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Adoption

Adoption is my passion. For all resources connected with adoption, as well as empathy and encouragement for your adoption journey, you've come to the right place. Enjoy browsing, and let me know if I can help you with anything!

‘BABY SHARK’ NATIVITY SONG (AND THE ADOPTIVE ROLE OF JOSEPH)

December 17, 2018 3 Comments

Baby shark Nativity song

One of the important spiritual preparations I've made this Advent to enable my heart to draw closer to the Christ-child, to recognise the wonder of God-incarnate, sent from heaven to rescue us from ourselves, is... ...to re-write a Nativity version of "Baby Shark". Yeah, that kind of sums up my … [Read more...] about ‘BABY SHARK’ NATIVITY SONG (AND THE ADOPTIVE ROLE OF JOSEPH)

Adoption· Christmas & Advent· Faith

DEAR WORLD, MY ‘ADOPTED’ CHILDREN ARE ALSO MY ‘OWN’ CHILDREN. PLEASE DON’T DIFFERENTIATE.

October 16, 2018 12 Comments

My adopted children are my own children. Mixing biological and adopted kids in a blended family.

It's National Adoption Week, which seemed like a good opportunity for a rant. As you know, I tend to blog positively and (I hope) humorously about adoption, and its impact on our family. It's not all roses, of course, and I'm honest about the struggles of raising four children, two of whom have … [Read more...] about DEAR WORLD, MY ‘ADOPTED’ CHILDREN ARE ALSO MY ‘OWN’ CHILDREN. PLEASE DON’T DIFFERENTIATE.

Adoption· Blended families· Explaining adoption to others

CHOOSING A SCHOOL FOR AN ADOPTED CHILD (5 QUESTIONS TO ASK)

September 18, 2018 10 Comments

How do I find the best primary school for my child? If you have an adopted child starting school, this guide on how to choose a good school for your child will be invaluable.

Blink, and three years will pass in an instant. I mean, while you know and I know that it's only actually been three minutes since our gorgeous 14-month-old boys moved into our family, the calendar (damn that thing - is it even a trustworthy article?) suggests it's actually been nearly three … [Read more...] about CHOOSING A SCHOOL FOR AN ADOPTED CHILD (5 QUESTIONS TO ASK)

Adoption· Education· Parenting an Adopted Child

ADOPTION AND VICARAGES: HOW DO I KEEP CHILDREN SAFE IN A ‘PUBLIC’ FAMILY SPACE?

July 21, 2018 5 Comments

How do I keep adopted or fostered children safe in a public space like a vicarage?

The adoption process involves several home visits. Your social worker doesn't need to see a show home (thank flippin' goodness for that) – but they do need to see that you have the space for a new child/ren, that you're able to keep the home clean and tidy enough to nurture human life, and that … [Read more...] about ADOPTION AND VICARAGES: HOW DO I KEEP CHILDREN SAFE IN A ‘PUBLIC’ FAMILY SPACE?

Adoption· Adoption process· Faith· Home· Parenting an Adopted Child

CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING NO FATHER?

June 12, 2018 10 Comments

What does it mean to have no father?

I can't imagine how it would feel to have no father. I can imagine a remote father - detached, preoccupied, no space in his life for children. I can imagine his regret and guilt at having been talked into a family he never really wanted - or, perhaps, the absence of regret and guilt, as time starts … [Read more...] about CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING NO FATHER?

Adoption· Explaining adoption to others· Faith· Family Life· Parenting· Parenting an Adopted Child

THE MERMAID WHO COULDN’T – BOOK REVIEW

June 2, 2018 17 Comments

The mermaid who couldn't (JKP) by Ali Redford and Kara Simpson. Book review by The Hope-Filled Family, UK Christian parenting and adoption blog.

Being removed from your biological family, at whatever age it happens, has life-changing impact. There will be negative emotions and responses which feel so intuitive, that the idea of ever shaking them off seems impossible. The more resources which help children and parents to navigate these … [Read more...] about THE MERMAID WHO COULDN’T – BOOK REVIEW

Adoption· Family Life· Parenting· Parenting an Adopted Child

THE A-Z OF THERAPEUTIC PARENTING – BOOK REVIEW

May 9, 2018 49 Comments

The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting by Sarah Naish (JKP), book review by The Hope-Filled Family, UK Christian parenting and adoption blog.

I'm hugely excited this week to be sharing an absolutely brilliant book with you. The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting (Sarah Naish) was released a few weeks ago, and I have to tell you that it's already revolutionising my parenting. Wait...rewind a few steps...what's therapeutic parenting? It's a style … [Read more...] about THE A-Z OF THERAPEUTIC PARENTING – BOOK REVIEW

Adoption· Family Life· Parenting· Parenting an Adopted Child

WHY ADOPT WHEN YOU CAN HAVE BIRTH CHILDREN?

April 16, 2018 7 Comments

Why adopt when you can have birth children? Why would couples make the decision to go through the adoption process if they knew they could conceive naturally? What motivates people to choose adoption?

It's one of those questions that many of us might have in our heads, but never actually verbalise. After all, it sounds rude, doesn't it? As if we're questioning someone's life choices - something we know never, ever to do in 21st-century Britain. Well, here's an answer. It's my answer, and it may … [Read more...] about WHY ADOPT WHEN YOU CAN HAVE BIRTH CHILDREN?

Adoption· Adoption process· Blended families· Explaining adoption to others· Faith· Family Life· Parenting· Parenting an Adopted Child

WHY MY SON TORE UP HIS MOTHERS’ DAY CARD (AND IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK)

April 6, 2018 8 Comments

An insight into the destructive behaviours presented by adopted/fostered children - why they happen and what they look like.

As an organised, sentimental yet time-starved Mum, my approach to archiving all those special bits and pieces that your kids produce (and which you want to keep because, my gosh, some of it is truly awful), consists of throwing them all into named box files. It works pretty well: each child has a … [Read more...] about WHY MY SON TORE UP HIS MOTHERS’ DAY CARD (AND IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK)

Adoption· Explaining adoption to others· Family Life· Mothers' Day· Parenting· Parenting an Adopted Child

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The Hope-Filled Family - UK Christian parenting and adoption blog by Lucy Rycroft
Should you send your child to a school in special measures? What if the local school is failing? What do you do? Read our story here.
This article explains why adopted children are more susceptible to pre-birth factors which might affect their development, such as domestic violence, drinking alcohol and substance abuse. It counters the argument that just because a child is taken into care at birth they will be 'fine'.
For those days (or weeks, or months, or years) when you feel like you're failing at parenting, here is your hope, your encouragement and some practical ideas.
How to have great family bible time for kids when it’s noisy and chaotic. The best family devotionals often happen in the chaos, and this post tells you why.
Looking round prospective schools with your adopted or fostered child? Here are the questions you need to ask.
The four attachment styles are explained in this clear, no-fuss blog. What they are, how to spot them, and how to parent your child with this knowledge.
How adoption/fostering might affect toddlers' behaviour.
Is church just an extra curricular activity? Is it important for my family to attend church? What happens if we skip church?
Are you a lonely parent? You're not alone - literally. Many of us struggle with social isolation when we become parents. Here are some ways to combat it.
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