Adoption Adventures (adoptionadventures)

I have been asked to support setting up a new LGBTQ+ group and wanted to add some changes to it, I have spoken before briefly about being part of the LGBTQ+ community, but am hoping that this episode will just delve a little deeper and ask some questions for others. 

I have made some comments in this episode and tried to explain certain aspects of the LGBTQ+ community but fully appreciate that I am always learning, so do let me know if I have got anything wrong. 

As you scroll through your social media you will, I am sure, see many photos of children standing in front of doorways getting ready to go back to school or for their first day. It has got me thinking about how that has felt over the years and the varied emotions that can bring, I share them with you in this episode. 

I had to take last week off from recording to allow the show week to go ahead. 

This week I am here to update you on all the exciting things that have been happening with us, there are updates from Little Dude and his exams, me and my training sessions, and some other fun times. 

Check it out and let me know if you want me to cover any topics 

We've had a lovely change in the home of late, but this has allowed us to see little dudes avoidance come out and then seen how he has managed it too...have a listen to find out more. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

I have been asked to delve into the topic of changing the term contact into 'keeping in touch' and to see what people thought about the idea. I reached out to our supporters and the results were rather interesting....have a listen to learn more. 

As part of my work with Adoption UK, we have explored Post Placement Blues and how many people have experienced this. It was a really interesting piece of work and has shone a light on some really important factors. 

The boys and I went on holiday, so I was able to lock them down to get on the podcast, I asked for some questions to be asked and get the views they had. The recording is split into a few chapters, but I am sure you get why. :-) 

We're carrying on with our listener questions. This week is all about when you get your first letter from birth parents and how this makes you feel. I go into detail about how this was for us and what you could do to prepare. 

The ASF was recently approved for another year, I have been speaking with adopters and social workers alike and have been having some great conversations about what the ASF is in place for and how it is working, it has caused me to do some thinking and considering, I would love to hear what you think of it all. 

I have hosted 3 focus forums, attended a few meetings to discuss 'harder to place' children and it's all been amazing! I am sharing my update with you all and hope that you find it as interesting as I do. Remember, you can always let me know if there are topics you would like me to discuss on any future episode. 

I am also asking adopters to follow our instagram account as I am looking for some feedback on Education there. :-) 

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

Not massive amounts going on in our world this week, so I thought I would update you on the whole lot. :-) 

Little Dude had a 'lads holiday' and I have been sacked!!! Have a listen and hope you enjoy. 

Thank you as always for listening to our story, if you have anything you would like to hear about or discuss, get in touch. :-) 

In today's episode, I am trying to wrap and then keep 4 puppies at bay, I may or may not have gone off-topic once or twice in the chat, but hopefully, you will still enjoy it. I am rounding up the year and some of the fun that we have had, all in the name of good fun. 

Thank you for listening and continuing to support our podcast. 

The last in this current segment, I have taken a look at the last few topics that the fans have asked me to cover and looked at them as one whole episode. I am covering, attachment, stage 2, panel and a few others that you would like to hear about. 

If you have a topic that you would ever like us to discuss then please drop me a line on adoptionadventures123@gmail.com 

I have had 2 recent interactions on Twitter which got me thinking and wondering about who you can save and who you need to let go. It helped me to reflect on what I can do and indeed what I can't. It's ok if you are not perfect, it is fine if you are not able to help everyone. 

But what about that child that you felt you had to say no to? Or that person who has reached out and needs support, but not from you? 

Find out all about my latest Twitter world in this episode. 

You can, of course, follow us on Twitter too: AdoptionAdvent1 

Or Facebook or Insta: Adoption.Adventures 

On our Instagram page we invited our followers to recommend some topics to cover. This episode is for Lauren who is playing the waiting game, I have a little chat about the waiting, why you are waiting and what you van do in that time. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

Welcome to "Adoption Adventures," the podcast that explores the ups and downs of adoption and foster care. In this week's episode, we have some exciting news to share: Little Dude has passed his driving test!

Join us as we discuss the challenges and triumphs of teaching a teenager to drive, the nervous moments during the test, and the feeling of pride and relief when you find out your child has passed. We'll also explore how this milestone is a significant step towards independence for Little Dude and how it impacts his journey through life. 

Tune in to "Adoption Adventures" and join us for a heartfelt discussion about the joys and challenges of raising a child through adoption.

I have had an email come through from a listener who is going through some difficult times at work, they wanted to share their experiences in the hope of spreading the word and getting some advice. 

