The FASD journey can be very defeating and very frustrating. Mostly because, we are constantly dismissed by providers, or made to feel like we're a bit crazy when we try to get answers. How do you break through this? We're glad you're here for this episode as we dive into the topic of advocacy, especially as it relates to parenting a child with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). We're joined by Laura Hernandez, from Mama Systems, who is an adoptive mama, but also the caregiver to children on the spectrum. She knows first hand what it looks like and feels like to be dismissed, but she also shares some valuable insight we can. take home as caregivers, when it comes to advocacy! How To Connect With Laura: Get her FREE resource (especially for being a listener of this show!). Click Here! Connect with her on Facebook Follow her on Instagram Also On The Show... Insight Virtual Conference is coming soon! Get free access to our latest round of Fast-Action Bonuses when you register by April 1st! Click Here to learn more! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

The caregiver journey is hard and full of challenges. We hear words like resiliency and we often get the wrong idea. What does that really mean? It's not what you think. Resiliency is not perfection, it's not about never failing, and on the days you don't feel like you're not resilient, it's not what defines you. So then, what does it mean to be resilient? In this latest episode of The Honestly Adoption Podcast, Mike explores what resiliency is and is NOT. Also on the show... Catch our ENCORE presentation of the FREE training, How To Effectively Respond To Behaviors coming THIS Tuesday, March 21st at 1pm EST. Click Here to learn more! Insight Virtual Conference 2023 is coming soon and with it, BRAND NEW FAST-ACTION BONUSES when you grab your ticket by April 1st! Click Here to register now Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

From the memorable quotes, to the "ah-ha" moments, to the tears, to the on-camera dancing....the dancing....oh the dancing! Insight Virtual Conference 2022 was one for the history books. And now...we get to do it all over again! That's right...Insight Virtual Conference 2023 is open for registration and coming April 20th and 21st. In this special Honestly Adoption Podcast Episode, we are recapping the entire 2022 conference by sharing audio clips from just about everything that happened at the conference. The great news? It doesn't just have to stay in this podcast! Nope. You can get your ticket to the 2023 conference now and get access to our Fast-Action Bonuses... Full access to our University training library ($4997 value) A complimentary ticket to our brand new Insight After Party on night 1 of the conference Plus, you'll receive... More than 15 hours of training (or 15+ hours of Continuing Education Credit if you're a professional) from world-renowned speakers, authors and thought leaders in the foster and adoption space. Access to our conference Virtual Lobby where we feature a ton of free resources and speaker info The opportunity to learn from the brightest and best minds and speakers in the foster and adoptive community Check out this special episode, and grab your Insight 2023 Ticket now! Click Here. Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

As caregivers, we often carry around immense feelings of guilt from something we said, or did. How do we face these feelings, let alone overcome them? It's a question all of us have had at one time or another. And what's even more difficult is that we have to keep on parenting and caring for our children, while carrying this burden. It's not like we can retreat away and find healing. In our latest episode, Mike shares some ideas and insights into this question from a place of honesty and vulnerablity. Also On The Show... INSIGHT VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 2023 registration Is opening THIS MONDAY, February 27th! And when we open everything up we have some amazing fast-action bonuses teed up for you. This year's conference is going to be transformational. Get on our email update list here and be the first to hear about our fast-action bonus bundles! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

While it may be hard to see and understand, our bodies are super computers that capture and hold data for years. This has never been more the case, then with our child's trauma history. You've probably found yourself scratching your head a time or two, or simply throwing your hands up in confusion, when the child who has been in your home for years is melting down for no apparent reason. Or, perhaps you've been caught off guard by a season where your child, who seemed fine for a long time, suddenly begins to act out, or behave in extreme ways. There's a simple explanation for this: the body keeps score of everything traumatic experience (acute or chronic) that a human being has gone through in their life. When you consider this reality as it relates to our children, who have experienced significant trauma, everything begins to make sense. In this episode, Mike shares a simple understanding of this reality. Also On The Show... Insight Virtual Conference is coming April 20th & 21st to a computer, tablet, or smartphone near you. When we open up registration in just a little over a week, we're giving away some magnificent bonuses. The best place you can be to qualify for this is on our email update list! Click Here to add your name! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

