Adoption Wise

Today's episode is for every mom with kids from "hard places" and especially moms whose children have brain differences due to trauma, prenatal exposure, or other factors.

Debbie Jones is the adoptive mom of a young adult son with FASD. Today she shares her wisdom and wealth of experience with setting realistic expectations for our children in order to help them succeed.

Her story is honest, real, and filled with hope. Don't miss it!

Links Relevant to this episode:

Connect with Deb on Facebook

God, Are You Nice or Mean?: Trusting God . . . After the Orphanage* by Deb Jones

#40: Parenting Kids with FASDs and Invisible Disabilities Successfully with Eileen Devine

*This is an affiliate link

*If you’re already on our email list, you automatically receive each week’s download in our Quick Connection email.

If you've ever wanted to ask experienced adoptive and foster moms what practical things they would recommend you do before bringing new children into your family, this episode is for you.

If you are in the midst of fostering or adopting, you'll get fresh ideas to help you as you parent and love your kids.

This is the second half of a discussion we began last week about preparing to become foster or adoptive parents.

Last week, we discussed internal preparations: mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Today we're talking about the 6 most important practical things you can do to prepare for being an adoptive/foster parent.

1. Simplify your life - your stuff and your schedule.

2. Get all the "things" done beforehand.

3. Build your tribe.

4. Prepare answers for hard or ignorant questions.

5. Consider all of your children's safety.

6. Plan some fun while you wait.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Links Relevant to this episode:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

Episode 04: How to Talk to Your Kids About Their Story

Episode 41: Mentally Preparing For Your Adoption or Fostering Journey – The 11 most important things you need to know

8 Ways to Help an Adoptive or Foster Mom

What to Look for in a Mental Health Professional

Video Melissa used to prep her friend's tribe

W.I.S.E. Up! Book

If you've ever wanted to ask experienced adoptive and foster moms what practical things they would recommend you do before bringing new children into your family, this episode is for you.

If you are in the midst of fostering or adopting, you'll get fresh ideas to help you as you parent and love your kids.

This is the second half of a discussion we began last week about preparing to become foster or adoptive parents.

Last week, we discussed internal preparations: mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Today we're talking about the 6 most important practical things you can do to prepare for being an adoptive/foster parent.

1. Simplify your life - your stuff and your schedule.

2. Get all the "things" done beforehand.

3. Build your tribe.

4. Prepare answers for hard or ignorant questions.

5. Consider all of your children's safety.

6. Plan some fun while you wait.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Links Relevant to this episode:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

Episode 04: How to Talk to Your Kids About Their Story

Episode 41: Mentally Preparing For Your Adoption or Fostering Journey – The 11 most important things you need to know

8 Ways to Help an Adoptive or Foster Mom

What to Look for in a Mental Health Professional

Video Melissa used to prep her friend's tribe

W.I.S.E. Up! Book

If you've ever wanted to ask experienced adoptive and foster moms what practical things they would recommend you do before bringing new children into your family, this episode is for you.

If you are in the midst of fostering or adopting, you'll get fresh ideas to help you as you parent and love your kids.

This is the second half of a discussion we began last week about preparing to become foster or adoptive parents.

Last week, we discussed internal preparations: mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Today we're talking about the 6 most important practical things you can do to prepare for being an adoptive/foster parent.

1. Simplify your life - your stuff and your schedule.

2. Get all the "things" done beforehand.

3. Build your tribe.

4. Prepare answers for hard or ignorant questions.

5. Consider all of your children's safety.

6. Plan some fun while you wait.

Links Relevant to this episode:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

Episode 04: How to Talk to Your Kids About Their Story

Episode 41: Mentally Preparing For Your Adoption or Fostering Journey – The 11 most important things you need to know

8 Ways to Help an Adoptive or Foster Mom

What to Look for in a Mental Health Professional

Video Melissa used to prep her friend's tribe

W.I.S.E. Up! Book

If you've ever wanted to ask experienced adoptive and foster moms what they would recommend you do before bringing new children into your family, this episode is for you.

If you are in the midst of fostering or adopting, you'll get fresh ideas to help you as you parent and love your kids.

Today we're talking about 11 things you can do to prepare mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually for being an adoptive/foster parent.

The 11 Most Important Things You Need to Know

1. Take care of yourself and your marriage.

2. Have realistic expectations.

3. Understand what you can control - and what you can't.

4. Be flexible.

5. Educate yourself.

6. Define success appropriately.

7. Remember that what's normal for you may not be normal for your kids.

8. Be mindful that your kids' perception is their reality.

9. Embrace radical acceptance.

10. Understand your history and how it affects your parenting.

11. Remember it's a marathon and not a sprint.

Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can:

And wisdom to know the difference.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Links Relevant to this episode:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

Episode 09: Are Newborn Adoptions Easier? (with Rebecca Vahle)

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

Episode 40: Parenting Kids with FASDs and Invisible Disabilities Successfully with Eileen Devine

Melissa's post that shows the pyramid where we need to be the solid foundation

The Connected Child * by Karyn Purvis

Books by Dan Siegel *

Books by Daniel Hughes *

8 Ways to Help an Adoptive or Foster Mom

*This is an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting our work!

If you've ever wanted to ask experienced adoptive and foster moms what they would recommend you do before bringing new children into your family, this episode is for you.

If you are in the midst of fostering or adopting, you'll get fresh ideas to help you as you parent and love your kids.

