Trauma-Informed Parenting

Do you often feel frustrated in your parenting?

Do you have triggers that are getting in the way of peace in your home?

Have you ever thought about how your past is affecting your parenting?

Then this episode is for you.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Kathleen as she shares some of her story and insights on frustrations/triggers in the adoption/foster care journey.

Where did adoption come from? Was it man's response to a problem? Or was it God's idea? Is adoption into God’s kingdom just theology? What does it have to do with reality? Grab a cup of coffee and join Kathleen on this new mini podcast, "Positive Adoption" as she talks about the origins of adoption.

Special guest, Sandra Flach of “Orphans No More” Podcast joins Kathleen in this episode. A few months ago, Kathleen wrote an article titled “What If We Treated Foster/Adoptive Parents as Missionaries?” She got lots of flack from non-Christians (which is understandable, to an extent), but she was shocked to also get some negative comments from Christians. So she started asking adoptive/foster parents what they thought about the subject. Then she took it a step further and created a survey that asked all the questions she was curious about. Kathleen shared it her my adoption/foster care support group, and several friends did the same. In this episode, Sandra and Kathleen share some of the results from the survey. Sandra adds her two cents garned from hundreds of interviews with adoptive/foster/adoptees. You can read a whole chapter about this topic in Kathleen’s upcoming book How to Have Peace When Your Kids are in Chaos for Adoptive/Foster Parents.

We must let go of the myth that perfect parents exist. They don’t. And raising kids who have had trauma means a huge learning curve for us parents — especially if we have parented our bio children okayish with great results.

Traditional parenting is for securely attached children — kids who want to please.

Traditional parenting tends to swoop in and fix the immediate problematic behavior.

We have to change our parenting and accept the fact that it will be different with these kiddos. Lori and Kathleen share some “instead of” parenting suggestions, the IDEAL approach, and some other tips! If you have a kid with a capital letter syndrome — this is for you too! Grab a cup of coffee and join these lovely ladies!

We must let go of the myth that perfect parents exist. They don’t. And raising kids who have had trauma means a huge learning curve for us parents — especially if we have parented our bio children okayish with great results.

Traditional parenting is for securely attached children — kids who want to please.

Traditional parenting tends to swoop in and fix the immediate problematic behavior.

We have to change our parenting and accept the fact that it will be different with these kiddos. Lori and Kathleen share some “instead of” parenting suggestions, the IDEAL approach, and some other tips! If you have a kid with a capital letter syndrome — this is for you too! Grab a cup of coffee and join these lovely ladies!

Have you stepped into the foster/adoption arena and feel as if you have entered a war zone? Do you feel as if are in the midst of a Job syndrome? You’re doing all the right things but everything is going wrong? Is this spiritual warfare? Join Kathleen and Kristin as they delve into this difficult topic. Kathleen shares some from chapter on the Job syndrome in her upcoming book — How to Have Peace when Your Kids are in Chaos for Foster/Adoptive Parents (coming in September). This quote C.S. Lewis’s The Horse and His Boy is a great summation of the discussion. “Shasta's heart fainted at these words for he felt he had no strength left. And he writhed inside at what seemed the cruelty and unfairness of the demand. He had not yet learned that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.” Do you see yourself in that statement? Grab a cup of coffee and join these lovely ladies!

Have you stepped into the foster/adoption arena and feel as if you have entered a war zone? Do you feel as if are in the midst of a Job syndrome? You’re doing all the right things but everything is going wrong? Is this spiritual warfare? Join Kathleen and Kristin as they delve into this difficult topic. Kathleen shares some from chapter on the Job syndrome in her upcoming book — How to Have Peace when Your Kids are in Chaos for Foster/Adoptive Parents (coming in September). This quote C.S. Lewis’s The Horse and His Boy is a great summation of the discussion. “Shasta's heart fainted at these words for he felt he had no strength left. And he writhed inside at what seemed the cruelty and unfairness of the demand. He had not yet learned that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.” Do you see yourself in that statement? Grab a cup of coffee and join these lovely ladies!

Do you believe God has a purpose for your life? Do you have a God-sized dream? Whether it is staying home to raise your children, or you are an empty nester moving into a new season of life, we all have a God-given purpose. When we step out in faith to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and we face oppositon, many of us quit instead of pressing through. Guess what? When we step out to do God’s will, there will be oppostion. Doing God’s will is hard work. Circumstances are not a good guide about whether we are on the right track or not. Obedience to God’s word is the best measuring stick. And just a heads up - you’re never going to feel equipped enough to do what God is calling you to do. Jessica and Kathleen discuss what happens when you step out and follow your God-sized dream. Grab a cup of coffee and join them.

Who do you think you are? Really? Someone of value? Or someone of no worth at all? We act outwardly on who we think we are. In other words, as you think in your heart, so are you (Proverbs 23:7) This is why satan goes to battle against our identity. If he can keep us feeling worthless, then we hunker down and do nothing for the kingdom. We're too busy trying to make ourselves feel worthy. Can I tell you something? We've all been there. We know how the battle rages in our minds. There is hope. Join Jessica and Kathleen as they talk through some of their own battles and some strategies for overcoming. Grab a cup of coffee, your Bible, and some worship music! Get armed and ready!

Have you brought a child home through foster care or adoption? Or are you just beginning the foster/adopt journey and want to make sure kiddos feel welcome in your home? Then this episode is for you!

Continuing our theme of “home” for the month of June - Kathleen and Kristin share ten tips on how your adopted/foster kiddos can feel welcome in your home. The Whole House Adoption/Foster Care support group added their two cents as well and those suggestions were read on air as well! Grab a cup of coffee and join these lovely ladies!