Podcasts about adoption now

You may not have intended to adopt a child with special needs, or perhaps you did. Regardless of how you arrived at this point, you find yourself searching for answers online and scheduling doctor appointments in hopes of finding the right path for your child. If this resonates with you, this episode is so important. Adoption is a journey, and often, challenges arise after finalization.  April and Season, both experienced adoptive moms, understand this reality. The perfect story may face hurdles, but it can still be incredibly beautiful. Season Cowdrey is a returning guest on ADOPTION NOW. She shared her story in 2017, and she is back to share her post-adoption story. In this new ADOPTION NOW segment called “Real Moms - Real Adoption,” April and Jordan sit down with Season to discuss the realities of adoption. Season wants parents to know that there are resources available to help adoptive families with special needs. While Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are helpful for school, there is also support available for home life. Finding the right diagnosis (and sometimes medications) can be challenging and may feel like a battle, but it is a fight worth having. Sometimes, the hardest step is coming to terms with the reality that entering the world of adoption often also means stepping into the world of special needs. To hear Season's full adoption story, check out her episode here!

This episode tells a beautiful story of love, family, and faith! Nick and Kelsey, high school sweethearts from Texas, always felt that God had placed the hope of adoption in their hearts. After getting married and having two biological daughters, Lyla and Lily, they discovered ADOPTION NOW. They began listening to stories of other families bringing children home through adoption and started exploring the concept of open adoption. They felt called by God to embark on this adoption journey. However, as many know, being called to a path does not mean it will be free of challenges, discouragements, or deep questions. Nick and Kelsey share how their hearts transformed throughout the process, especially when meeting a very special birth mother named Mikayla. This story unfolds into a beautiful union of families, with a precious baby boy at the center of it all.

Emily Chapman Richards, daughter of Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman and current Advisor and Ambassador of Show Hope joins this episode.  Emily shares her journey as a biological sibling in this adoption story that began when she was inspired at just 11 years old. After a trip to Haiti, Emily became the catalyst for her family's decision to begin to pray about adoption which led to bringing home three sisters from China. April Fallon, the host of ADOPTION NOW asks how Emily's parents prepared their biological siblings for such a life changing event? What responsibilities would she and her siblings have? They family worked together as they expanded. She opens up about the joy they experienced and also how her family went through a devasting loss after their third adoption. The Chapman family held on to each other as they went through grief and continued to press forward to help other families. Today, Emily carries forward her family's legacy through Show Hope, the organization her parents founded that has helped over 9,000 children find forever families from around the world. Emily's passion shines through as she shares her heart for viewing adoption not as an obligation but as an invitation to experience love in a profound way.  Whether you're just beginning to explore adoption or maybe you are experiencing grief in the process, this conversation offers heartfelt encouragement and direction for your own adoption journey.

Real Moms - Real Adoption In this episode of ADOPTION NOW, host April Fallon shares her family's journey through the ups and downs of open adoption, pulling back the curtain on what happens when these relationships don't follow a perfect script. Through personal stories and vulnerable moments, April opens up about helping her children process their feelings while navigating her own complex emotions as an adoptive mom. From surprise FaceTime calls to years of silence, this episode tackles the real challenges of open adoption relationships. Whether you're just starting your open adoption journey or working to maintain long-standing connections, this conversation will help you feel less alone and more prepared to navigate the complexities. You'll find practical wisdom, emotional support, and permission to not have all the answers as we figure out this journey together.

Real Moms-Real Adoption Your child deserves every chance to succeed at school – but sometimes you have to fight for it. In this episode of ADOPTION NOW, host April Fallon welcomes back Darcy Olsen, Founder & CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, for an honest conversation about navigating IEPs, understanding diagnoses like ADHD, and becoming your child's strongest advocate. With honesty and vulnerability, they share what it really takes to ensure your child gets the support they deserve. Real Moms-Real Adoption - these stories will make you laugh as they talk about the realities of parenting children with diverse needs. From emotional and behavioral challenges to raising teens, they offer concrete strategies for building a supportive community that truly "gets it." Whether you're just starting your journey with IEPs or are a seasoned advocate, this conversation will leave you feeling more equipped, supported, and ready to fight for what your child needs.