Today we're talking about 11 things you can do to prepare mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually for being an adoptive/foster parent.

The 11 Most Important Things You Need to Know

1. Take care of yourself and your marriage.

2. Have realistic expectations.

3. Understand what you can control - and what you can't.

4. Be flexible.

5. Educate yourself.

6. Define success appropriately.

7. Remember that what's normal for you may not be normal for your kids.

8. Be mindful that your kids' perception is their reality.

9. Embrace radical acceptance.

10. Understand your history and how it affects your parenting.

11. Remember it's a marathon and not a sprint.

Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can:

And wisdom to know the difference.

Links Relevant to this episode:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

Episode 09: Are Newborn Adoptions Easier? (with Rebecca Vahle)

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

Episode 40: Parenting Kids with FASDs and Invisible Disabilities Successfully with Eileen Devine

Melissa's post that shows the pyramid where we need to be the solid foundation

The Connected Child * by Karyn Purvis

Books by Dan Siegel *

Books by Daniel Hughes *

8 Ways to Help an Adoptive or Foster Mom

*This is an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting our work!

If you've ever wanted to ask experienced adoptive and foster moms what they would recommend you do before bringing new children into your family, this episode is for you.

If you are in the midst of fostering or adopting, you'll get fresh ideas to help you as you parent and love your kids.

Today we're talking about 11 things you can do to prepare mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually for being an adoptive/foster parent.

The 11 Most Important Things You Need to Know

1. Take care of yourself and your marriage.

2. Have realistic expectations.

3. Understand what you can control - and what you can't.

4. Be flexible.

5. Educate yourself.

6. Define success appropriately.

7. Remember that what's normal for you may not be normal for your kids.

8. Be mindful that your kids' perception is their reality.

9. Embrace radical acceptance.

10. Understand your history and how it affects your parenting.

11. Remember it's a marathon and not a sprint.

Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can:

And wisdom to know the difference.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Links Relevant to this episode:

The Adoption Connection Facebook group

Episode 09: Are Newborn Adoptions Easier? (with Rebecca Vahle)

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

Episode 40: Parenting Kids with FASDs and Invisible Disabilities Successfully with Eileen Devine

Melissa's post that shows the pyramid where we need to be the solid foundation

The Connected Child * by Karyn Purvis

Books by Dan Siegel *

Books by Daniel Hughes *

8 Ways to Help an Adoptive or Foster Mom

*This is an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting our work!

If your child's brain has been affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol, drugs, extreme stress, or other factors, there are 8 areas of brain function that may be affected:

Developmental level of functioning: Social skills and adaptive behavior

Sensory systems, sensory-motor integration

Nutrition

Language and communication

Processing pace

Learning and Memory

Abstract thinking

Executive functioning

Don't miss this interview with Eileen Devine, LCSW, an expert on FASDs.

She discusses the challenges for kids with brain differences and their parents and offers helpful strategies that really work!

Links Relevant to this episode:

Visit Eileen's Blog

Connect with Eileen on Facebook

Connect with Eileen on Instagram

Trying Differently Rather Than Harder: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders* by Diane Malbin

Video for Teachers by Nate Sheets

Ira Chasnoff's Website

The Mystery of Risk: Drugs, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and the Vulnerable Child* by Ira Chasnoff

Facebook group: Shifting the paradigm: towards a neuro-behavioral approach to FASD

*This is an affiliate link

If your child's brain has been affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol, drugs, extreme stress, or other factors, there are 8 areas of brain function that may be affected:

* Developmental level of functioning: Social skills and adaptive behavior

* Sensory systems, sensory-motor integration

* Nutrition

* Language and communication

* Processing pace

* Learning and Memory

* Abstract thinking

* Executive functioning

Don't miss this interview with Eileen Devine, LCSW, an expert on FASDs.

She discusses the challenges for kids with brain differences and their parents and offers helpful strategies that really work!

Links Relevant to this episode:

Visit Eileen's Blog

Connect with Eileen on Facebook

Connect with Eileen on Instagram

Trying Differently Rather Than Harder: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders* by Diane Malbin

Video for Teachers by Nate Sheets

Ira Chasnoff's Website

The Mystery of Risk: Drugs, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and the Vulnerable Child* by Ira Chasnoff

Facebook group: Shifting the paradigm: towards a neuro-behavioral approach to FASD

*This is an affiliate link

If your child's brain has been affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol, drugs, extreme stress, or other factors, there are 8 areas of brain function that may be affected:

* Developmental level of functioning: Social skills and adaptive behavior

* Sensory systems, sensory-motor integration

* Nutrition

* Language and communication

* Processing pace

* Learning and Memory

* Abstract thinking

* Executive functioning

Don't miss this interview with Eileen Devine, LCSW, an expert on FASDs.

She discusses the challenges for kids with brain differences and their parents and offers helpful strategies that really work!

Links Relevant to this episode:

Visit Eileen's Blog

Connect with Eileen on Facebook

Connect with Eileen on Instagram

Trying Differently Rather Than Harder: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders* by Diane Malbin

Video for Teachers by Nate Sheets

Ira Chasnoff's Website

The Mystery of Risk: Drugs, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and the Vulnerable Child* by Ira Chasnoff

Facebook group: Shifting the paradigm: towards a neuro-behavioral approach to FASD

*This is an affiliate link