Whilst I am not an employment lawyer, I do have some experience that I have advised on here, I am hoping that it helps. But perhaps this is an area that you know more about. 

So, get in touch and let me know if this has happened to you or if you have a way to manage this situation: 

adoptionadventures123@gmail.com 

Twitter - AdoptionAdvent1

Facebook and Instagram - adoption.adventures 

On our Instagram we asked our followers what some of their biggest frustrations were and tried to offer support and advice. I have shared their frustrations/fears with you and my views on how to move forward. Hopefully it will help others on their journey too. 

I have started delivering training with a new agency and it is really good fun, I am learning new things and having new conversations which are great. I have also found out about a new app called Youbo which I shall share with you...let me know what you make of it! 

I was able to attend our regional agencies staff conference and hear about all the great work that they had been doing for the past year and their plans for the year ahead. It is really exciting to hear what they have been able to achieve and how they have been listening to their adopter community. 

The year ahead looks set to be super exciting, can't wait to share more as the year progresses. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

It's been another great week with plenty happening, so here is the general update on all that has been happening in our world. It has brought lots of thoughts about what's next and future topics too. Hope you enjoy 

I was asked to attend a profiling event and speak with the prospective adopters about our journey and our experiences of contact, throughout the day however, I did have a few moments that caught my eye and sadly...caused some frustrations. In today's episode, I am having a little moan...sorry! 

Little Dude is causing us all new headaches, granted, it isn't a new problem, it is just a new cycle of it being a problem. It then leads to us asking questions as parents like - Do you still punish teenagers? 

Am I being too harsh? 

Have I gotten too old to understand? 

Have a listen and let me know your thoughts. 

I attended the EP and Modernising Contact conference with my RAA, there were some great guest speakers and some very interesting discussions, so I thought I would share them all with you!!! :-) 

Through a number of meetings and group sessions I have been able to talk about foster carers, matching and introductions and how this can affect us all. It brought to light some scary stories and some wonderful ones too! 

Hey there! It's me, Fathor, and I am thrilled to share with you the latest episode. In this week's show, I am so excited to talk about the amazing birthday present, "Little Dude," gave me. We had such a fantastic time together, and I can't wait to tell you all about it. As an adoptive parent, I cherish these special moments with my Little Dude, and I hope our story will inspire other families going through similar experiences. So, join me in this episode of Adoption Adventures, and let's celebrate the joy of parenting through adoption.

As our little dude celebrated his 18th birthday party I reflected on how far he has come and what an awesome young man he is. 

He also got to come along and discuss adoption with a group of prospective adopters, which was awesome! 

As you heard in the last episode. Our dude is moving out and heading to Uni. But, what we didn’t know, is that they would push his move in date up!!! 

The big day has arrived. The A-Levels results day, did the hard work pay off? Is our little dude off to uni? How will I feel if he is? How will he cope if he isn’t? 

Check out our latest episode to find out all of the above. 

I am going to open the door to our home and share with you a text exchange that went from good, to bad, to ugly, to...well, you will have to listen to see. 

I hope you enjoy hearing how this situation unfolded

I have been to my first observation of another agency's prep group, it was really interesting and I got to see a lot of great work going on. But, this has also highlighted some key issues and considerations that I need to raise with the senior team and also on a wider scale too. 

Apologies in advance, I get on my soap box a few times in this episode, I shall blame the cold! 

As you know, I speak with Little Dudes mum over email on a regular basis, recently she has sent two emails that have given us pause and made us think about how we would talk with Little Dude. He was great when we sat him down to speak, but it then raised further questions that we needed to consider. 

I have been around a number of conversations lately surrounding transracial adoption. It is a topic that brings all kinds of questions to the table. I wanted to start the conversation and start my musing on the subject. I appreciate that I am coming from a very naïve perspective, so I am always open to learning and hearing what you think. 

Recently as part of Adopter Voice, we went out to our network to ask families about their children's behaviours and what support has been a positive impact on them, it made for a really interesting read and I thought I would share the responses with you and then our recommendations to the board. 

I had a listener get in touch (after I sent out a message) and ask e to speak about setting boundaries for our children, particularly in the early days, so I have given some details for those early days for us. 

Hoping that it will help others in their transitions and early days. 

Welcome to Adoption Adventures, the podcast that explores the ups and downs of the adoption journey. In this week's episode, we dive into the PAC-UK big consult research around contact and identity. I shall be chatting through the launch of the research and the key findings I took away from the experience. 

Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities that come with contact and identity in adoption. Whether you are an adoptive parent, a birth parent, or an adoptee, this episode will provide valuable insights into the complex and emotional journey of adoption. Tune in to Adoption Adventures for an honest and informative conversation about the realities of adoption.

A listener got in touch with another topic that we could look at together, the culture of blame and where it fits in our families. It can be a real tricky one when our children outwardly blame others for their behaviours and look to avoid dealing with the issue, so I am hoping that I have some tips which could help. 

Through various conversations I have had over the years. I have learnt many people would like to have a crash course on what it is like to parent a teenager. Here is my views thoughts and recommendations, I will be covering a range of topics some are a lot easier to discuss than others. I will give you a full lowdown of what topics I’m going to cover and in what order so as you can make sure that you’re listening to the right part for you. If there are any topics, you’d like me to look at more please do let me know. 

It's been a while since I updated you on how life was going in the family, Little Dude has asked to go to a party, he is dating and I have been at an event too. So much for me to tell you! I hope that you enjoy the life update and all that has been going on for us. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media: 

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/  https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1  Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com 

You're the first one in your group to be approved. 

You're the first one in your group to find a match. 

How do you begin to tell your support group and make sure that they remain your support group? 

This week we are talking about just this, a listener is in this position and is really worried that it could upset people and want to know how best to manage it, a truly lovely question. Let's see if I can help. :-) 

I've had contact from several agencies this last week all asking for adopters to be more involved in what they are doing and how they are operating. It is great that so many agencies care about what adopters think and it is lovely to have that call to be asked too! 

Welcome to "Adoption Adventures," the podcast where we share the ups, downs, and everything in between of the adoption journey. In this episode, I am having a little moan about some posts that I have seen and the language used within them. 

As an adoptive parent myself, I've experienced frustration and confusion when it comes to the language used in the adoption community. In this episode, I share my personal experiences and thoughts on how we can shift the conversation and the thought process. 

Additionally, I discuss the importance of asking for help when navigating the adoption process. Bringing a new child into your family can be overwhelming, and it's essential to have a support system in place. 

Whether you're a seasoned adoptive parent or just starting on your adoption journey, this episode will provide valuable insights and encouragement. So join me on "Adoption Adventures" as we navigate the complex, emotional, and rewarding world of adoption.

In this week's episode, I am talking about changing our children's names, I shall discuss the legal options and then the moral questions. I know that this is something that a lot of people think about before going into the world of adoption, so thought I would share my views and experiences to help you along the way. 

As part of my role for Adopter Voice, we have asked adopters to talk about their experiences within the world of education, I am sharing the feedback we have gathered and how I intend to use that within our report moving forward. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

It has come to the time when Little Dude is ready to open his letter and go through the details. This was a really interesting chapter in our world and I am hoping that it will give you all some great things to think about and to consider for your little ones too. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

Following last week's episode, I am pleased to announce that Little Dude asked us to have a family day out and it could not have come at a better time, we had a great day and it allowed me to reflect on some great moments that we have shared and the incredible man that our son is becoming. 

Hope you enjoy the update from our latest adventure! 

I took Little Dude out for a trip to view a university and he also took us out for a drive! All of these huge milestones happening and we were asked to share more about it and then more about any fears we had when he was young, so here is the update from our trips and what we thought would happen. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

The new adopter group is launching in London, I have been asked to be a mentor and the Little Dude called for chat. It's all going on this week and I wanted to share as much with you as I could. 

As always, thank you so much for listening, please feel free to reach out on adoptionadventures123@gmail.com if you have a topic you would like me to cover. 

I was invited to join a panel and be a guest speaker at JP Morgan and demystify the world of adoption. We spoke with an audience of around 100 and it was awesome! Tune in to learn more about it. 

The little dude was back for the weekend and sharing all of his own adventures! It sounds like he is having a great time, have a listen and see at if there is any part of the stereotype that he doesn’t fit!!! 

An adopter has reached out, Sian wanted to know more about attachment and if we as adopters can do anything to help our children to feel more secure. In this episode I delve further into attachment, some of the behaviours we may see, and then what we may be able to do to support. I have gone into some of the science here, so forgive me if I make errors, this is just my learning along the way, I am not a pro!!! :-) 

It's time for Christmas parties and instead of Dad and I going out to enjoy the festivities, it is once again our Little Dude who is reaching for the next egg nog. But then, he wanted to push his luck just a little further and see if our Christmas spirit was in the forgiving mood, check it out and let me know if you would have done the same. 