Ever wonder what it's really like to adopt from foster care? In this episode of ADOPTION NOW, host April Fallon sits down with Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, who brings hard-earned wisdom about the foster care journey. They tackle the tough questions head-on: Can older kids really attach? What support do you actually need? How do you stay hopeful while being realistic? Whether you're just starting to explore or already in the process, Rita shares essential guidance on evaluating your readiness, building your support network, and finding adoption-competent professionals who get it. She emphasizes that success takes more than just love – it requires understanding trauma, being ready for the long haul, and having the right resources in place. The episode features the moving story of Marisol, whose journey to finding her forever family at 19 reminds us why this work matters. April and Rita share both the joys and challenges of foster care, while offering practical ways everyone can help – from mentoring to community support. If you're considering foster care, this conversation gives you both the inspiration and real-world guidance you need to begin your journey.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, brand new festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their Christmas memories as adoptive parents and what they are most looking forward to this Christmas. In this fourth and final episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Adele & Steve. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk . Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, brand new festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their Christmas memories as adoptive parents and what they are most looking forward to this Christmas. In this third episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Neil. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk . Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, brand new festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their Christmas memories as adoptive parents and what they are most looking forward to this Christmas. In this second episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Lyndsey. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk . Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Ever wonder what adopted kids really think about adoption? In this special episode of ADOPTION NOW, hosts April and Noah step back and let their four amazing kids do the talking! AJ (14), Lily (11), Vivy (9), and Maliyah (7) open up about what it's like being part of an adoptive family – from the awesome moments to the tough stuff. They share everything from school stories to what it's like when people ask those awkward questions about their family. The kids don't hold back! They talk about supporting each other through hard times and how they've learned to embrace their differences. AJ even shares his dream of growing the community to help other adopted children feel less alone.   If you're part of an adoptive family or thinking about adoption, you don't want to miss these powerful insights straight from the children themselves. They get real about the challenges, but they also share why being adopted makes them feel special, loved, and safe. Join us for a family conversation about the real meaning of family, love, and adoption.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, brand new festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their Christmas memories as adoptive parents and what they are most looking forward to this Christmas. In this first episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Dan. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk . Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Adoption Fears?? Yep, we have all had them. We recognize adoption is a big, life changing process to start. There are so many questions and unknowns. It can feel overwhelming. In this episode, host April Fallon and co-host Jordan Moreno explore the common fears of starting the adoption journey and how it is normal to feel this way.  The two adoptive moms share their personal experiences with financial concerns, initial hesitations about open adoption, and the fear of birth mothers changing their minds. Don't think this episode is just for moms!! They also talk about the important role the husbands played in the process and how being on a team has a pivotal role in placement.  Whether you're just beginning to explore adoption or are already on your path, you'll find the support and encouragement you need to move forward with confidence. ADOPTION NOW wants to help you move beyond your fears and into trusting God's calling as you take the next step!

Darcy Olsen is the founder & CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, an organization dedicated to uniting people in the fight to protect America's abused children. They have helped over 775,000 children nationwide. Darcy has fostered ten babies and adopted four as a single mother! Darcy shared her full story last week. Jordan had her first baby and then experienced secondary infertility. She and her husband, Jose, adopted their second child in less than 5 months! Jordan shares how her perspective on the process changed and about her experience with open adoption. Listen here for her full story on the ADOPTION NOW Podcast. April Fallon has adopted 4 children with her husband Noah. As they were trying to expand their family, they said yes to 7 placements but only finalized 4. The joy and challenges of adoption left them compelled to start ADOPTION NOW, to give adoption a voice and create a community to understand adoption through story telling.  This episode is filled with important lessons and how adoption can cause such deep personal growth as you recognized that you have no control over many things in the process!! Children are a gift from God and adoption is not transactional. It is about staying committed to the journey no matter how hard it is, remembering that you do have it in you! If these 3 moms can do it, you can too!

