock? You may be wondering just what a school day should look like. You may also be trying to figure out how much of the work planned by teachers needs to be completed.

Our guest today is Maria Hansen-Quine. She is a school counselor and the mom of nine kids including some who joined her family through adoption.

With insight into parenting and educating children with trauma histories, Maria shares her tips for navigating the uncharted waters of education during a pandemic.

Regulation Ideas:

Our Before-School Regulation Plan (using with her 4th grade boy)

- Keep it tight (no last minute changes)

- Pre-agreed upon breakfast (food schedule)

- Pre-agreed upon clothes laid out the night before

- No electronic OR playing with toys before school

- 10 minutes of jumping on the trampoline by themselves before breakfast (and if really heightened - after breakfast as well)

- For bad weather, use rocking chair or inside swing

- Pet Time (2-5 minutes)

- Times of connection with parent (2-5 minutes)

- If not regulated, does not start school

Throughout the Day Regulation Ideas

- Rocking chair for 10 minutes

- Running and/or walking

- Playing basketball outside or inside (shooting hoops)

- Music

- Chewing Gum and or hard candy to suck on

- Weighted blanket

- Drawing and/or coloring

- Keeping a Thankful Journal

- Bath/Hot Tub/Shower

- Sports and/or something active

- Weighted lap blanket

- Sensory Sock

- Jump Rope

- Pull Up Bar for the door

- Push Ups and/or sit-ups and/or wall push ups

- Planks

- Agreed Upon Time with Toys (Legos)

- Protein snack such as cheese, nuts, meat or eggs

- Physical Competitions

- Inside Hopscotch (use strong tape to mark it off)

- Chalking in the garage

- Bike ride/scootering/skateboard

- Daily writing positive self-affirming sentences, i.e. “I can stay calm. I can trust my family. I can do my school work and if I need help I will ask”

- Something non-electronic which your child normally enjoys (yet something which they will not get so completely lost in that stopping it will cause frustration)

- Breathing Apps (“Breathe” or “Calm Down”)

Relevant Links:

Maria's Blog

Connect with Maria on Instagram

Connect with Maria on Facebook

Brain Quest books*

*This is an affiliate link