Adoption Wise

Jennifer has a unique perspective because of the opportunity she’s had to walk through the adoption journey as a birthmother and also as an adoptive mother.

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy in college, Jennifer chose to place her son for adoption. After marrying her husband, Rusty in 2005, God led them through infertility to reveal His plan for them to grow their family through adoption. Through the very same agency that Jennifer placed her son, they were given the chance to become parents to two more sons.

"As parents of adopted children, we have the sometimes difficult job of teaching them to embrace their stories. No matter what hard places they come from, those roots and their birth family are a piece of their identity that we must love and honor. By doing that, we give our children the confidence to love themselves because of the honor and love that we show.”

As an adoptive mom, Jennifer has been given the opportunity to use the rejection and loss that she feels as a birthmother, to help her sons celebrate the life that they have been given and understand the love of their birthmothers. As you hear Jennifer’s story and begin to see through the eyes and heart of a birthmother, may it help you more clearly identify ways to love your child by honoring the one who chose life for them.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

Connect with Jennifer on Instagram

Connect with Jennifer on IG

Email Jennifer at [email protected]

Jennifer has a unique perspective because of the opportunity she’s had to walk through the adoption journey as a birthmother and also as an adoptive mother.

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy in college, Jennifer chose to place her son for adoption. After marrying her husband, Rusty in 2005, God led them through infertility to reveal His plan for them to grow their family through adoption. Through the very same agency that Jennifer placed her son, they were given the chance to become parents to two more sons.

"As parents of adopted children, we have the sometimes difficult job of teaching them to embrace their stories. No matter what hard places they come from, those roots and their birth family are a piece of their identity that we must love and honor. By doing that, we give our children the confidence to love themselves because of the honor and love that we show.”

As an adoptive mom, Jennifer has been given the opportunity to use the rejection and loss that she feels as a birthmother, to help her sons celebrate the life that they have been given and understand the love of their birthmothers. As you hear Jennifer’s story and begin to see through the eyes and heart of a birthmother, may it help you more clearly identify ways to love your child by honoring the one who chose life for them.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

Connect with Jennifer on Instagram

Connect with Jennifer on IG

Email Jennifer at [email protected]

The emotional response to Mother's Day can be complicated, even more so for adoptive and foster moms. This week, we want you to feel seen and encouraged. We have some special messages from moms in our community to boost your spirits. Bring your tissue box.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

The emotional response to Mother's Day can be complicated, even more so for adoptive and foster moms. This week, we want you to feel seen and encouraged. We have some special messages from moms in our community to boost your spirits. Bring your tissue box.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Many Christian parents worry that trust-based parenting is too lenient or permissive.

After all, the book of Proverbs tells us “Spare the Rod, spoil the child.” Is it possible that trust-based principles can be found in the scriptures and that the strategies were used by Jesus?

During this workshop, Greg Lombard Rea teaches us:

That trust-based parenting is about transformation, not about behavior management.

How Jesus showed compassion and nurtured attachment.

Jesus' correcting strategies.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

Private Coaching with Greg

TBRI Animate: Toxic Stress and the Brain on YouTube

#87: The Impact of Prenatal Trauma on Children with Stacey Gagnon

Join The Village for future workshops (use code: podcast)

Many Christian parents worry that trust-based parenting is too lenient or permissive.

After all, the book of Proverbs tells us “Spare the Rod, spoil the child.” Is it possible that trust-based principles can be found in the scriptures and that the strategies were used by Jesus?

During this workshop, Greg Lombard Rea teaches us:

* That trust-based parenting is about transformation, not about behavior management.

* How Jesus showed compassion and nurtured attachment.

* Jesus' correcting strategies.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

Private Coaching with Greg

TBRI Animate: Toxic Stress and the Brain on YouTube

#87: The Impact of Prenatal Trauma on Children with Stacey Gagnon

Join The Village for future workshops (use code: podcast)

A lot of parents ask us, “How do I stay calm?” We want to share the brain-science behind the problem with staying calm when your child is losing their mind.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

#25: Regulating Through Movement and Play with Robyn Gobbel

#26: What To Do When Your Child is Out of Control with Robyn Gobbel

Join The Village and use code 'podcast

A lot of parents ask us, “How do I stay calm?” We want to share the brain-science behind the problem with staying calm when your child is losing their mind.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

#25: Regulating Through Movement and Play with Robyn Gobbel

#26: What To Do When Your Child is Out of Control with Robyn Gobbel

Join The Village and use code 'podcast

As an adoptee, Jennifer Hiltebeitel, was excited to adopt and be the mom she wished she would have had growing up. It turns out that her experience as an adoptee did not provide her with all the tools she needed to be an adoptive parent. Jennifer also candidly shares about her childhood and the impact reunifying with her birth family had on her identity.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

Connect with Jennifer on IG

Email Jennifer at [email protected]

The Road Back to You* by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

*This is an affiliate link

As an adoptee, Jennifer Hiltebeitel, was excited to adopt and be the mom she wished she would have had growing up. It turns out that her experience as an adoptee did not provide her with all the tools she needed to be an adoptive parent. Jennifer also candidly shares about her childhood and the impact reunifying with her birth family had on her identity.

Click here to download a transcript for this episode.

Relevant Links

Connect with Jennifer on IG

Email Jennifer at [email protected]

The Road Back to You* by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

*This is an affiliate link