Category Archives: Random

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Let’s Talk Self Care!

The Honestly Adoption Podcast, Season 16, Episode 125

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It’s a brand New Year! 2020 has finally arrived which means a brand new start. But with everything happening on this journey, how do we start fresh? This brand new podcast series will help answer that question.

Let’s be honest. New Year’s Resolutions often don’t last very long. Statistically speaking, most people totally abandon their resolutions by the end of January. Even goals are hard to maintain for an entire year. Where does that leave us? In the midst of exhausting and busy days, parenting children with trauma histories, we do need to take steps toward change. But it doesn’t have to be difficult. Often, simple changes are the key. In this first episode of our brand new series, New Year, New You, Mike talks self care. Listen now…

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How To Manage Your Child’s Food Insecurity

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We are in the middle of the Holiday season which means Christmas parties, family gatherings, presents, and food. Lots of it. This may be a trigger for your child if he or she has a history of hunger or malnourishment. How do you successfully navigate this with your child?

The most important thing to start with here is remembrance. We must remember that behind the behavior we see externally there may be a cocktail of deep loss, deep fear, or deep insecurity swirling around in your child, that he or she may not fully understand. But it’s inside of them, and it’s a constant voice prompting them to fight. It’s a survival strategy they learned to utilize a long time ago, even before they may have been cognitively able to understand what was happening to them.

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Is Frozen II A Win For Your Family?

A Full Review (WARNING: *SPOILERS*)

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Brand new sing-a-long ballads, funny one-liners, a heart-warming love story, and another heart palpitating adventure make up the highlights of my review of Disney Frozen II.

You knew it…I knew it…we ALL knew it. The pre-screening was 2 days ago and I’m still humming anthems from the film! How does Disney do that?! In a true follow-up to the 2013 wild success of Frozen, the encore of Frozen II is a hit. From visually stunning effects (seriously…they were magical), to memorable character moments (I’m going to share a few in moment), to a story of sisterhood that transcends time and space, Frozen II had my heart from the opening credits.

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Is It Disobedience Or Problems With Their Diet?

The Honestly Adoption Podcast, Season 13, Episode 106

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It’s Week 3 of our new podcast series we’re calling “Is It Disobedience Or Something Else?” In this episode we discuss some of the problems a poor diet can create for our children.

It’s something we often overlook when it comes to our children’s behaviors- diet. How much does diet play into behaviors that often make no sense, or come out of nowhere, so it seems? Listen to the episode now…

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How An End Of School Year Awards Ceremony Made Us Proud Of Our Kids!

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Sometimes we can become so exhausted on this journey that we lose sight of our children’s accomplishments. They are warriors. Many have had to overcome so much! Even if you’re in a hard season, you have reason to be proud!

Once again, to my surprise, school is drawing to a close for the year. Parents, we’ve almost made it! Announcements for award ceremonies are going out through multiple emails. Parents are notified if their children will be receiving an award. We received a note stating one child would. Not a surprise. He’s a smart kid. Does his homework without being told. Those kind do exist who seemingly don’t struggle. But we got another one. For another child. And I knew due to the flu season that ravaged our home and required renting a carpet cleaner, it wasn’t for attendance. What could this award be? Surely this is wrong. Perhaps it accidentally got placed in the wrong backpack, I wondered.

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Is Mary Poppins A Good Film For Foster And Adoptive Families?

A Full Review Of The Film *WARNING: SPOILERS*

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It’s officially, OFFICIALLY, the Christmas season and we are excited to see Mary Poppins Returns as our annual Christmas Day tradition. But Kristin and I had the chance to see a pre-screening of the film earlier this week, which is officially in theaters today. The question we always try to answer with our reviews is, “Is this good entertainment for foster and adoptive families?” Here’s my take…

In an era of remakes and reboots, comes a refreshing sequel with Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns. You read that right…sequel. Because honestly…how do you remake the original Mary Poppins? The answer is, you don’t! Like a well-preserved bottle of wine, you allow the magic that Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke brought to the silver screen in 1964 to grow better with time. And you add a magnificent layer of magic with Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Mary Poppins and Jack The Leary in case you are wondering).

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How Do I Know If I Need Medication?

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Sometimes we find ourselves struggling through this journey as parents in ways that are beyond the normal struggle. But often, we’re afraid to admit that we may need medication too. How do we reach out? Our hope is that this post encourages you to bravely step into the light. You are not alone!

My children were preschool and elementary age and had struggles. The kind that keeps you up at night. That drains you. That most people don’t get. The behavior kind. The invisible special needs-kind which gives way to more judgement from others, even if just perceived. It had been years and was taking a toll on me. 

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Disney’s The Nutcracker & the Four Realms Is An Instant Holiday Classic!

*WARNING: SPOILERS*

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Bring on the Holidays! It’s opening week for Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and we are your central hub for all things Nutcracker, including a short review of the film, and a family fun page with coloring pages, movie clips, and more!

Photograph courtesy of Disney Studios

If you follow us on social media you may know that we just recently recorded a mini documentary about how our family celebrates the holidays. The documentary was filmed in connection with a home goods store. (We can’t wait to share the finished product with our readers soon!!!) Consequently our house has been decorated for Christmas since mid October.