The Honestly Adoption Podcast

Finances. Wow! Sticky subject. Especially right after the Holidays. But it's a crucial topic and there are simply ways you can maximize your money, even if you have a small budget (which a lot of us on the foster and adoptive journey do). Our good friend Chad Johnson, from Blue Financial Coaching joins us to explain some simple methods to make our budget go a long way.

New Year, New You! Let's Talk Self Care

You know how this goes. It's the school year, and it it certainly has its own struggles. The constant on-the-go of Monday through Friday, and then sports, church, and get-togethers sprinkled in makes the grind a bit exhausting. But it's structured. It's routine. What do you do when that changes and you're suddenly in the middle of Christmas break, with little to no routine, and the meltdowns are starting to arise? On today's episode we're answering that very question.

Christmas is less than a week away and we're continuing our podcast series called The Holiday How-To Guide. Have you ever wondered how to successfully navigate those sometimes difficult extended family gatherings? In this episode we're giving you some practical strategies to do just that!

The Holiday season can bring up lots of memories, feelings of loss, or anxiety for our children. Those emotions can quickly lead to triggered behavior. But how do you recognize the triggers and respond to them appropriately?

We've officially entered into the holiday season. That means Christmas parties, twinkling lights, frosty window panes, and potentially high emotions for some of our children. In this brand new podcast series, we're walking you through key how-to's when it comes to successfully navigating the holiday season.

It's November 1st. Halloween decorations are being replaced with turkey cut-outs and corn-a-capias on front doors. Soon, Christmas lights will dawn those same homes. It's officially the holiday season. But for foster and adoptive families, this can mean dysregulation city! How do you help your children stay calm and regulated during this season?

Are you a transracial adoptive family, foster family or mixed race family? Are you a person with fantastic curly hair? Whoever you are and whatever type of hair you have, you will love Janine Beachy. She was a true delight to interview. Janine talked with us about the importance of haircare in the Black community, why we should teach our daughters to set boundaries around others touching their hair and how her curly hair journey led to becoming a resource for transracial adoptive families.

One of the greatest resources for us as adoptive and foster parents is adoptees, and adoptee's voices. We are fortunate to partner with many adoptees from all ages and walks of life. We have learned so much from them, and will continue to do so. On the latest episode of The Honestly Adoption Podcast we are pleased to welcome transracial adoptee and advocate, Tori DeMartile.

Why is it necessary that we are regulated, and respond to our children calmly and firmly? Why do our children need to learn steps to peace that they can eventually apply to their lives on their own? And why is re-regulation so necessary to building trust and a healthy connection with our children? All of these questions may seem obvious, but oftentimes, we misunderstand the big goal of re-regulation strategies. That's what we're discussing on our latest episode. 

Re-regulation strategies are commonly misconstrued as enabling, or letting off the hook, when a clear consequence for behavior is warranted. However, as caregivers of children with a trauma history, we are working on a bigger picture. In our latest episode we explore why this is...

We often don't consider the importance of body awareness when it comes to helping our children re-regulate, but teaching them to connect to the feelings and emotions they are experiencing within their body can be a powerful tool in helping them find a place of peace quickly. Here's why...

We know that some children with trauma histories can display extreme behaviors (aggression, belligerence, disrespect, or even violence). But what about the child who deals with major anxiety, stress, nervousness, or often seems physically out of control of his or her body? That's where emotional regulation is key.

In this special episode of The Honestly Adoption Podcast, we are pleased to share with you, a sneak peak into our 12-month online coaching group with parents from all over the world.

Because our children have come from hard places, they often feel powerless to speak up for themselves, advocate for themselves, and even make decisions that affect their lives. The loss that lives within them often propels this. That's why it's critical that we empower our children. In this week's episode we once again take you behind the scenes of writing our latest book, but also answer the question, "Why is it important to empower our children?"