Behavioral Challenges
Defiance
DEFIANCE When I think about a defiant child, I am reminded of the Prodigal Son parable found in Luke 15. What an amazing example of a parent’s reaction of love,
Siblings: Resolving Conflict
SIBLINGS: RESOLVING CONFLICT P.E.A.C.E. As a parent my children’s arguments often sent me over the edge! I wanted our home to be peaceful! In Romans 12:18 Paul writes these challenging
Accusations
Accusations Coming from trauma and/or a long time in foster care, children learn many skills to help them survive. While some of these skills are excellent, like advocating for themselves
Acting out Sexually
ACTING OUT SEXUALLY One of the most perplexing and taboo topics for parents can be that of sexuality. Parents welcome vulnerable children/teens into their homes, and are often surprised and
Winter Blues
THE WINTER BLUES Regardless of where you live, the shorter days of winter along with the messy weather can create havoc for our foster and adoptive children. We see a
Manipulation and Control
“You’re not the boss of me,” is a childhood declaration of mine that now lives in family infamy. Growing up I longed for independence, and this announcement was my way
Ingratitude
INGRATITUDE Gratitude comes easier to some of us because of life lessons and experiences. It is a virtue that is cultivated over time, over a life span. However, many children
Lying
LYING Although I can now confidently say that integrity is a value that I hold in high regard, as a child, I must confess that I had a bit of
Self-Soothing
Self-soothing behaviors in children and adolescents from hard places can be confusing and the range of parental responses to such behaviors can be vast. Some families look at this behavior
Food Anxiety
FOOD ANXIETY Most of us eat at least three meals a day but if you are like me, there are multiple snacks in between. That’s a lot of time spent