Amaris Adoption and Family Support Services
201B, 9705 Horton Rd SW T2V 2X5 Calgary, AB, Canada

We’ve been getting A LOT of questions about understanding trauma and how to manage behaviors. BIG questions. Fact is, when we gained a simple understanding of... how childhood trauma changes a child’s brain, and how to respond differently to the behaviors that result from that trauma, EVERYTHING changed for us. We discovered the tools that helped us change our approach to our children, and begin to build trust and healing. Gaining the same understanding can transform your parenting just like it did for us many years ago. We recently packed all the basics into a new free video and guide with Kristin. In the video she walks viewers through a practical understanding of. - How trauma impacts the brain - How it disrupts healthy attachment - Some of the behaviors you may see in your child - And how you can respond in a way that builds trust with your child! Plus, she gives you a simple framework for successfully responding to your children when they are dysregulated, overwhelmed, or anxious. Best part? IT WORKS! When you follow the steps outlined in this video and worksheet, you can experience healing, restoration, and connection with your child. Find it all here: https://www.traumaknowledgemasterclass.com/trauma101/

A beautiful way to understand insecure attachment styles and why these children can give extraordinary love in return for patience, non judgment and understanding

There are so many small moments throughout the day where we can build in connection between kiddos, where we can build in a sense of togetherness. As humans we... are wired for connection. Kids want to connect with others, and we can provide the scaffolding they may need to do that. One opportunity that I love for connection is during big emotions. We can provide the framework to support kiddos in connecting with each other, in navigating coping and problem solving together. We can invite them to come together to find a solution or a way to move forward. It can be so powerful to watch as they collaborate together. What do you do to foster connection between kiddos? This may be in-person or virtual. Share with us below!

Simple, but haaard:/

Understanding the Grief and Loss of Adoption - Free Workshop Photo Credit: Karim Manjra on Unsplash Whether adopted at birth or at an older age, from foster car...e or internationally, the loss of parents, extended family and culture is trauma that impacts a child’s development in profound and lasting ways. Over the past few years there has been an amplification of the adoptee voice and what we are hearing loud and clear is that adoption influences the way people see themselves, the way they relate others and their worldview. Recognizing and having a deep respect for the grief and loss inherent in adoption is the most important first step in developing the skills to parent in a connected and therapeutic way. In celebration of Adoption Awareness Month, A Child’s Song is offering this FREE workshop for adoptive parents, foster parents, adoption professionals and anyone wishing to understand the grief and loss that is inherent in adoption. This workshop will explore the impact of early loss and separation on a child’s development and look at how children process grief differently than adults. Participants will learn to identify and respond to a child’s grief in a way that promotes healing and secure attachment. Even more importantly, participants will learn how to come alongside an adoptee and sit with the discomfort of not being able to ‘fix’ or compensate for the loss of a parents, biological family or culture. We are honored to join you on your learning journey and our hope is that this workshop will offer both important insights and practical strategies. FREE Zoom workshop Thursday November 26/20 from 7-8pm (CST) presented by Andrea Dixon. Register by email to [email protected] and a confirmation along with the Zoom link will be sent to you. See more

This might just be one of THE most critical things in the success of an adoption placement (especially where attachment hasn’t already been robustly established going both ways..)...it really isn’t so much about the behaviour as how the behaviour is interpreted by the caregivers Read more https://www.eileendevine.com//looking-through-a-different-

We get this biblical argument a lot for why corporal punishment should be used...what we know is that it is DETRIMENTAL to a child’s development and attachment with caregivers

Beautiful.... https://youtu.be/Uv-wlLPyZb4

Can never have too many of these reminders...

Tools to guide reconciliation

This is a very common misconception- we hear this all the time

This year's Tapestry Conference is a VIRTUAL event and we are so excited to be able to offer you a FREE session! Don't miss this session on The YES Brain with ...Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, co-author of The Whole Brain Child, No Drama Discipline, and several other NY Times Best selling books. In this session Tina shares how parents can foster their children’s ability to say yes to the world and welcome all that life has to offer, even during difficult times. This is what it means to cultivate a Yes Brain, and it leads to the characteristics we want to nurture in them: emotional regulation, resilience, personal insight, and empathy. It's not too late to hear more from Tina and other speakers! Click here to register for Tapestry Conference 2020: Hindsight in 2020 ->> https://bit.ly/TapCon20 #Adoption #FosterCare #FosterCareAdoption #AdoptionJourney #Parenting #Trauma #Resilience #EmotionalRegulation #Empathy

#lostsparrows #itsyouandme #StrongBeginnings

I used to think that as an adoptive parent my goal should be to parent so well that the pain of my children's pasts would be erased. I thought that we could lov...e them so effectively that they would feel as if they had been born into our family, as if they had never experienced the traumas of relinquishment, of life in an orphanage, of adoption to a different country and culture.... But over time I have come to realize that this is not the goal, despite how wonderful it sounded to me back then. I have seen that healing does not look like erasing, but rather more like restoring and redeeming. How our children needed for us to see them for who they are, including all that is dark and hard and painful! They do not want to be erased! Once I changed the way I thought about parenting, the more effective I have been in helping my children receive the "true healing" that God is busy working in their lives. {Beth} #drcarolineleaf #adoptiveparenting #adoption

We need to hear these voices...

"....The human soul doesn’t want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is....

Sometimes we use the word 'discipline' or 'consequence' to make punishments sound nicer than they are. Retribution dressed-up in a friendlier word is still retr...ibution though. Next time you are about to discipline, punish, or give a consequence to a child consider what your intention is. If it is not to help or solve the problem then try to take some more time to re-regulate yourself first.

To share with your kids’ teachers

Remember self compassion as many of us are currently trying to build on a shaky foundation of felt safety. @revelatori -thank you for sharing