Parenting kids who have experienced trauma, loss and separation can be challenging. Finding strategies that heal and actually work provides hope to parents who are struggling, but these strategies can seem strange to others. Our parents, neighbors, friends, and family (maybe even that lady we see at church each week) have opinions, suggestions and perhaps even judgment about our new parenting strategies. This workshop will give us some tools to help our loved ones understand why we parent the way we do.

Beth Smith Feger has over 20 years of experience in training and education. Since completing a Ph.D. in early childhood education in 2009, she has worked training teachers, parents and young people. She is a passionate life long learner and has co-written a text book for early childhood educators. She is currently the Director of Programs at Fostering Hope, an organization the equips and supports families and churches to care for children who have experienced trauma. She is also the mom to three kids, two adopted from foster care. She lives in Austin with her family and enjoys reading, swimming and Marvel movies.

Click 217-workshop-Explaining-Our-Families-to-Others-final.mp3.pdf">here to download a transcript for this episode.

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I Am Fostering Hope

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When Kristen Thomas acted out as a child at school, it was a cry for help, but she was instead labeled as a “difficult child.” Eventually placed in foster care, Kristen struggled with shame and being misunderstood by the people who were supposed to protect her. In this episode, she openly shares her story of how she’s breaking the cycle of generational abuse in her family. She also shares the importance and role of community and what she needed from her caregivers.

Click 216-Kristen-Thomas.mp3.pdf">here to download a transcript for this episode.

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Connect with Kristen on Instagram

Free blocked care assessment

Is your adoption journey turning out differently than you imagined? You had so much love to give, but now you feel ashamed and bewildered by your lack of compassion.

You may be experiencing blocked care—a self-protective mechanism in your nervous system that makes it difficult to connect with your child and maintain compassion. When it happens, it’s like your heart seems to have left the relationship. But the good news is you are not a bad parent. You can heal from blocked care, and compassion can be rekindled in your heart.

Written by @lisacqualls and @melissacorkum_ who have themselves overcome blocked care, the book, Reclaim Compassion, answers the questions, “How did this happen, and will it ever get better?” You’ll recognize yourself in the honest stories from the authors and other parents and come to realize that you’re not at all alone.

Rooted in faith and backed by neuroscience, this practical and powerful guide offers a simple step-by-step process for reclaiming compassion for your child and yourself.

This week, enjoy an audio preview of Chapter 1.

Click 214-Reclaim-Compassion-Ch-1-final.mp3.pdf">here to download a transcript for this episode.

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Reclaim Compassion Website

Your attachment style impact ALL relationships in your life – including your relationship with God. Learn how your attachment style impacts your spiritual life, and how to take steps toward increased attachment security with God.

Krispin Mayfield, LPC has a background in full-time ministry and now practices an attachment based therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, with individuals and couples. He lives in Oregon with his wife D.L. and their two children.

Click 213-Attached-to-God-workshop-final.mp3-1.pdf">here to download a transcript for this episode.

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Attached to God* by Krispin Mayfield

Connect with Krispin on Instagram

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Hannah Strege is the first adopted frozen embryo in the world, adopted through the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption program at Nightlight Christian adoptions. She shares about the importance of adoptees knowing their origin story, how she navigates her open adoption, and how adoption impacts her identity. Hannah is a graduate student at Baylor University working on a Masters of Social Work degree. She hopes to some day open a private practice to counsel adoptees, placing families, and adopting families/couples throughout the lifelong adoption process.

Click 212-Hannah-Strege.mp3.pdf">here to download a transcript for this episode.

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Connect with Hannah on Instagram

Nightlight Christian Adoptions

A Snowflake Named Hannah* by John Strege

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