We have a new season of hope and connection! April Fallon sits down with Jordan Moreno to reflect on ADOPTION NOW's remarkable journey and the episodes that have left a lasting impact on her and her family.  As we celebrate reaching over 1 million downloads worldwide, we invite you to join our community of adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth families.  Visit our Patreon page and ADOPTIONNOWPodcast.com to explore coaching resources and be inspired by the collective power of our stories.

In this episode we will be finding out about our brand new campaign You Are Not Alone, our latest Roadshow in which we attended Family Pride in Manchester with our friends at Proud2BeParents, how Adoption Now were on local BBC radio and finally Welcome Team Manager, Dan, will be back with the next feature in our getting ready to adopt segment – which this time is all about Stage 2! If you are thinking about adoption or would like to start your adoption story you can always visit our website, which is adoptionnow.org.uk or you can call our Information Line on 01204 336096 where a member of our team will be only too happy to answer any questions that you may have and help you to start your adoption story.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and when it comes to adoption this saying takes on even more significance. Following on from the recent You Can Adopt national campaign, we are launching our own, brand-new campaign You are Not Alone, that aims to highlight that Adoption Now is not just an adoption agency, we are a community working to find safe, loving, and secure homes for hundreds of children across the North-West and supporting each other in the process. In this first of a two part series of interviews for our You are not alone campaign, I sat down to chat with Clare and Abubakar, two of our amazing mentors to talk about community, family and what it means to them to be a mentor. If you are inspired to start your adoption story then please visit www.adoptionnow.org.uk where you will be able to find out more about the adoption process itself, download our information pack, book on to one of our upcoming Online Information Events and fill out our contact form.

April Fallon is host of the Adoption Now podcast. She and her husband Noah, adopted four kids from birth, AJ, Lilly, Vivvy and Malia. In this episode she talks about parenting her kids as a type 7 and how she has had to adjust her parenting based on her kids unique needs. She wondered what behaviors were trauma related and what was personality. She talks about how knowing their type has helped her finally relax and know her kids love her. She talks about spending three years serving in Africa and how her inspiration to adopt started very early in her life. We talk about gender roles, attachment, emotional intelligence and the adoption process. Adoption Now podcast   https://adoptionnowpodcast.com/   PodcastContactInfo Website: Wendy Gossett.com Get FREE resources on my website: https://wendygossett.com/category/resources/ or email me at WendyGossett.com Get a FREE Child Temperament Test when you join my Not So Normal Parenting Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/notsonormalparenting Book: Your Child's Inner Drive:Parenting by Personality from Toddlers to Teens on Amazon or  https://wendygossett.com/product/your-childs-inner-drive-parenting-by-personality-for-toddlers-to-teens/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaaOCjoDyOk4_gS1KCncLvQ Instagram is Wendy.Gossett

