There’s a simple truth about parenting that we have all come to understand; we all mess up. No matter how hard we try we will do and say things we wish we hadn’t. We will find ourselves sounding like our parents no matter how often we promised ourselves we would parent differently than we were [...]
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Schooling Options
[podbean resource="episode=aruwh-8ec05e" type="audio-square" height="400" skin="8" fonts="Helvetica" auto="0" download="1" rtl="0"] Chris, Ryan, and Kayla are joined by Allison Highton. Allison, along with her husband Russ, is an Empowered to Connect parent trainer in New Jersey. Allison works with Miriam's Heart, a non-profit adoption ministry that radically supports families who take action on behalf of adoptive and foster [...]
Make Play a Part of Every Day
The team discusses how playing with our kids is a great way to connect with them. Play is fun and disarming and makes us enjoy our kids as much as it makes them enjoy us. Play is the language of children but is sadly something most of us are no longer fluent in. [podbean resource="episode=f7ku6-8e4cf2" type="audio-square" height="400" skin="8" [...]
Reinforce the Relationship Before you Remind them of the Rules
It took me a long time to embrace the idea that we should connect first even when correction is obviously necessary. After all, isn't dealing with the natural consequences of breaking a rule a prime teachable moment? Like most of you, we don't allow our kids to run in the house. So, when one of [...]
Are You Looking for an Easy Way to Say “Yes” More?
Would you love to have a simple parenting tool you can start implementing right away that will help you build trust with your kids? There is one simple word that can make a huge difference... "YES!" An easy way to begin giving our kids more yes’s is to make a Yes Jar. https://vimeo.com/188710828 Here's what [...]
Learning to Trust
I really thought I trusted God. I have seen His faithfulness. I have experienced His love. He shows up every day when I need Him most. But faith is hard when you can't see the steps in front of you. Lately, I feel like I can't even see a staircase. I know it is there, [...]
Manage Your Expectations
We all have expectations. Expectations are normal. Expectations are healthy, but unrealistic expectations can create a barrier between us and our children. The expectations we bring to parenting matter just as much as our child’s history, abilities, and needs. In order to help our children heal and grow we need to pay attention to our [...]
A Rainbow After a Storm
Connected parenting would be so much easier if there weren't so many kids. I often find myself handling one meltdown only to have another kid meltdown. Or worse yet...two melting down at the same time! I have always wanted a big family. In fact, I told Ryan before we got married that I wanted six [...]
Mealtime Struggles
Ryan and Kayla join Chris to talk about mealtime struggles. The team discusses the typical concerns parents of adopted and foster kids see at meals: food sensory issues; eating too much; before-meal snacking; not wanting to eat what is being served, and actually getting kids to the table! They talk about setting expectations and using transitions, [...]
It’s Time to Step Up
Imagine a foster family shows up to your weekly Bible study with a couple extra kids in tow. You, half-jokingly, call the family crazy for adding more kids. "Are you trying to start your own sports team?" you joke. Then your curiosity sets in and you proceed to ask lots of questions: "What happened to their [...]