One of the most confusing and overwhelming aspects of the foster and adoption journey, is trying to make sense of behaviors that come from trauma. Where do you even begin? Let's be honest... Trying to make sense of our child's behavior, let alone manage it (or stop it), is like climbing Mt Everest! Nearly impossible....or so it seems! What if we told you there was a simple, effective way to understand and respond to your child's behaviors in a way that brings calm in the middle of chaos? If you're nodding your head yes, we have good news! In this episode we're sharing the first half of an online training Mike hosted entitled, How To Effectively Respond To Your Child's Behaviors: A 4-Part Blueprint To Bring Calm to The Chaos. In this free training, he walks you through: The #1 most important step to effective behavior response A proven, 4-part response blueprint that is easy to apply Done-for-you scripts you can use when your child is dysregulated The mental shift caregivers can make that changes everything! The training is free to join in and you can catch the full replay now until 11:59 pm PST on February 15th. Click Here to access the entire training replay! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-) ​

Rejection hurts, no matter who you are, or the circumstances. It especially stings when it's coming from our children. Why does it happen, and how can we respond? In this episode of The Honestly Adoption Podcast, we're sharing an insider's Live Q&A call that Mike did with Jenn Hook, therapist, and Executive Director of The Replanted Conference. This is content that's normally exclusive to Oasis Community, Honestly Adoption's members-only support and training site, but we're sharing this valuable conversation with our podcast audience! On the call, Mike and Jenn answer questions from caregivers who attended live, as well as questions sent in ahead of time, around rejection, trauma, behaviors, attachment, and much more! Also On The Show... Insight Virtual Conference 2023 is coming soon! Make sure you are on the email update list, because when we open registration, our update listers will get special bonus access JUST for being on the list. Click Here to join! Get 30-Days FREE Trial Access To Oasis Community! As part of this special episode, we're giving away 30 days free access to our exclusive members-only site. Click Here to learn more! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

This journey is long and can often be defeating. The fact is, parenting is hard. Sometimes, in the face of it all, we just need some solidarity. We need to know that we are not alone, and we need to hear someone else tell us it's okay. In this episode of The Honestly Adoption Podcast, we are taking a step back from talking through strategies, techniques, and steps, and just having a conversation about where we are at as caregivers, and what we can do when we feel like we're staring down a mountain. On This Episode We Talk About... Setting bite-sized goals (and not looking at the entire year, but just a few weeks :-)) Pulling back from a bigger picture and focusing instead on smaller pixels Setting lower expecations (not a bad thing) Taking a breath when we feel like our backs are against the wall We Also Talked About... Getting access to The Scoop, our brand new weekly update email with bite-sized, transformational content that will help you continue to become the best caregiver possible. Visit our main site here, sign up for our parenting lessons, and you'll automatically start receiving The Scoop! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

It's really, really, really hard to believe this when you're in the middle of it, but the behaviors you see in your children are not about you. They're a window into something much bigger. In short, the behaviors you are seeing are a direct result of trauma, not you (even though it feels like it). Once you understand that, everything can change. But how do you gain the right perspective? How do you successfully tell yourself that this is not personal even when it feels really personal? That's what we're covering in this episode of the podcast. Also On The Show... Sign Up For The Scoop! The Scoop is our brand new weekly email update that gives you insider access and information on everything we're up to at Honestly Adoption BUT more importantly, valuable insights and tools to help you be the best caregiver possible. It's easy to join The Scoop. Click Here to sign up (When you do, we'll send you our Free Behavior Response Blueprint). Thanks for joining us this week ;-)

We're concluding our special podcast series, The Insight Archives, with a question that many parents wrestle with: How do I build a connection with a child who consistently, and constantly, rejects me? You pour more love, and time, and energy, and resources that you can begin to keep track of into this child. You are there at a moment's nontice when he or she needs you. Heck, you would swim the North Atlantic to get to them if you needed to. And yet, the rejection is real and it's constant. Nothing you say or do will ever be enough (let alone, good enough). How do you even begin to make sense of this? In this episode, Kristin shares practical, yet in-depth, insights into how you can actually work to build a connection with a child who consistently pushes you away, rejects you, or pursues superficial relationships over you. We know how much this hurts, but we also know there's a much bigger picture playing out in these situations. Have hope, hang in there! You are not alone. Also On The Show... LAST CHANCE to Get BOTH Insight 2021 and 2022 Replay Libraries for $29.95 limited time access, or $59.95 lifetime access! During this special series, we are giving our listening audience the chance to take home both Insight Virtual Conference Replay Libraries for just $29.95 ($59.95 for Lifetime Access). Click Here to lock in your spot! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