Since this entire podcast is based on the Myers-Briggs system as well as the Enneagram, I highly recommend you listen to episode 2 and 3 at some point. For a quick review the Ox is a stable rule follower… think Ox living in a stable, the Lion is brave and craves freedom, the Eagle is independent, curious and proud, and the Human is emotional and relational. Lions and Eagles are challengers and difficult to parent! You will also hear me referring to “Types 1-9” and this comes from Episode 3 which is an introduction to an amazing system for growing human potential called the Enneagram. Today's episode applies to every human being on the planet! The perceiving and judging functions J and P in the Myers-Briggs system, determine how we live our lives. The P types are driving a convertible through life with the wind in their hair an no particular destination in mind. The J types are driving a sedan on a highway with a GPS. They are more serious, intentional, and structured. But what happens when you mix the two up and put them all under one roof? Opposites attract so there is a chance you could be a J married to a P. I will give a quick test in this episode so you can get an idea which one you are. We live in a J society but the Ps in our life make things fun. I was doing a seminar and one of the Lion dads was cracking a joke, and I made the mistake of saying your Pness is showing. I will never live that one down and will never do that again! Stay tuned to the end for five amazing tips for working with your P child. Perceiving and Judging, P or J, Free Spirit or Rule Follower Judgers live their lives by following the rules, checking things off the box, making lists, and sticking to time frames. Perceivers live their lives much more spontaneously, forging their own path and leaving their options open. The P or Perceiving and J or Judging preferences are most likely impacting your household in the biggest way since these preferences determine how we live our life on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis. Perceivers crave freedom and a top-down, wind-in-your-hair, convertible way of living life. Judgers crave structure and a more top-up, neatly coiffed, sedan existence. A true Perceiver is driving a convertible, without a GPS, on an off-the-beaten path, curvy road. A true Judger is in a sedan with a GPS on a straight, well-traveled highway. Many people bristle at the term Judger because people automatically associate it with being judgmental. However, Judging functions help us make decisions and limit our possibilities. Everyone has two Judging functions and two Perceiving functions that make up their personality. If there were no Judging functions, we would all be sitting around like useless blobs, unable to decide when to eat, sleep, or do anything else. Since all children tend to be somewhat free-spirited, these preferences can be harder to detect when they are younger. Perceivers hate being inhibited with too many boundaries, so it is possible that you will notice an extreme reaction when you stand in the way of their freedom. They prefer the unconventional way of doing things and tend to have difficulty finishing what they started. They also frequently struggle to be on time, follow directions, or stick to a plan. Judging children like to learn the “right way” to do something and are willing to follow conventional parenting styles. They like finishing what they start and knowing what to expect. It might sound like a Judging child is every parent's dream. For the most part, they are a bit easier to understand, but I get plenty of calls about Judging types that are too controlling. I worked with an amazing adoptive mom of four kids. I want to give a shout out to all my adoptive parents because you are some of the most amazing parents on the planet! Please share this podcast if you are friends with an adoptive parent. Sometimes these parents don't get to know these children as babies. It is the same way with the step parents I work with. This mom told me she had a voice inside her head that was always wondering if her kids were happy in their new home. One of her daughters, in particular, seemed quiet and reserved. No matter what this mom did to connect with this daughter, it didn't seem to register. She thought this daughter may have had some kind of attachment issue. Once we worked together, she realized that they were brain opposites. This mother's natural way of parenting was to be energetic, positive, full of surprises and spontaneity. She is an ENFP, extroverted feeling Human, a type seven, on the Enneagram.  Her daughter was a  reserved, structured and serious ISTJ introverted sensing thinking Ox type. We laughed as I suggested the mom do something completely counterintuitive. She should offer to do a puzzle with her daughter. This mom had never done a puzzle in her life! The daughter absolutely loved it! She loved just hanging out side-by-side with no pressure to talk, while doing a quiet activity. This mom, April Fallon, who is now host of the ADOPTION NOW podcast shared this quote with me. “Roadmap is what I say to people when I tell them about you. You gave us the map for our family and how we all function together. From the moment we met with you our whole lives changed. Learning who is an introvert and extrovert and helping my husband understand my son has transformed their relationship. His understanding of me changed too and now he is nicer to me too! The realization that one of my daughters is exactly the same as him was an eye-opener. I learned how to love them better and help them feel understood. I call them the koala bears. They love to achieve but only because they want the people they love close to them. They are the snuggly people. Three of us are team creative, however one of us is introverted and needs time away in her room. We designed her room to have a happy place that she has learned to adore. And finally, my Type 9 peacemaker, reserved daughter (the one I do puzzles with) notices everything and takes it in. Recently we found out she has auditory processing disorder and that was because we could pull apart what was personality versus what was a real issue. Once we found out, we could support her in the way she needs. She loves one on one time, verbal praise, and outdoor activities like hiking. I never ever ever wonder how or if she loves us or is happy anymore. I know her love runs deep and giving her a space to show it in her own way has been so healing.” If you would like to get the road map for understanding your family and having more peace in your home, go to WendyGossett.com and sign up for my Understanding Your Family 101 Session. You can also purchase my book on Amazon. Your Childs Inner Drive Parenting by Personality from Toddlers to Teens.   