Shows
Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and AdoptionFoster Care: The Altar of MotherhoodJessica Miles shares her raw, powerful story of loving through the hardest seasons of foster care, demonstrating how her own difficult childhood prepared her to show up authentically for children experiencing trauma. She offers profound insight into what it means to love intentionally when behaviors are extreme and systems are failing.• Loving children the way she wished she'd been loved as a child• Creating safety and protection as foundational parenting values• Learning each child's unique love language and needs• Suffering hearing loss from years of managing extreme behaviors• Finding self-care in small, tangible ways durin...2025-05-2047 min
Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and AdoptionSingle, Fostering and Figuring it Out: One Foster Mom's Journey into the UnknownKate shares her journey from teacher to single foster parent, reflecting on the profound identity shift that occurs the moment a child enters your home and the unique challenges of navigating the system alone.• Background in early childhood and special education creating a strong foundation for advocacy• Building a house with kids in mind before even being licensed• The exact moment of becoming a mother at 11:23pm on June 29, 2023• Navigating the overwhelming initial days of placement with no preparation• The tremendous mental load of single parenting while managing the foster care system• Creating com...2025-05-1337 min
Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and AdoptionRebecca Unedited: Motherhood UnfilteredWelcome back to season two where we dive into the complicated reality of Mother's Day for foster and adoptive moms, exploring how joy and grief often coexist in our parenting journey. I share my personal struggles with balancing celebration, complicated emotions, and the mantra that helps me navigate it all: "two things can be true."• Mother's Day feels different when you share it with your children's first mothers• Parenting feels drastically different when attachment comes naturally versus when it doesn't• Breaking dysfunctional cycles adds another layer of complexity to motherhood• Finding peace amidst chaos becomes...2025-05-0725 minBehind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and AdoptionRebecca Unedited: Unknotting Our StoriesVulnerability and authenticity are explored through personal experiences of motherhood, therapy, and relationships. By unpacking the burdensome narratives around love and acceptance, the episode inspires listeners to reflect on their own stories and choose healthier paths toward autonomy.• Navigating the complexities of vulnerability in relationships • The impact of books on parenting and boundaries • Confronting the stories we tell ourselves • Understanding the significance of personal autonomy • Embracing healing through awareness and compassion • Invitation to explore narratives that shape our sense of self 2025-02-1837 minBehind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and AdoptionEmpowering Change: Child Advocacy, Foster Care, and Finding Your Voice with Olivia SmithThis episode focuses on the vital role of advocacy in supporting children, particularly in foster care and educational systems. We touch on personal experiences, the importance of knowledge about rights and relationships, and strategies for effectively advocating within complex systems.• Understanding the role and significance of PACE • Navigating challenges in the foster care system • Empowering oneself with knowledge of rights and policies • The emotional landscape of advocacy work • Building key relationships within educational and care systems • Importance of curiosity and community support in advocacy • Techniques for responding versus reacting professionally • Fostering collaboration...2025-02-1158 minBehind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and AdoptionJourneying Through Family Dynamics and ResilienceThe episode delves into the transformative journey of foster care and adoption, highlighting the emotional complexities and realities faced by families involved. Megan Hampton-Pusey shares her experiences as a foster mother, addressing the importance of community support, the challenges of attachment, and the often-overlooked struggles of fostering. • Insights into the emotional and psychological impact of fostering • Importance of community and support for foster parents • Contrast between biological and foster parenting dynamics • The reality of attachment styles in adopted children • The burden of societal perceptions on foster parents • Discussion on resilience, trauma, and growth in children...2025-02-0456 min