“You’re Not My Real Mom Anyway!”
The day came. I knew it would. Just didn’t know when or what the age would be or what circumstances would bring it up. Even though I knew it would eventually come, it didn’t make it hurt any less.
The day came. I knew it would. Just didn’t know when or what the age would be or what circumstances would bring it up. Even though I knew it would eventually come, it didn’t make it hurt any less.
On our adoptive and foster parenting journey, we’ve had lots of dark days. Sometimes many more than days of light. The amount of times we’ve felt like giving up and laying down are simply uncountable. But we’ve found unending hope…
When you’re in the thick of dealing with tantrums, meltdowns, outbursts, or aggression, it’s hard to see the heart of your child. But look deeper and your perspective, and own heart, may change…
[guestpost]As we’ve mentioned for the past several weeks, leading up to our re-launch of the podcast (WHICH IS THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH… can you tell we’re excited?) with the new name of The Honestly Adoption Podcast, we’re sharing some of our favorite past episodes as a special #TBT! You can now visit the brand new landing page for Honestly Adoption (and subscribe directly to podcast updates) by clicking here.[/guestpost] We hear it all the time in the news- child grows up witnessing domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, is abused themself, lands in foster care, and goes on to repeat the
“Your past may explain you, but it doesn’t define you.” This last installment of our summer series, “The Stuff I Learned,” is an honest story of one family’s struggle through the dark, hard places of trauma and despair, to the places (and person) of Hope. Don’t miss out on this amazing interview with adoptee, Sandeep Thomas, and his two special guests (you’ll have to listen to find out who!), as they share how they have found, and continue to find, hope, joy, and gratitude on the sometimes difficult journey of adoption.
Over the past few months, we’ve been inundated with emails asking this question. We get it. We’ve felt it. We’ve been there. And here’s what we have to say about it.
As much as we wish we were super-humans with the power to export the trauma out of our children’s lives, we’re not. How do we love them through the darkness of their past, but also help them grow?
Over the course of 9 years as foster parents, we had many moments where we felt hopeless. When we fostered teenagers the hopeless feeling intensified because we felt like our words or actions weren’t making a difference. They were, however, and so are yours. As an 18-year old kid, Tricia Collins did everything in her power to push her new foster parents, Rich and Ruth, away. She smoked, drank, and even engaged in sexual activity, knowing they wouldn’t approve. What she didn’t realize, however, was the depth of their grace and compassion for her. Instead of judging her, criticizing her,
Foster parenting is one of a handful of jobs in the world that is un-appreciated and fairly unknown. But foster parents are unsung heroes who quietly change the world. Our worth is determined by the lives we change.
We hear it all the time in the news- child grows up witnessing domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, is abused themself, lands in foster care, and goes on to repeat the cycle. On today’s podcast we share the story of a woman who faced all of this but has broken the cycle and beat the odds! The house she was sleeping in was engulfed in flames. If it weren’t for the heroics of a neighbor boy, Nikka Palmer would have been dead. That night she actually wished she would have died. The painful reality of her life was too