I worked with a mom, who is the only J or structured one in a family of P freedom seekers. She has often felt like she was paddling upstream, forcing her will upon everyone. She would schedule practice hours for her boys to do sports and keep close tabs on them. All her expectations weren't adding up. Everyone in her family needed freedom, which was the opposite of her parenting style. I had to ask her what was more important; the correction or the connection. I've had to ask this question to many parents when they are fighting battles over a clean room or how to load the dishwasher. Ask yourself what is more important; correction or connection? Over and over again, I have seen a huge change occur when the parents shift their focus to connection rather than correction. Her boys are both lion P types that had to learn from life and find their own way. It was difficult for her, an extroverted, thinking Ox, type one on the Enneagram, but she realized she had to let them fail. And failure is not as scary as you may think. Some people learn from failing. Whenever a baby is learning to walk, they have to fall over and over again. Pushing themselves up off the floor helps them get stronger. The most successful business people actually try to fail. They make a goal to fail five times in a month because failing means they are trying new things which leads to confidence and success. And it just so happens that P types who explore and try possibilities without thinking of the consequences are some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. I'm getting these statistics from Myers Briggs. Sometimes Lion P types don't enjoy school. What comes naturally to them is being free to use their body in physical, practical pursuits. They like to learn from the school of hard knocks. Some J types use perfectionism as an excuse to not try. Often I have seen perfectionism as a mask for fear. so if you are a structured J parent pulling your hair out because your P child is not falling into line, chances are if you make connection your priority, they may not fall in line but they will land on their feet.  The T Thinking or Prickly and F Feeling or pleasing preferences I talk about in episode 6, play a significant role in how our child Judges or Perceives. If your child is a Thinker and a Judger or TJ, they will be very determined, rigid, and unyielding, which can make them very difficult to parent! If your child is a Feeler and a Perceiver or FP, pleasing you will be ALMOST as important to them as having the freedom to do things their way. They may still have meltdowns that seem to materialize out of nowhere, but for the most part, they are relaxed, go-with-the-flow children. If your child is a Thinker and a Perceiver or TP, get ready for a topsy-turvy time! One minute, they might be playful and relaxed, and the next minute, determined and unyielding. If your child is a Feeler and a Judger or FJ, sit back, make yourself a cup of tea, and relax. This child wants to please, desires structure, and thrives with conventional parenting. Parents with Feeling/Judging children as their firstborn often end up with a false sense of pride in their parenting ability. They can unintentionally make other parents feel inferior, causing them to question their parenting capabilities. Sadly, I was one of those parents. I painted my entire kitchen while my twelve-month-old son was perfectly content simply being in the same room with me, playing in his bouncy chair. My husband, Greg, and I were completely humbled when our Thinking/Perceiving daughter was born. We soon realized why bookstores are filled with so many parenting books! She was, and still is, an uncontained free spirit who plays by her own rules. If you are a Judging parent with a Perceiving child, take heart. Since we live in a Judging society that runs by rules, time frames, and deadlines, Perceivers tend to look more like Judgers as they mature and are “nurtured” by parents, teachers, and societal norms. In fact, this is one of the most common testing mistypes. Mature Perceivers who have learned to play efficiently by societal rules think they are Judgers. I was collaborating with a talented young programmer who had taken my test. Prior to our first meeting, I received his test result, which identified him as one of the most cautious and conservative J types. The minute I met him, I noticed he had an entire sleeve of brightly colored tattoos. Later, he informed me that the tattoos were the entire story of Dante's Inferno, and he was going to have the other arm done in black and white. I was pretty sure he had mis-tested himself. I don't want to fall into stereotyping, but I have seen thousands of patterns that usually fall into predictable outcomes. I am sure there are rare exceptions of extreme conservative J types with two complete tattoo sleeves, but there aren't many! Not only that, but a person's occupation also gives a great indication of their type. This programmer was very out of the box and creative, which are all traits of another type that has all the same letters, except for that oh-so-critical, free-spirited P. An ISTP and an ISTJ are very different, indeed! Email me at wendy@wendygossett.com to receive a an illustrated chart that shows these patterns. You will also find the quick test to determine who is J or P in your family. You will either be a P for Perceiving or a J for Judging. Keep in mind that 50ish% of the world are Perceivers and 50ish% are Judgers, although as adults, many Perceivers mis-test as Judgers since they have learned how to fit in with a Judging society. [1]   Perceiver Judger freedom structure spontaneous planned flexible procedures solid procedures change routine out of the box within the lines experience it control it relaxed hurried start it finish it P J               If you found it hard to pick one and felt tied on both you are most likely an introvert. I use the analogy of Js being sedans and Ps being convertibles, but  introverts are hybrids, meaning they are a little bit of both. If they are a J type, it means they are driving a sedan or in other words they like structure in the way they live their life, but their brain is Open and less decisive, just perceiving the world and taking it in. It's like they are driving a sedan on a road with no map. If you are an introverted P type. It's like you are driving a convertible but your brain is on a highway with a GPS. This type is concerned about their identity and can be stubborn when they set their mind to something. I worked with two introverted sensing Ox parents. They were about as structured and by the book as you could get. They had an introverted feeling Lion son, since he was a feeler Lion, he was very relational, compliant and easy-going throughout elementary school and junior high. When he got to high school, however he went off the rails. He had been following his parents rules his entire life, and because he was so relaxed it worked for him, but when he got to high school and could see his adult life looming before him, he realized he had to discover who he was. He had to discover what he stood for. His relaxed, convertible way of living, switched over to his decisive identity seeking brain. He went on a vision quest up in the mountains to become a ski instructor rather than going straight to college like his parents had always planned. Again, these parents had to decide what was more important. Their connection with their son or their expectations.  