HKWL podcast

In this episode brainstormed by HK, we talk about "Dangerous Decisions" with finances, in school, and on-line. We also answer a listener question.

This week a listener question sparked this topic. We should EXPECT foster kids to come into our homes with gaps in their learning/habits/behavior, yet it can still be super-frustrating for parents and kiddos to fill in those gaps. We talk about gaps that we have struggled to fill this first year and talk about how important it is to take the time to stop and celebrate progress because it's always somehow easier to focus on what you still need to accomplish instead of celebrating how far you've come.

Why do older kiddos in the system sometimes feel that they need to lie and leave a smokescreen of their activities even when things are all above board? Today we brainstorm this challenge and our thoughts about why this happens and what parents can do about it. Plus... listener questions!

Today we discuss a book that I read a long time ago that I had HK take a look at this week. The book is called "A framework for Understanding Poverty" by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D. The book talks about the very different rules that belong to different classes and the blind-sides that might occur when people shift from one setting to another. The book has helped me as a teacher and has definitely given me insight into some unexpected things that have happened in our first year with HK.

In this special 3 part series that HK came up with, he talks about what it's like to be an young teen the system... ages 11-14 We talk about what has gone down for him in the last 3 years, how that has felt, and what foster and adoptive parents can do to help.

In this special 3 part series that HK came up with, he talks about what it's like to be an older child in the system... ages 5-10. We talk about what he remembers and what parents can do to help kids at this age

In this special 3 part series that HK came up with, he talks about what it's like to be a small child in the system... ages 3-6. We talk about what he remembers and what parents can do to help kids at this age

How do we help our foster/adopt kiddos create a cultural heritage when all they understand of their culture is "not white"? We are making it up as we go on this one for sure but we share our thoughts and strategies.

Fostering and Adopting older kiddos means that sometimes we have to parent "out of phase" which almost always creates mayhem and bad feelings. We brainstorm this and talk about strategies that can make it feel less awful for both kiddos and parents when we have to go back and fill in those parenting gaps.

What do adoptive families need from friends and families? This week we swap experiences with a key part of our families support system and talk all about ways to support families going through fostering and adoption.

Big Sis is on the podcast today along with her good friend who's family took placement of 2 little girls 2 weeks before we got placement of HK. They share the highs and lows of their journey in the first year with new siblings.

How do new experience impact and change our lives? This week we unpack HK's latest adventure... FIDDLE CAMP!

Special Guest: Little Bro. What's adoption and fostering like from the perspective of a kiddo already in the home? We ask LB....

What's it like trying to adjust to your "new normal" during those early days? HK and WL each share a high, a low, and a blind-side. Plus more listener questions!

What's it like when you're about to become the legal guardian of a total stranger? We talk about the parent side of things and tackle our first listener questions!