Attachment and bonding don’t always come naturally in foster and adoptive homes—and that doesn’t mean anyone is failing.

In this episode, we unpack some of the most common misconceptions foster and adoptive parents have about bonding and attachment, including the belief that love, time, and consistency alone will “fix” attachment struggles.

We explore why foster and adopted children often struggle with healthy attachment, how early trauma, loss, and disrupted caregiving shape the nervous system, and why behaviors that look like rejection or defiance are often rooted in self-protection.

Most importantly, we share practical, trauma-informed practices for the home—simple shifts that help create safety, build trust, and nurture connection over time. If attachment feels slow, confusing, or one-sided in your home, this conversation is for you.

Bonding isn’t broken—it’s built differently.

Holidays can be filled with joy—but for foster and adoptive families, they can also surface big emotions, challenging behaviors, and unmet expectations. In this episode of Unprofessional Parenting, we talk honestly about holidays, attachment, and bonding, and why meaningful connection doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention and it takes a village.

We explore how children impacted by foster care and adoption experience the holidays differently, especially when trauma, grief, loss, and disrupted attachments are part of their story. From overwhelmed nervous systems to fear of change and pressure-filled traditions, we unpack what’s really happening beneath the behavior—and how caregivers can respond in attachment-informed ways.

This episode also highlights the intentional work of bonding and why foster and adoptive parents cannot (and should not) do it alone. We talk about the power of safe adults, extended family, church, friends, and support systems in helping kids build trust, experience consistency, and feel secure—especially during emotionally charged seasons.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why holidays can be triggering for foster and adopted children

• How attachment and bonding require purposeful, everyday choices

• The role of community and “the village” in trauma-informed parenting

• Practical ways to create connection without forcing memories or emotions

• How to release unrealistic expectations and lead with grace

Whether you’re a foster parent, adoptive parent, kinship caregiver, or part of a support network walking alongside these families, this conversation will remind you that attachment is built slowly, bonding is intentional, and healing happens best in community.

🎧 Listen now for encouragement, practical insight, and honest conversation for foster care and adoption journeys—especially during the holidays.

Foster kids don’t just enter a new home—they enter a new world. In this episode of Unprofessional Parenting, we break down the unknown emotional, relational, and environmental barriers our foster kids faced and how those challenges shaped our parenting. If you’re fostering, adopting, or walking with families who are, this raw conversation is for you.

It wasn’t scripted. It wasn’t easy. It was real. We talk with our kids about the moment they were given permission to call us “Mom” and “Dad” — and the storm of emotions that came with it. From guilt to identity to love that still feels new, this is the side of adoption most people never hear.

We are back from the CAFO Conference in Houston — and wow, do we have a lot to unpack. From inspiring keynotes to raw conversations about foster care, adoption, and church engagement, we’re sharing our favorite moments, biggest lessons, and what’s stirring in our hearts after a week surrounded by people who get it. Whether you were there or following along from afar, this episode will give you a front-row seat to how God is moving in the world of orphan care and family restoration.

In this raw and unfiltered episode of The Unprofessional Parenting Podcast, Matt and Laney sit down with no notes, no prep, and six real questions—three each—about their foster care journey. From the moments that broke them to the ones that built them, they open up about what foster parenting has taught them about love, loss, attachment, and faith.

Whether you’re a foster parent, an adoptive parent, or simply someone who wants to understand the heart behind foster care, this episode is for you

In this episode of the Unprofessional Parenting Podcast, Matt and Laney sit down with Biblical counselor, Josh Waulk of Baylight Counseling, to unpack the powerful connection between attachment and the theology of adoption. Together, we explore how understanding attachment styles can help foster parents build trust, create stability, and form secure bonds with children from difficult backgrounds.

This conversation also digs into the gospel’s picture of adoption—how God welcomes us into His family—and how that truth shapes the way we parent foster and adopted children. With practical tools, healthy family rhythms, and biblical wisdom, this episode equips you to build a safe and secure home where healing can begin.

👉 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• An overview of attachment styles and how they show up in foster care

• Why healthy rhythms are essential to building security and trust

• Practical steps to create a safe, stable home environment

• How the theology of adoption shapes our understanding of parenting

• Encouragement for foster and adoptive parents to parent with patience, grace, and gospel-centered love

Perfect for foster parents, adoptive families, and anyone who wants to better understand how God’s design for family brings hope and healing to kids from hard places.

Foster care doesn’t just change your home—it changes your marriage. In this episode of the UnProfessional Parenting Podcast, we dive into the realities couples face when stepping into foster care: the stress, the miscommunication, the late-night conversations, and the unexpected strain it can put on a relationship. But we also share the practical things that have helped keep our marriage strong and healthy in the middle of it all. Whether you’re married and considering fostering, already in the thick of it, or simply curious about how foster care impacts couples, this conversation is full of honesty, lessons learned, and encouragement that you’re not alone.

With Special Guest Jeff Ford - CEO of ManUp

Fatherlessness has become one of the greatest epidemics facing America today—impacting foster care, families, and the next generation. In this episode of UnProfessional Parenting, we sit down with the CEO of ManUp, Jeff Ford, to talk about the fatherlessness crisis in the U.S., why it matters, and how foster families are stepping into the gap. From the impact of absent fathers on children’s development to practical ways the church and community can respond, this conversation shines a light on both the challenges and the hope for change. If you’re a foster parent, adoptive family, or someone passionate about breaking cycles and building strong homes, this episode is for you.

The foster care system doesn’t just involve families and social workers—it’s deeply shaped by the court system. In this episode, Circuit Family Court Judge, Aaron Hubbard, joins us to share the court system’s perspective on foster care cases. We discuss the frustrations judges face, the difficult balance between legal timelines and a child’s best interests, and the realities of making decisions that impact children, biological parents, and foster families.

If you’ve ever wondered how the court views foster care, why some cases take so long, or what challenges judges encounter behind the bench, this conversation gives an honest look at the intersection of child welfare and the legal system. Perfect for foster parents, adoptive families, child advocates, and anyone who wants to better understand the foster care process from the courtroom side.