Here is an opposite story. An extroverted sensing thinking Lion child hated school. He just wanted to have fun and do sports. By the way, sports are the guard rails that will keep your Lions on track with their grades. They love sports and they love being competitive so this can be the motivation to help them get through school. By the time he was a senior, he still had no direction and had no idea what he wanted to do. His parents had a friend who worked as a sports medicine doctor. They let their son shadow him. Lions learn from watching and doing much more than learning from a textbook or hearing a lecture. His tactile extroverted sensory intelligence combined with his analytical introverted, thinking brain realized he could do exactly what this sports medicine doctor was doing. All of a sudden, he was the most determined Lion you ever saw. He went to school and studied from six in the morning to eight at night and became a surgeon making up for all his playing throughout school. If you have a story to share from your family, I would love to feature it on the podcast! Just email me at WendyGossett.com. Here are some tips for parenting, the P types in your household. 1.Your child is not wired for structured schedules. If they are doing well in school, be grateful because what comes naturally to them is to do their own thing in their own time. Luckily, they are competitive, which might motivate them to work hard in school. When they are home, they want to settle into their comfort zone and have more freedom to play and explore. Whenever you can make things fun or a game. Try making a morning routine playlist with a song for each task on the list. Rehearse the routine to make sure each song is the right length. If they can finish each task by the time the song ends and get down to breakfast, they can get a special treat they picked out. Music also works to make chores more fun. Research has shown that music makes anyone more cooperative. Have a tidy up the house dance party. Quick, in the moment rewards work best for P children. Speaking of fun, board games are more of a J thing. You can make game time more fun by adding an action element or a silly element. Games like Throw Throw Burrito where you get to run around our favorites of P children.   2.As a J Parent who likes plans, plan a time each day to be unplanned. A J parent with a P child needs to plan to be unplanned. All kids need structure, but P children need freedom just as much.  3.Don't lecture! Have clear rules and consequences for serious crimes.  The consequence speak for themselves. Ps need freedom so let them negotiate when it is a misdemeanor and not a crime. There's more to this, but that is the quick version. 4.Ps believe there is more than just one way to do things. if you are a perfectionist, you may need to have Elsa‘s anthem playing on repeat in your head. “Let it go”. Tell them the end goal you would like and let them pick the order or timeframe it's completed in. 5.. P Children often have ADHD. My daughter and son were both diagnosed. My daughter is a P and my son is a hybrid introverted J with that P brain…haha he just completed the MCAT but he has a P brain which is on a country road with no map. You can listen to episodes 11 and 12 where I interview both of them to hear more about this. All P types want the quick fix to life's problems because they want to get on with the fun. She wanted us to put her on ADHD medication. We hesitated with this decision for many months, but finally we came up with the idea to put her on a placebo and see if her performance would improve if she thought she was on the medication. We didn't let the teacher know but positive progress reports started coming home. Because my daughter is a sensor and very aware of her body as well as details and her environment she soon figured out the pill was a fake. She begged us to put her on the real medication. Once she was on it, she absolutely hated it because she felt like she was in a box. She couldn't be her normal, silly self and have the freedom in her spirit that she craved as a Lion. Life taught her that hard work was better than a pill. If you have P children in your home, I would also suggest you listen to episode seven and eight which are interviews with extroverted P types. All extroverted P types are driving a convertible through life and they are on a country road with no map! They are 100% perceiver!    Lion perceivers are different from Eagle and human perceivers. One is sensory and the other is intuitive and it makes a big difference in the behavior. Check out episode 13 on sensing and intuition.   My closing thought for today is from Abraham Lincoln. “In the end it's not the years in your life that count it's the life in your years. P types are playful and help us to enjoy life.” But for my J types out there which I am one and by the way, I am a sedan on a highway with the GPS so I am 100%  a J! But because I am intuitive I am a little more P like.  I also have a quote keeping the J types in mind. Here is a quote from Pele one of the worlds, most famous soccer players. Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying sacrifice, and most of all love of what you do. Email me at Wendy@WendyGossett.com for the other chart I mentioned in the episode. Website: Get FREE resources at Wendygossett.com Get a FREE Child Temperament Test when you join my Not So Normal Parenting Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/notsonormalparenting or on my podcast page. Book: Your Child's Inner Drive:Parenting by Personality from Toddlers to Teens on Amazon or  https://wendygossett.com/product/your-childs-inner-drive-parenting-by-personality-for-toddlers-to-teens/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaaOCjoDyOk4_gS1KCncLvQ Instagram is Wendy.Gossett  