Well, not quite, but I did get to meet one and have a great conversation about our journey during the filming of a documentary which will be coming out in February 2023, obviously I will share more when I can, but I get to talk through what I expected and then what happened....enjoy...And please contact my agent for any further questions! 

As our children grow older we have to decide what parts of their lives that we will be involved in and what areas we need to give them space on. Then we have to deal with all of those people around us that have an opinion, the struggle is real!! :-) 

Here are my views on the latest issues and what we have decided to do about them. 

A few weeks ago we chatted all about the funding that is available, I discussed the ASF and what it was used for, and I shared some worries that I had about the fund and its uses. So, I went on an investigation to find out more, here you will learn what I have learned. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

We've got another topic from a listener to cover, what happens in those early days, what to expect and how to feel? 

During those early days there is so much going on for everyone, it is really easy to fall into a trap and assume you should be doing so much better than you are, or that our children should be settling quicker, or perhaps it is going really well and you are waiting for the bubble to burst...in this episode I hope to cover all of those things. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

There have been a few moments over the past few days that have reminded me that we need to be an advocate for our children and for adoption in general. We need to put on our best cheerleader voice and cheer for the wins that our children have and even cheer when they fall down. 

As a side note here, I mention a difficult situation that we went through and that it was bothering me, we are all ok and I am fine, it was nothing too horrendous, just enough to wind me up! :-) 

We held an evening with adopters in our Regional Adoption Agency last night discussing all the things that have happened over 2022. We looked at the recommendations adopters have made and the changes that our agencies have been looking to introduce to make an impact in line with the needs of the adopters. 

It was wonderful to see how much the adopter voice is valued in our agencies and the work that is going in to help so many families. 

Have a listen and let me know if your agency are doing more, or less or different. 

I met with a support group and we discussed micro-aggressions, what they mean, and how they affect us on a daily basis. It was a great chat and I thought I would share my musings with you. 

Have you ever experienced this? How did you handle it? 

So, 2021 is nearing its end, it has been a challenge at times and has held plenty of smiles too, in today's episode I am rounding up some of the year and letting you know about the challenge I set for myself. To conclude, I set you all a challenge too! :-)

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

So, Little Dude is not impressed with me at the moment, if I speak, he is furious. I have given you some more info in the episode and added some context, hope you find it interesting. Let me know if you have any thoughts!! :-) 

I have been hearing a lot of rumblings from the adoption community about the lifestory books and some of the recent changes. So I decided to delve into it and see if I could find out what adopters experiences of the books were, my research didn't find great stories sadly. 

Do you have any suggestions on how we could improve them? 

adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

Charlotte reached out to me following last weeks episode, she had been to parliament to discuss contact and the language that we use. Charlotte is a birth mum and shares her story with us. It was great hearing from her perspective and seeing what good contact can do for all parties. And just wait until she gives you the top tip for adopters! 

You can find Charlotte here: 

Well, our Little Dude is staying in heartbreak hotel this week, he came to us for advice and guidance so we had to navigate some pretty difficult waters to support him without putting our own bias in there. But he handled the conversation really well and it allowed us to support him and get him thinking about mature relationships and how to make good decisions. 

We're reached that stage again where not loads has happened that I can share with you this week, leaving me to ramble my way through another week in our world and giving you some hints about things that have happened. 

Some friends are on the journey of adoption, I have shared a little from their experiences. We discuss our children's stories and who wants to know them, the training that I have delivered and the impending A-Levels. All great fun whilst I head into town on a shop for last minute show items!!! 

In the latest episode of Adoption Adventures, we dive into the vital topic of adoption support and explore the measures being taken to enhance the support given to adoptive families. So, whether you're a seasoned adoptive parent or just starting on your adoption journey, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a strong and supportive family through adoption. Tune in now to Adoption Adventures and let's explore the world of adoption support together!

Show week is over, but the stage calls me back in 4 weeks!!! :-) 

I have been consulting with adopters about their preparation training and how they found the experience, what was missing and what stood out, we are using this information to create a "uniformed" training across our region, to find the best parts and what else we could be doing to get parents ready for life as an adopter. I would love to hear your feedback and comments on what else we could do. 

I am attending a staff conference tomorrow and look forward to telling you all about it! 

P.S - My merging software wasn't working so couldn't play the intro/outro music for you on this episode...sorry 

It is show week, which means, time is not on my side and I must away to my pages (if you see the show, that line means a lot more!). 

