Rebecca shares how intentionally noticing positive moments and seeking connection opportunities with her children is transforming her summer parenting experience, despite the challenging start.

• Summer began with significant struggles, including a moment when Rebecca needed to leave the house after a lawn chair broke in her hands
• Progress with one child who historically couldn't participate in simple conversations without going into fight/flight/freeze mode
• Celebrating her young son's decision not to "scream like a pterodactyl" during a frustrating moment
• Working through attachment challenges with her daughter who typically ignores her after absences
• Finding simple connection points through pool time, popsicles, and tech-free activities
• Embracing the "1% change" concept from James Clear's Atomic Habits – small, consistent changes that alter trajectories
• Meeting children at their comfort level for connection rather than forcing interactions

If you're trying intentionally to notice positive moments or create connection with your kids this summer, I'd love to hear about it. Drop a comment on our Instagram page or send me an email about what you're hoping for this summer.

Bio Kids Retreat Registration:

Website: https://www.havenretreatsinc.org/store/p/biokids

Email: sara@havenretreatsinc.org

Rebecca Harvin and Courtney Studard share their hard-won wisdom on traveling with children of all ages, from essential packing strategies to entertainment tips that really work. We offer practical advice for making family travel more enjoyable, less stressful, and filled with meaningful memories rather than meltdowns.

• Start children traveling young whenever possible - they adapt quickly and become great travelers
• Lower your expectations dramatically - it's a trip, not a vacation
• Always have a designated driver and entertainer in the car
• Pack novel toys and activities, introducing a new one every 15 minutes
• Reserve special road trip snacks that kids don't get at home
• Prioritize movement at every stop with games and physical activity
• Always choose hotels with pools - this will be your children's favorite memory
• Pack a separate, single overnight bag for hotel stops
• Organize clothing by day or outfit to prevent car chaos
• Start with shorter trips and gradually work your way up to longer adventures
• View initial trips as training exercises for bigger adventures later
• Remember simple experiences often create the most lasting memories

Bio Kids Retreat Registration:

Website: https://www.havenretreatsinc.org/store/p/biokids

Email: sara@havenretreatsinc.org

Jenn Ditges shares her powerful journey from infertility to motherhood through foster care and adoption, revealing how she came to mother six children after experiencing twelve pregnancy losses.

• Always dreamed of being pregnant since witnessing her mother's pregnancy at age 8
• Received a spiritual promise of having six children while walking in Africa
• Experienced twelve pregnancy losses, with doctors eventually stopping treatment
• Bought a six-bedroom house in faith before having any children
• Turned to foster care after a day of prayer with her husband
• Eventually adopted six children—two sets of twins and two "Irish twins"
• Struggles with the complex emotions of Mother's Day and questions of maternal identity
• Finds strength through faith and community support during grief
• Embraces her unique motherhood journey despite it looking different than expected

"There's nothing wrong with you. There is no sin that you've done that God is punishing you for. You don't know what's on the other side, just fall into the arms of Jesus."

Bio Kids Retreat Registration:

Website: https://www.havenretreatsinc.org/store/p/biokids

Email: sara@havenretreatsinc.org

Jessica Miles shares her raw, powerful story of loving through the hardest seasons of foster care, demonstrating how her own difficult childhood prepared her to show up authentically for children experiencing trauma. She offers profound insight into what it means to love intentionally when behaviors are extreme and systems are failing.

• Loving children the way she wished she'd been loved as a child
• Creating safety and protection as foundational parenting values
• Learning each child's unique love language and needs
• Suffering hearing loss from years of managing extreme behaviors
• Finding self-care in small, tangible ways during crisis seasons
• Processing personal trauma while parenting traumatized children
• Wrestling with faith questions while standing firm in commitment
• Using personal pain as a source of empathy and understanding
• The transformative power of being known and truly seen

Share this episode with anyone walking through hard seasons who needs to know they're not alone. The hard is holy.

Kate shares her journey from teacher to single foster parent, reflecting on the profound identity shift that occurs the moment a child enters your home and the unique challenges of navigating the system alone.

• Background in early childhood and special education creating a strong foundation for advocacy
• Building a house with kids in mind before even being licensed
• The exact moment of becoming a mother at 11:23pm on June 29, 2023
• Navigating the overwhelming initial days of placement with no preparation
• The tremendous mental load of single parenting while managing the foster care system
• Creating community support networks for foster families
• Starting a nonprofit to connect those who want to help with foster families in need
• The critical importance of utilizing respite care for sustainability
• Finding balance between the peaceful single life and the chaos of fostering
• The uncertainty that comes with foster care and learning to embrace it

Use respite care regularly - it's not just good for you but beneficial for the kids to see other safe adults and different family dynamics.

Bio Kids Retreat Registration:

Website: https://www.havenretreatsinc.org/store/p/biokids

Email: sara@havenretreatsinc.org

Welcome back to season two where we dive into the complicated reality of Mother's Day for foster and adoptive moms, exploring how joy and grief often coexist in our parenting journey. I share my personal struggles with balancing celebration, complicated emotions, and the mantra that helps me navigate it all: "two things can be true."

• Mother's Day feels different when you share it with your children's first mothers
• Parenting feels drastically different when attachment comes naturally versus when it doesn't
• Breaking dysfunctional cycles adds another layer of complexity to motherhood
• Finding peace amidst chaos becomes a daily practice when raising children from trauma
• Even when we struggle with attachment, we still show up and try every single day
• We get to choose how we respond, even when circumstances feel overwhelming
• Acknowledging both the beautiful and difficult parts of motherhood helps us find balance

If nobody has told you today, you are doing a good job. It's okay to fail—you can repair. It's okay to struggle—your muscles are getting stronger. Be exactly where you are in the process, doing the best you can with the information and skills you have today.

Vulnerability and authenticity are explored through personal experiences of motherhood, therapy, and relationships. By unpacking the burdensome narratives around love and acceptance, the episode inspires listeners to reflect on their own stories and choose healthier paths toward autonomy.

• Navigating the complexities of vulnerability in relationships
• The impact of books on parenting and boundaries
• Confronting the stories we tell ourselves
• Understanding the significance of personal autonomy
• Embracing healing through awareness and compassion
• Invitation to explore narratives that shape our sense of self

Bio Kids Retreat Registration:

Website: https://www.havenretreatsinc.org/store/p/biokids

Email: sara@havenretreatsinc.org

This episode focuses on the vital role of advocacy in supporting children, particularly in foster care and educational systems. We touch on personal experiences, the importance of knowledge about rights and relationships, and strategies for effectively advocating within complex systems.

• Understanding the role and significance of PACE
• Navigating challenges in the foster care system
• Empowering oneself with knowledge of rights and policies
• The emotional landscape of advocacy work
• Building key relationships within educational and care systems
• Importance of curiosity and community support in advocacy
• Techniques for responding versus reacting professionally
• Fostering collaboration for effective outcomes.

Bio Kids Retreat Registration:

Website: https://www.havenretreatsinc.org/store/p/biokids

Email: sara@havenretreatsinc.org