It's week 3 of our end-of-2022 podcast series, The Insight Archives, where we're sharing some of our favorite sessions from both the 2021 and 2022 Insight Virtual Conference replays. This week, our good friend Ligia Cushman joins us to talk about how transracial adoptive families can thrive. Ligia's wisdom, insight, and gentle spirit will inspire you and move you. If you are a transracial family you will want to lean in because Ligia share stories that are powerful and moving. A Little More About Ligia... Ligia Noemi Cushman M.A. is the daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, one of eight children, and the mother of one son through adoption. In her award-winning book, Heard: How Loss Led Us to Love, Ligia captures the night her son was born and the many hard experiences she and her family encountered as a multiracial family in the deep South. Ligia graduated with her first master’s degree in 2004 with a concentration in Human Services. In 2016, Ligia obtained her second master's degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. Also On The Show... Get BOTH Insight 2021 and 2022 Replay Libraries now! During this special series, we are giving our listening audience the chance to take home both Insight Virtual Conference Replay Libraries for just $29.95 ($59.95 for Lifetime Access). Click Here to lock in your spot! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

It's week 2 of our end-of-the-year podcast series, The Insight Archives. We're sharing 4 amazing sessions from the 2021 & 2022 Insight Virtual Conference! In this episode, our good friend Chuck Hagele shares valuable insights into the online world and helping our children in the best way possible! There are so many present-day dangers that present themselves for children with a trauma history. Namely, the internet. How do we even begin to protect and safeguard our children from the many pitfalls the online world has? Fortunately, Chuck shares his many years of wisdom and expertise with us. But the biggest thing we love about Chuck's approach is that it way bigger than just sharing the latest tech trends, or filters that parents can use. He targets the heart and helps caregivers understand how they can build connection with their child while creating boundaries for them. Also On The Show... Get BOTH Insight 2021 and 2022 Replay Libraries now! During this special series, we are giving our listening audience the chance to take home both Insight Virtual Conference Replay Libraries for just $29.95 ($59.95 for Lifetime Access). Click Here to lock in your spot! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

At some point, the odds of your family being in the middle of a crisis are great. It kinda sorta comes with the territory of the foster and adoption journey. In that moment, what do you do? We've been in the place many times over the past 20+ years of parenting. And the most important lesson we've learned is that there is a right way to respond, and a wrong way to respond. Beyond that, there are crucial steps we must take to help our child heal, and keep us regulated and calm through, what could be, very difficult circumstances for our entire family for a season. As we dive into this new series, The Insight Archives, where we are sharing 4 sessions from the 2021 and 2022 Insight Virtual Conference, our hope is that you find clarity and insight as a caregiver. But most importantly, we want you to find hope. Also On The Show... SPECIAL CLOSEOUT OFFER... as a listener of the show, you can get full lifetime access to both the 2021 and 2022 Insight Virtual Conference replay libraries for a discounted price. Plus, Certificates Of Training Hours for more than 33 hours of foster care or homestudy credit. Click Here! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

The story of foster care can often be heartbreaking. Especially when a child ages out of the system and finds themselves on their own. But, what if a stronger bond existed than what we can see with our eyes? We were so fortunate to recently inteview author Angelo Grotticelli on the podcast, who wrote the book The Bond. Out of all the books written on foster care and adoption, The Bond is, by far, the most unique. Your heart will warmed by Angelo's words, his story, and his heart for children (particularly teenagers) in foster care. A Little More About Angelo... Angelo Grotticelli is a veteran technology trade journalist who, after years of roaming to find his true identity, ironically resides in the same town as the Huntington, N.Y., foster-care home he grew up in. He has a wife and three children. A Little More About The Bond (in Angelo's words)... "The Bond traces the journey of an unusual family made up of three unrelated sets of children from different backgrounds all raised in the same foster-care house. We were a collection of eight kids, all from broken homes, who were searching for the stability of an intact family. Unfortunately, that foster family imploded as well, but through sheer will and desperation we kids learned to pick up the pieces and form a lasting connection of our own. I came to the Nelson house from an orphanage in August 1969, when I was nine years old. When I turned eighteen, I was told to leave the family I had come to love. The state child-care payments had stopped and I was cast out. Then, in succession, we all were. Getting emotionally attached to the Nelsons was hard, but getting unattached was devastating. We were very different people who would never have met in another life. Yet today we are a family, as tight as any blood relations." How To Connect With Angelo... Buy The Bond on Amazon Follow Angelo on Twitter Also On The Show... Looking For A Way To Survive The Holiday Season? Have no fear. We created The Holiday Survival Guide so you, and your child, could experience peace this season! Click Here to download now! (It's FREE!) Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

