In this episode of aParently! A Podcast for Parents, Shawn shares a deeply personal moment from his journey as a foster and adoptive parent. After years of being a foster parent, legal guardian, and custodial parent, he officially became Juan's legal father.
What he imagined would be a joyful, celebratory milestone turned out to be far more complicated.
This episode explores the quiet realities of foster care and adoption. How love and grief can exist at the same time. Why a child may feel uncomfortable with celebration even when they feel safe and deeply connected. And how parents can honor their child's story without centering their own expectations.
This conversation is for foster parents, adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, and anyone raising a child whose early life required more resilience than it ever should have.
You are not alone. You are not doing it wrong. And you are doing better than you think you are.
Shawn Hopkins
Coach for Parents
Schedule a Free Coaching Session www.shawnhop.com
Resources and Community www.aparently.community