I had just a small amount of time to give you an update on where we are and what is happening in our world, hope you enjoy. 

I was contacted by a prospective adopter who wanted to find out more about Transracial Adoption, so I reached out to the incredible adoption community and our awesome listeners and was greeted by so many people who were ready to share their stories and to help others along the way!!! 

In this episode I am speaking with John, we discuss his journey into becoming a parent to two awesome children. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

The language that we use is so important, the impact that it has can quite often be missed, but we have to consider the long-term effects. In today's episode, I share some of the experiences of language that I have had and some of the thoughts I have about the impact. I would love to hear your views too. 

If you have a story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please drop me a line, it would be great to share your experiences with others. 

Instagram: Adoption.Adventures 

Facebook: Adoption.Adventures 

Twitter: AdoptionAdvent1

Email: Adoptionadventures123@gmail.com 

Little dude moved out, I’ve been to the theatre and I’m delivering training! Looks like an episode to cover this all is needed!! 

if you’d like to be a guest on the podcast please drop an email to adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

I have just joined a group called the Adopter Reference Group, our meeting was at the DfE and we got to start the discussion on what needs to happen to improve things for adopters/adoptees. We talked about contact, trauma-informed schools, support and many other things. Very exciting! 

I shall keep you posted on all the updates, but make sure you follow our accounts for all the updates. 

I have been working with a new prep group and have asked Little Dude to speak from an Adoptees perspective, I asked him a variety of questions and we cover a range of topics. As you will hear, he only knew the topics just before we spoke, so these are all his genuine responses to the questions and feelings about each subject. We cover: 

Contact 

Life with two dads 

Moving in 

Belonging 

Difficulties 

I hope you enjoy listening as much as I do! 

I was asked if I could put an episode together breaking down the acronyms within the world of adoption. I am hoping that the episode will help you navigate the crazy world of this new language. Let me know if I have missed any acronyms that you need me to explain. :-) 

In this week's episode I am joined by Helen and Fiona, they are working on a research project that is aimed at supporting adopted children and their families. I wanted to learn all about it and to spread the word. 

Are you interested in taking part in the RIGHT research trial and contributing to improving care pathways for adopted and fostered children? The Right trial is looking to determine the effectiveness of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy versus other appropriate treatment, offered to children experiencing difficulties related to early years trauma. We are also looking to identify how care pathways can be improved to ensure our vulnerable children are easily able to access the right treatment at the right time.

RIGHT is currently recruiting for adoptive families in the following areas: Hertfordshire, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford, Oxfordshire, Lanarkshire, Doncaster, East Midlands – Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire, West Midlands – Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, and Walsall

And for children in a long-term foster placement in:

Lanarkshire, Nottingham City, Norfolk, Oxfordshire

Get in touch with us at right-trial@glasgow.ac.uk or find out more at www.gla.ac.uk/right

Please follow us on  www.facebook.com/righttrial and  @RIGHTTrial

I asked on Instagram if there were any questions or topics you wanted discussed, I had 4 great topics to chat about. 

-Linkmaker/Matches and the frustrations 

-Worries for the birth family

-Pre-stage 1 worries

-Early days issues 

I have covered each of these topics in todays episode and hope that you enjoy hearing my views. Drop me a line if you need more details 

Little dude was in a “relationship” that ended, he then showed all of the signs of his attachment style as that relationship came to an end. 

But I did get to see him for dinner, which made me a super happy guy! 

You have all waited patiently for an update on what happened with Little Dude and the cute waitress, I shall update you today. Plus, Little Dude went out for a Christmas party, have a listen to find out how that went. 

Sorry about the background noise, it was a super busy day and I didn't want to miss getting an episode out to all you lovely lot!!! :-) 

After yet another uni tour, I wanted to catch up with you and let you know all that is happening with our Little Dude, I managed to also bring in a special guest to chat about everything, hope you enjoy it! 

In a few conversations recently it has come up that there is a lack of Dads represented within the world of adoption and this then lead me to discuss the gaps that this makes, so it got me thinking about where I have met Dads who are sharing their experiences and wondering why there aren't more of us...

What are your thoughts? 

Drop me a line on adoptionadventures123@gmail.com 

I know that contact has been covered many times here, but as you know, it is an ever changing landscape. I have had some really interesting conversations with adopters and social workers and wanted to share these stories with you and get your thoughts too. 

Well, for most people, the turkey has just about gone now, we are all full to the brim and just about ready to start working out what day of the week it is again! 

