In Monday’s post I shared how scientists, led by Dr. Daniel P Keating, have discovered that prolonged periods of stress on a pregnant woman can affect the fetus resulting in babies that are literally born anxious. The gene that regulates …
Author: LuAnn Kern
Why Our Adopted Teens Are So Stressed Out, Part 1
If you’re looking for it, it’s all over the news. Even if you’re not, you’ve probably seen a headline or two. Here’s the jist: Adopted teens are over-represented in mental health treatment and facilities and adoptive families are struggling to …
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What to Tell Yourself When Your Teens Aren’t Filling Your Bucket
Daughter #1: I had a good dream last night. Dad: Oh? What about? D1: I dreamt I got a puppy. A German Shepherd puppy. And I named it Timbit. Dad: Ah. That sounds like a nice dream. D1: And then …
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What I Learned from an Adoptive Mom 7,500 Miles Away: Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors
My Facebook feed is getting more and more difficult to read. Being in groups with other adoptive parents, I see posts about the challenges they’re having with their children, their extended families, the schools, the doctors, and the “system.” They’re …
When the Fruit Still Grows – Knowing God’s at Work in Your Teen’s Life
When we gave up the fight with the neighborhood rabbits we gave up our dream of home-grown produce for this season. We whispered “uncle” to the weeds and shielded our eyes from that corner of the yard. We sighed when …
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What’s the Cost of Listening to Your Teenager?
Three weeks. Three weeks of averting my eyes as I walked past them every day. Three weeks of watering the pots that sat on the mulch and rocks, just inches away from the bed that would eventually be their home. …
Holding Space for Ourselves: Why Self-Care is Holy, not Selfish, Sinful, or Just for the Wealthy
It’s the second day of the new school year and I unexpectedly find myself with a clear calendar and a whole day to myself. Someone pinch me. Yesterday was hard and crazy busy; tomorrow will be the same. But today, …
The Ripples You Need for Parenting Your Adopted Teen
“Do you need the girls to sleep over so that you two can have some time alone?” my friend asked. It wasn’t the first time she’d offered. Or the first time I’d accepted. Like any house with teenagers, hers has …
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Learning to be God’s Access to Your Teen
As an adoptive parent to two teenagers, I want every tool that’s out there in my resource kit: blogs, webinars, books–especially books. Lots and lots of books. As I encounter things that I find useful to my parenting journey, I …
11 Summer Things to Do with Your Teen that Won’t Break the Bank
So, we’re halfway through the summer. How’s it going? With your teen, I mean. Feeling like you’re a chauffeur and an ATM? Want to see the whites of their eyes and not the tops of their heads? Totally understand. We can’t …
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