We had the opportunity to sit down with Lata Hamilton who is a leaderships expert and adult adoptee living in Australia. She has an amazing story that will bring hope and empowerment to women worldwide, but also everyone who listens in! About Lata Hamilton (in her words)... "I believe everyone deserves to experience the magic of change. If we can make change the best experience possible, we can inspire change from within and empower ourselves and our teams. I'm a Change Leadership Expert accredited in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Coaching and help women carve their own paths for change in career, leadership and life. ​Having worked across Insurance, Financial Services, Retail, Manufacturing, Government, Consumer Goods, and Advertising, I blend together my years of experience and accreditation in Organisational Change Management, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Coaching. I've led change with some of Australia's biggest companies with agile, fit-for-purpose, practical Change Management strategies, plans and approaches. I've worked on changes that have impacted over 100,000 people, operating model changes impacting thousands, global cultural transformations, and digital transformation that is literally change the way that we work. If you’re the kind of leader with vision and passion, pioneer with me." How To Connect With Lata... Visit her website (and download her free guide!) Follow her on Instagram Also On The Show... THIS WEEK ONLY.... you can get our entire Honestly Adoption University Library (more than 200 hours of training) for 98% off! Click Here to get all the details! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

We love heart-warming adoption storylines. And this week, we are excited to share an interview with Preston Pouteaux, one of the producers of a new documentary called "I'll See You Later." I'll See You Later is a documentary that tells the life altering stories of adoption, profoundly carried between families learning to embody love together. For those who have an adoption story, this film resonates with a heart-aching richness and reflects the beauty of self-giving love; stories that reveal the very best in each of us. Some stories of adoption do not say “goodbye,” but, “I’ll see you later.” Click Here to learn more about the film. About Preston... Dr. Preston Pouteaux is a beekeeper, neighbourhood pastor at Lake Ridge Community Church, and the director of Plesion Studio. He is an engaging speaker, writer, and curator of conversations about faith and neighbourhoods. He studied at Covenant Bible College, Briercrest College, Regent College, Tyndale Seminary, and Jerusalem University College in Israel. He is the author of Imago Dei to Missio Dei [VantagePoint3], the award-winning author of The Bees of Rainbow Falls: Finding Faith, Imagination, and Delight in Your Neighbourhood [Urban Loft Publishers], and of The Neighbours Are Real and Other Beautiful Things [Plesion Studio]. He is a Harvey/Mackey Award winning writer for Faith Today Magazine, Ekstasis Magazine, and Strong Towns. Since 2015 his column, Into the Neighbourhood, has been printed over two millions times in weekly newspapers. Preston lives in Chestermere, Alberta, with his wife Kelly, their daughters Scotia and Ivy, and a few thousand honeybees. Also on the show... TODAY is the last day to enroll in Jeff Noble's Caregiver Kickstart Coaching Program and get access to a ton of awesome bonuses from Honestly Adoption University. Click Here to learn more! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

You may have just had a double-take when you read the title of this episode! What in the world does safety during a traffic stop have to do with the foster care and adoption parenting journey? A lot, actually! Many caregivers on this journey are parenting a multi-racial family, children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, autism, a severe mental illness, or another high special need. The likelihood of them having interactions with law enforcement are high unfortuntely. The biggest struggle, and question, we receive from caregivers is "How do I prepare my child for these possible unfortunate moments when they run into law enforcement?" Fortunately, we have amazing human beings like Jacquelyn Carter from The Alliance For Safe Traffic Stops, who've created transformational resources we can utlitize to bring safety, but most importantly change! A Little More About Jacquelyn.... Jacquelyn Carter is the president of Alliance For Safe Traffic Stops and the inventor of Not Reaching. She has an Associate Of Arts Degree in Information Technology, a Bachelor Of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, a Master Of Science Degree in Legal Studies, and a Master Of Public Administration with a concentration in Criminal Justice. She also serves on the Community Advisory Board in Alexandria, Virginia where she is also a resident. How To Connect With Jacquelyn... Visit the Alliance For Safe Traffic Stops website Visit the Not Reaching website Follow Not Reaching on Instagram Also On The Show... Jeff Noble's Caregiver Kickstart Coaching Program is open for registration! When you join, you get more than $5000 in bonus content from Honestly Adoption University. Click Here to learn more! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