I went for a lovely walk with Shadow and thought it was a great time to tell you all about our festive period and what we got up too. Hope you enjoy and look forward to catching up with you again in the New Year

I was really lucky to be invited to attend a training session with One Adoption West Yorkshire where I learned all about brain-based parenting, the session covered such a great deal of information and helped me to understand some of the behaviours we had seen and continue to see. I have tried to cover as many aspects of this training as I could to help you too. 

Dad and I went away to the Edinburgh fringe festival, we had a great time, but this was a perfect moment for Little Dude to test the boundaries and see what limits there were in life, I was far from amused at my discovery and I thought I would share the whole thing with you! 

It has been a super busy time and I have been reflecting on how our identities change and how we want our children to follow in some of our footsteps, we work to pay attention to their interests and hope that they have an interest in ours. Lately, Little Dude has shown a great interest in my hobby and I have loved it! 

I was asked to attend a matching/profiling event and talk about my experience as a parent and how our process was adopting an older child. The whole day was great fun and I got to meet some wonderful people. Our RAA had taken a new approach to the event and I thought that it was a really smart way to launch the event. Have a listen and tell me if you agree. :-) 

One of our listeners got in touch and wanted to share her story with us. Liz is a single adopter who adopted her son when he was 5, she shares their story with us. 

On our Instagram account, I put out a link to NGL and allowed all the followers to ask any questions they wanted without sharing their details. It was a really fun exercise and it turns out, you guys wanted to know more about me! :-) 

You can follow our Instagram account too: Adoption.Adventures

In the second episode of, you asked we answered we have the listener question/topic from Ben who wanted to know how you get yourself ready for prep training. So, whilst I cook our family meal, I dish out some advice! :-) 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

Welcome to adoption adventures, this week I am sharing an incident that occurred within the household and I need your judgment. I need you to listen to all details of the case and to consider all the evidence available, before making your own decision on what happened...

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

I've got some great news to share with you! I am working in partnership with Adopt London to bring a group together to gather adopters' views and opinions. I am so excited to be a part of this project and to be bringing adopter's voices to London. 

If you are living in the London area, please reach out to adopttogetherlondon@gmail.com to get on the mailing list and start having your voices heard. 

Ok, so, this week I am sharing something very exciting that has happened for little dude, I confess that I am bragging in this episode, but I do not apologise for that. :-) 

Let the episode speak for itself. 

Next week, I shall be doing a full episode on having a teenager in the home, I will be looking for any questions you may have.  Drop me a line. 

I have been super busy lately, which means that I have not had the usual amount of time for little dude, but that's ok, because it is important to still look out for yourself and grab time for you too. 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

This week the Little Dude got back from his Army Cadet camp, he had lots to talk about from the trip, it then lead us to think about university and what life could look like. I then attended an Adoption Information event where I met two groups of prospective adopters and got to hear some great thoughts and views. Finally, today was our last day of training with the new agency that I have partnered with, so it was all super exciting!

The little dude is all about romance and relationships at the moment, he is out there and meeting new people, which is lovely, but it comes with it's own set of challenges to me as a parent! Let me tell you all about it! 

Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures

https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1

Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

I've had some tough old times this week with little dude, it has made me have doubts and worries! But then we have had some wicked times too! It has been yet another rollercoaster. 

This episode didn't upload for some reason, so here you have last weeks episode:

As Little Dude gets closer to his exams we are finding ourselves in the same old argument, wanting him to revise and him thinking that he is revising enough, We have however, put a system in place that seems to help a little. 

Anna reached out to me, she has an incredible story to tell. Anna is a solo adopter who has a birth child and then adopted from concurrent placement (very similar to foster to adopt or Early Permanence) and then went on to adopt her sons sibling a few years later. 

Her story is incredible and should help those who are thinking about the various ways that families can be made. 

I have had a few moments to experience loss, grief, and a build-up of emotions lately, having just completed a training course I was prepped and ready for feeling the feelings, but that doesn't stop them from being there!!

That being said, it has been a great opportunity to see Little Dude stepping up and being just a bit more amazing! 

Some of you may have had the chance to see Molly's profiles or youtube story, I had a great time chatting with her and finding out all about her families journey to adoption. Molly and her husband have a biological daughter and an adopted son, Big Miss and Little Man!! Molly has shared her story and it was great to learn about their lives together. 

You can find Molly on Instagram as Mollymamaadopt or on her Youtube chanel: https://youtube.com/c/MollyMamaAdopt