When Adoptive & Foster Parents Feel STUCK

You know that I totally get where you are coming from. I've been there and it can get tough. Really tough.

Here's what I want to say to you totally out of love and understanding...be sure you aren't so angry or so sad or so tired that you are sabotaging your own success at meeting your child right where he/she is at.

Get Out Of Your Own Way, my friend. 

So many parents feel stuck. They don't know what to do to stop the hard behaviors. They question whether they are the right parent for this child. The day in and day out roller coaster of emotions has got them totally exhausted. 

I remember it well. It enveloped me.

I remember feeling like I was caught in one of those cartoons where the black cloud follows the character around - I hung on to all the negative stuff so tightly. There wasn't much else in my life.

Rather than fill myself up, I chose to stay empty.

I didn't sleep. I didn't take a break. I didn't do things with friends. All I thought about, all I talked about was how hard everything was.

Now that's crazy! I had a great life. And that's where I realized I was totally sabotaging my own success by not taking care of me so that I could get unstuck.  

We get in our own way sometimes.

In order to avoid sabotaging your own journey, be sure to take care of yourself so you can have the clarity it takes to see where your child needs you to meet them.

Invest time and energy into taking time for you, nurturing your closest relationships and surrounding yourself with people that get it. You'll be energized and feel powerful to not be doing it alone. 

All of the sudden, you'll have gotten out of your own way.  

And then meeting your child right where he's at will become second nature. The hard behaviors and ugly words will dissipate. The connection will strengthen. You will figure out how to be the parent your child needs and can receive.

You will feel the shift. Your whole family will. 

Don't let yourself stay stuck. Take care of you, too.  It doesn't have to be a month's vacation. Just intentional choices along the way - choices that help you keep from getting stuck in the muck!

P.S. I want to personally invite you to be a part of my Coaching Group -  A choice to help you take care of you and to keep you from getting stuck. http://www.tohavehope.com/intentional-parent-coaching-group.html