Welcome to our super duper special episode of The Honestly Adoption Podcast! We're all about surprises here at Honestly Adoption and we have a big one today. Our good friend Jeff Noble, from FASD Success jumped on Zoom for a special interview about his brand new FREE online workshop for caregivers caring for a child or adult with an FASD called The Caregiver Kickstart FASD Workshop! Here's what this amazing workshop is about... Jeff will be teaching his heart out LIVE for three days, and along with his team is also putting together some brand new content and sessions to help you obtain Fetal Alcohol support, information, and strategies. They'll also be offering bonus sessions and training… brand new Case Studies… as well as all new Action Guides – all geared to give you a renewed mindset and direction. Within the workshop you'll get: Live training… Bonus sessions… Action Guides… And access to the team… 100% FREE to join! Session 1 took place this past Sunday but THERE'S STILL TIME to get in on the action! All you need to access the entire "FASD WORKSHOP" is your first name and email address. ​CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Abby Hasberry, Ph.D. to The Honestly Adoption Podcast. She is an Executive Educational Leadership Coach & Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate. In addition, she is also an adult adoptee and birth parent. A Little More About Abby (in her own words)... "If I had only three words to summarize my life's focus, they would be: leadership, service, and education. I'm a passionate executive coach who is also an experienced school administrator, educator, researcher, and college instructor with expertise in school start-ups, diversity and equity, racial identity development, transracial adoption, and leadership development. In addition, I am a marriage and family therapist. My primary therapy specialties are adoption with focus on transracial adoptees, adolescents and young adults, racial identity development and racial trauma, and relationships. As a trained teacher, I approach each client and their family system through a developmental lens. I consider not only your lived experiences, but also the developmental stage at which you experienced them and how the combination of the two may have affected you. I have been trained in Brainspotting and narrative therapy and believe that the client is the expert in his/her own life. I consider myself diversity focused, trauma-aware, and internal family systems (IFS) informed. I am also experienced in education management, P-16 education (including professional development and instructional leadership), team building and individual career development, online education, African American studies, curriculum development and implementation, and early childhood education. My deepest satisfaction has come from developing people. My two ultimate dream jobs would be one in which I am working to reform education while developing talent hands-on, and one in which I am supporting transracial adoptive families." How To Connect With Abby... Visit Abby's Consulting website Check out Abby's life coaching services Visit Abby's counseling services Also On The Show... FREE workshop on FASDs! Our good friend Jeff Noble kicks off his annual live online workshop this week, November 6-11 and it's a CAN'T MISS EVENT! (Also, it's 100% free to join). Click Here to save your spot! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)

We are pleased to welcome back our good friend, and therapist, Jessica Sinarski from Brave Brains. Jessica is a highly sought-after therapist, author, and speaker. Extensive post-graduate training and nearly 20 years as a clinician and educator led her to create the resource and training platform–BraveBrains. She makes brain science practical, helping parents and professionals become healers for hurting children. BraveBrains is a resource and training platform for home, school, and community. Using innovative solutions rooted in brain science, Jessica and her team empower children and adults to heal from early life adversity. From the classroom to the counseling office, from prisons to child protection agencies, from churches to parent support programs…if you’re involved with people who have experienced trauma, they're here to help! How To Connect With Jessica... www.BraveBrains.com/resources Trauma-Sensitive Tips for Teachers School Counselor Guide Resource bundles for elementary teachers and counselors Moving Beyond Trauma-Informed CEU series *Coming soon: www.JessicaSinarski.com Jessica has also created a wonderful resource, in conjuction with the Riley The Brave series, entitled Riley The Brave Sensational Senses Resource Bundle. Click Here to get your copy! Thanks for stopping by this week!