It’s that time again…the time when we take stock of our lives and look ahead with hopes, dreams, visions, and goals. We make those resolutions that we think this year we’ll really do. Lose the weight. Exercise. Eat healthy. Get those closets organized. Declutter. Pay off credit card debt.

Those are really great – and would genuinely make a difference in your life, but I want to challenge you to look deeper, to look at what would really make a difference. A difference in not only your life, but in your child’s life, in your entire family’s life. A real difference that will greatly impact your child’s future. Now that should be on the goal list of every single parent.

I know, I know. It’s overwhelming. You feel like you’ve tried everything. You’re exhausted. You’re not sure what to try next. Some days, you don’t even feel like trying at all. I get it. I really get it!

The good news – it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, 2017 can be a whole lot brighter, a whole lot happier. My next live webinar is just the answer – How to Map Out a Happy 2017 For Your Family. It’s a step-by-step plan that I will walk you through. It will make a HUGE difference in your year.

And more good news – in my Intentional Parent Coaching Group, we will be focusing on creating a vision, setting goals and mapping your family’s action plan. 

And even better news – as a member of my Intentional Parent Coaching Group, you will get FREE access to this live webinar.

But the BEST news – 2017 can be a HAPPY new year for your family!
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Join us today. It’s going to be a great year!
Click the link: http://www.tohavehope.com/intentional-parent-coaching-group.html
​

We are heading out for a 5 hour car trip to see my Mother-in-law today and I've got my laptop, my journal, and my new 2017 calendar packed up and ready to go. I can't wait to do some 2017 planning and goal setting.

Yes, I have found that having a plan in all the areas of my life is really key! My goals and action plan keep me focused, positive and hopeful! Actually becoming an Intentional Parent 16 years ago was really where it all kicked off.

Our original intention was to adopt our girls and become one big happy family. Well, it wasn't working. Life became pretty CHAOTIC. My job description as Mom got a bit hazy. I kind of lost my way. I even began to LOSE MYSELF. I needed a plan! This job was too important to just be hoping everything would turn out, hoping my kids would heal, and hoping I would be able to pull it off.

I learned back then that we had to be much more intentional! Helping a child heal, to learn to trust, to overcome his past takes knowledge, a really good plan, and the support of others who get it. Creating a foundation that can hold the pain, loss, and hard behaviors is the first step. It's the step that will impact all other pieces of your child's future relationships - relationships with you, with friends, bosses, and most importantly themselves. This is IMPORTANT work!

The reality is that we have to start at the beginning no matter how old they are and then intentionally move forward from there, step by step, meeting them right where they are at along the way. It's about setting goals that will best help your child (and your whole family) and then mapping out an action plan that will get you all where you want to be. Healing and break-throughs WILL happen! You will feel stronger, more effective, and just down right happier.

I would LOVE to help you get your goals and action plan in place too! My Intentioanl Parent Coaching Group will be focusing on creating a vision, setting goals, and mapping out their family's action plan. You can too! Your family can ultimately be happy and healthy. It's about looking toward the future with a vision and having a really good plan to get to living that vision!  This is YOUR chance!

Only members of my Intentional Parent Coaching Group have access to my next LIVE webinar....
How To Map Out A Happy 2017 For Your Family:                            Be More Focused, Positive and Hopeful All Year Long

Join Me Today - Let's Make 2017 YOUR Year!
   http://www.tohavehope.com/intentional-parent-coaching-group.html

Can't wait to see you in class, 
Stacy Manning
       

My phone has been ringing off the hook and my email is full of messages from Adoptive & Foster Parents. Yes, It IS a challenging time of year for parents of adopted & foster kiddos. How's your crowd doing? 

Here's some important information that will help you succeed: Perspective holds power!

Your point of view can really give you the power to help your adopted or foster child turn everything around. It defines your approach to everyday challenges, helps you see the hard stuff in life from a new slant, and is the base from which a can-do attitude is formed!  

Remember...I'm an adoptive parent as well as a biological one and I'm not going to lie; there have been days - okay let's be real - there have been years in which I believed I had tried everything to help my daughter heal and I didn't see much hope for our future. Difficult behaviors and ugly words seemed to be all there was. I really couldn't see a way out.

Everything was about surviving the moment and I was so busy living moment to moment that it kind of consumed me. I just kept making the same kind of parenting choices over and over even though they weren't working. I couldn't come up with another plan. I really began to lose hope.

In one of my clearer moments, it hit me like a ton of bricks...I do have the power to change things for all of us. I realized that I needed to shift my perspective.

My attitude and point of view needed an adjustment. I got caught up in just dealing with what was right in front of me rather than seeing my whole child. I realized that our everyday was being survived as if I didn't have anything to say about how it all went down. I did have something to say about it!  

So, to shift things to a more healthy and happy path I had to be able to see every moment from a NEW ANGLE. I had to meet my children right where they were at. I had to focus on the good. I had to parent differently. The power my new perspective held was literally life changing. We went from surviving to thriving!  

The real TRUTH is that YOU have something to say about it for your family too!  

