This week's confession: I wanted to adopt a child who looked like he or she could have been my biological child. In this episode, I also share my preferences for a child when going through the matching process, my blog from the day I brought him home, our Gotcha Day traditions, and an update on my relationship with his first mom.

My audacious intent for this podcast is to be a beacon of hope for parents and guardians like me, who are raising wounded children and doing their best to stay afloat. I have found my way from surviving to thriving and you can, too!

SHOW NOTES:

Transracial adoption challenges

Off and Running Movie Trailer

Nicole Opper and Avery Klein-Cloud Off and Running

Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback

Thanks for listening, Beloveds. Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will? Keep advocating for your child. And, most importantly, stay tenacious!

Resources on suicide prevention:

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

Book Recommendation:

Dancing With A Porcupine: Parenting wounded children without losing yourself

This week's confession: Last week I made contact with Lane’s birth mother for the first time. I had no idea what to expect, but after meeting with her, I am cautiously optimistic that when he meets her and builds a relationship with her, it will be helpful for Lane’s healing. I also share why this seemed like the right time to locate her, his nervousness/ambivalence about it, her response when I knocked on her door, how Lane reacted to the news, and my hopes for his future with her.

SHOWNOTES:

God Found Us You By Lisa Tawn Bergren

I Wished for You: An Adoption Story By Marianne Richmond

Shazam movie trailer

Song written and performed by my dear friend Jasmijn White

Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback

Thanks for listening, Beloveds. Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will? Keep advocating for your child. And, most importantly, stay tenacious!

Resources on suicide prevention:

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

Book Recommendation:

Dancing With A Porcupine: Parenting wounded children without losing yourself

In this episode I share my Confession: I became a mother for selfish reasons, not necessarily that I wanted to give a child a better life. When Lane was little, people would often say, "He's so lucky to have you!" and my response was, "No, I'm the lucky one. He made me a mama." I also share all of the experiences that prepared me for motherhood, a blog entry from my baby shower 14 years ago, and a list of all the precious moments that I hope will flash through my mind when my life flashes before my eyes.

My audacious intent for this podcast is to be a beacon of hope for parents and guardians like me, who are raising wounded children and doing their best to stay afloat. I have found my way from surviving to thriving and you can, too!

Message me! thetenaciousmama922@gmail.com

Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback

Thanks for listening, Beloveds. Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will? Keep advocating for your child. And, most importantly, stay tenacious!

Resources on suicide prevention:

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

Book Recommendation:

Dancing With A Porcupine: Parenting wounded children without losing yourself

In this episode I will share my confession: I started telling my son, “It’s not your fault you have all these cards stacked against you. However, it is your responsibility to figure it out and be a good person.” I will detail the many layers of Lane's trauma that have hindered his ability to form secure attachments with others and have shaped who he is today. I also share stories highlighting his sense of humor when he was little and a blog entry about his first visit to my home when we were transitioning him from his first foster family to mine.

My audacious intent for this podcast is to be a beacon of hope for parents and guardians like me, who are raising wounded children and doing their best to stay afloat. I have found my way from surviving to thriving and you can, too!

SHOW NOTES:

Understanding Epigenetics article

Adoption Trauma- Part 1: What is adoption trauma? Article

Attachment Styles article

Attachment Theory on Brittanica.com

A few podcasts where you can find episodes on attachment theories and styles:

Therapist Uncensored

The Inner Child Podcast

On Attachment

Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback

Thanks for listening, Beloveds. Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will? Keep advocating for your child. And, most importantly, stay tenacious!

Resources on suicide prevention:

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

Book Recommendation:

Dancing With A Porcupine: Parenting wounded children without losing yourself

This week's confession: When Lane was in middle school and exhibiting extreme behaviors almost daily, I told friends, “The next person who says, 'there is a special place for you in heaven,’ I might punch ‘em in the throat.” I will explain why platitudes like this one often filled me with rage and what friends and family members can say instead. I share a few entries from the blog I wrote during the matching process with my son in October 2010. Additionally, I give a summary of an important book that I wish I had paid more attention to when I first read it.

My audacious intent for this podcast is to be a beacon of hope for parents and guardians like me, who are raising wounded children and doing their best to stay afloat. I have found my way from surviving to thriving and you can, too!

SHOW NOTES:

Have questions or want to suggest content you'd like to hear more about? Contact me at: thetenaciousmama922@gmail.com

The Primal Wound on Wikipedia

The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child

More on the Primal Wound

Reckoning With the Primal Wound

Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback

Thanks for listening, Beloveds. Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will? Keep advocating for your child. And, most importantly, stay tenacious!

Resources on suicide prevention:

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

Book Recommendation:

Dancing With A Porcupine: Parenting wounded children without losing yourself

In this first episode, I share an overview of my parenting journey as an adoptive mother thus far. Additionally, I go into detail about my first confession: I used to say that I should write a book about my parenting journey. I joked that the title would be, “Raising You Is Killing Me”. It was funny. Until I truly started to imagine taking my leave of this world.

**It is crucial to note that I did NOT say this to my son, but to my close circle of trusted friends.

My audacious intent for this podcast is to be a beacon of hope for parents and guardians like me, who are raising wounded children and doing their best to stay afloat. I have found my way from surviving to thriving and you can, too!

Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback

Thanks for listening, Beloveds. Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will? Keep advocating for your child. And, most importantly, stay tenacious!

Resources on suicide prevention:

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

Book Recommendation:

Dancing With A Porcupine: Parenting wounded children without losing yourself