It's time to take a stand - not necessarily a big loud scream it from the roof tops one, but an inner one that changes your EVERY DAY.

It's time to start seeing your child and his challenges from a new point of view. It is time to fight for the life you all deserve.

It's time to regain that positive hopeful attitude that used to carry you through life.  

IMAGINE IT...a calmer life, a more connected feeling, and forward movement in the right direction.        

Work to see things from another angle, to have a positive attitude, and to be open to trying new ways of parenting. You'll see, break-throughs will begin to happen for your child, for you, and really for your whole family! 

YOUR Perspective has a HEALING POWER! 

I know it's hard to know where to start. It might even seem a little overwhelming, but don't let that stop you! It's absolutely an incredible time to shake things up and start living life the way you all were meant to.

A NEW YEAR is almost here - TAKE YOUR STAND. You have something to say about your family's happiness. I want to help you all thrive!

I want to personally invite you to join my Intentional Parent Coaching Group and make 2018 a whole new chapter in your story.
     
Being a part of this group will absolutely work to fuel your mission 
As a member you get:  
-a monthly training
-weekly LIVE Q & A sessions online to get YOUR questions answered
-a 24/7 place to get support from other parents that get it.
-tools and techniques that work 
-bonus training videos and an entire Learning Library of classes 

Make 2018 the year your family experiences the break through you ball desire!

Don't wait, this is the PERFECT TIME. And...if you get signed up by Dec 31st, the first 30 days are 1/2 price! 
http://www.tohavehope.com/intentional-parent-coaching-group.html

This past weekend, we woke up to a -25 F temp. Brutally cold. Needless to say, it was time to adjust our plans. Time to hunker down and not leave the house. It was too cold. Living in Minnesota, we have had days like this before.

When my kiddos were younger, those were not necessarily fun days. Stuck inside. Kids bouncing off the ways. Change in routine. Increased intimacy. Those were the counting down to bedtime days. Do you know what I mean?

Here are some ways to get through those stuck in the house kind of days…


-Get out some new sensory things to keep the kiddos busy. Playdough, bake cookies, knead bread dough.
      
 -Movie marathon. Grab some blankets, pop some popcorn, and hit play. 

-Keep routines in place. Lots of kids do best when things stay the same, less changes. So do what you can to keep changes to a minimum.

-Paint a picture of how the day is going to look. Let them know there have been some changes in the day. Tell them what the plan is for the day. Knowing what to expect can decrease anxiety. 
      
-Create a little space. Often time togetherness can increase anxiety or create a trigger. Make sure everyone gets a little space once or twice throughout the day. (be careful...kids who have suffered an abandonment might perceive this as one) Some will need to be close to you while others will be able to read a book on their bed or clean the bathroom or run the garbage out. 

-Find a little something to fill YOU up. Read a magazine while they are watching a movie. Put on your favorite music. Paint your nails. Just a little take care of you something.

It is about being intentional and meeting your kids right where THEY are at!

You CAN do this - you ARE an INTENTIONAL PARENT! 

 have been thinking about you lately...yes, I do know you. Well, I do know the challenges you are facing! I have been there. 

Some Challenges:
Trying to love someone who has a hard time receiving it. 
Feeling disconnected from your child.
Not sure how to advocate for your child any more.
Sad from watching your child struggle.
Wondering if anything you are doing is even working.
Questioning your ability, desire, and feelings.
Being emotionally exhausted all of the time.
Being physically exhausted a lot of the time.
Feeling judged and/or misunderstood.
Stress on your marriage.
Chaos affecting your whole family.
Losing you.
And so much more.

See, I do get it. I have been there. 
The great news is YOU don't have to be there for one more minute!
Unlike me, you DO have a CHOICE. It's up to you, you can shift things so that your challenges don't define your life. So they don't define your child's happiness, your happiness or your whole family's happiness. I know it might seem impossible, but I am on the other side and I want to show you how to get there too.

There's one thing I know for sure...Life CAN absolutely be more peaceful, more happy, and so much closer to where you want it to be. It isn't always easy to look forward and see a plan for how to get where you want to be. This journey we are on can be tough and cause us to lose our way. It can cause us to lose hope for a better future. I totally get it and that's why I am here! I believe we are in this together and I want to help you create a detailed action plan that will make it easier for you to see and acquire the 2017 you want for your family!       

How? I want to personally invite YOU to join my Intentional Parent Coaching Group where we will work together a minimum of 3 times a month to get you where you want to be. This is the shift you have been waiting for.

A customized plan for YOUR family will make all of the difference. You will learn effective ways to handle any challenge you are hitting...in the moment how to's and what to say's that will give you confidence and create those moments and experiences that work to decrease challenging behavior and increase healthier relationships.

No more doing this alone! You will be part of a group of parents who are digging deep, who support one another, who TRULY understand what it means to stay in it no matter what. Yes it is hard, but together we are so much stronger!

Working with a mentor who has BEEN THERE is invaluable. I have lived your journey and have worked with thousands of families over the last 12 years. It is my passion and commitment to support your family to THRIVE!

Members receive:
-a monthly training
-an opportunity for us to work together 3 times a month in our closed Facebook group
-a 24/7 place to get support from other parents that get it.
-tools and techniques that work 
-bonus training videos, 5 minute tweak tools, and much more  
*ALSO as a member you have access to the vault that contains 6 of my top selling classes and multiple monthly Coaching Group trainings and q&a's.
**BIG BONUS - members also get a FREE registration to my next life-changing class HOW TO MAP OUT A HAPPY 2017 FOR YOUR FAMILY

NOW is the time to look forward and TAKE THE LEAP to make it the year you want it to be! 
Let's do it together...click the link for more information and to get registered.
http://www.tohavehope.com/intentional-parent-coaching-group.html​

​I cannot wait to see you in group! 
Stacy Manning

​It's that time of year when I find myself looking back. Thinking about the last year and even the last few years. Reality is that lots of times I end up looking back at the whole journey. Sixteen years is a LONG time.

The beginning was pretty rocky. Our girls struggled and we dealt with very hard behaviors and words, mistrust, aggression, and so much more. The stress and anxiety affected our marriage, our whole family, and other relationships like friendships. Life was NOTHING like we thought it would be.  

I had to do something. My family was SO unhappy. We were constantly in survival...bouncing from one emotional outburst to another. I started to dig and dig deep! Lots of research, extended education along with trial and error began to shape new tools and techniques that worked. Looking back, I definitely remember when I finally began to feel like a good Mom again. The shift began to happen and it was making a difference for my entire family!

When I began to do things differently, there was such a relief. We all felt it. Behaviors slowed down. The wedge in our relationships began to shrink. Those emotional out bursts that basically ruled our life just began to fade away. Holidays were better. Family time became more fun and joyful. Life was much closer to what we wanted for our family.

As I fine tuned how I parented, our children began to thrive not just survive and that's when we REALLY became a family! SO as I look back over the past year I would say I have met many of the goals I had in mind for 2016. And as I look over the past 16 years, I am pleased that the original goal we set out to accomplish - giving all of our children a one-and-only parent relationship - has really happened too.

My theory is that we should look back from time to time for a couple of reasons. First, so that we can find the good, those things that worked - the successes - and be sure to carry them forward into the new year. And second, to determine if what we are doing is working or not. Then...when we have gathered both kinds of information, we need to take it and intentionally do a big turn to look towards the future, the next year.

Our new plan can exist of putting into place those things that were working before and taking whatever leap we need to take to do it differently so that the next year is that much better and that much closer to what we want for ourselves, our children, and our whole family.

SO, I have 2 questions for YOU...
1. Looking back, have you met your 2016 goals? Your goals for yourself? Your "Mothering" goals? Your child? Your marriage? Your whole family?

2. Looking forward, do you have a detailed plan to make 2017 all that you want it to be?  What successes and goodness can you carry forward? What worked and what didn't? What leap do YOU need to make to accomplish your goals?  What needs to be focused on in order to enhance the quality of life for your entire family??   

There's one thing I know for sure...Life CAN absolutely be more peaceful, more happy and so much closer to where you want it to be. It isn't always easy to look forward and see a plan for how to get where you want to be. This journey we are on can be tough and cause us to lose our way. It can cause us to lose hope for a better future. I totally get it and that's why I am here! I believe we are in this together and I want to help you create a detailed action plan that will make it easier for you to see and acquire the 2017 you want for your family!  
    
Together we will take everything that worked last year and combine it with proven tools and techniques and support like you have never had before and work together to make 2017 your best year yet! 

How? I want to personally invite YOU to join my Intentional Parent Coaching Group, where we will work together a minimum of 3 times a month to get you where you want to be. This is the shift you have been waiting for.

A customized plan for YOUR family will make all of the difference. You will learn effective ways to handle any challenge you are hitting...in the moment how to's and what to say's that will give you confidence and create those moments and experiences that work to decrease challenging behavior and increase healthier relationships.

No more doing this alone! You will be part of a group of parents who are digging deep, who support one another, who TRULY understand what it means to stay in it no matter what. Yes, it is hard, but together we are so much stronger!

Working with a mentor who has BEEN THERE is invaluable. I have lived your journey and have worked with thousands of families over the last 12 years. It is my passion and commitment to support your family to THRIVE!

Members receive:
-a monthly training
-an opportunity for us to work together 3 times a month in our closed Facebook group
-a 24/7 place to get support from other parents that get it.
-tools and techniques that work 
-bonus training videos, 5 minute tweak tools, and much more  
*ALSO as a member you have access to the vault that contains 6 of my top selling classes and multiple monthly Coaching Group trainings and q&a's. 
**BIG BONUS - members also get a FREE registration to my next life-changing class HOW TO MAP OUT A HAPPY 2017 FOR YOUR FAMILY

NOW is the time to look forward and TAKE THE LEAP to make it the year you want it to be! 
Let's do it together...click the link for more information and to get registered.
 http://www.tohavehope.com/intentional-parent-coaching-group1.html    

I cannot wait to see you in group!