Extra time is where each month we are going to bring you more about what's going on within the agency by going behind the scenes on projects and campaigns that we are currently working on; giving you important dates for your diary,and we'll also occasionally feature case studies of some of the children that we are currently finding families for, and much more. In this episode we are taking a look at our brand new campaign with Sarah, a member of our welcome team and our marketing team; I'll be chatting with Amanda about our recent Adoption Day and also Catrin, one of our social workers here at Adoption Now about the brand new, regional campaign Adoption North West. And then we'll finish up the episode with the start of our brand new, monthly feature – getting you ready to adopt. In this series of interviews with our Welcome Team Manager Dan; we will be running through each step of the process that you can expect to form your adoption story. Today we are going right back to the very beginning and talk about Initial enquiry Forms. Our Online Information Events for May are as follows: Wednesday 15th May at 12pm Wednesday 29th May at 5pm To book your place simply head over to www.adoptionnow.org.uk/events and click on the best date for you. If you are thinking about adoption or would like to start your adoption story you can always visit our website, which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk or you can call our Information Line on 01204 336096 where a member of our team will be only too happy to answer any questions that you may have and help you to start your adoption story.

Going forward this podcast is changing with the addition of a new, extra episode each month! In this new episode we are going to be able to bring you more about what's going on within the agency by going behind the scenes, important dates for your diary, occasional case studies of some of the children that we are finding families for, updates on any campaigns that we are currently running and much more. In this first episode we take a look back at our recent ‘I Became a Parent when…' campaign, and we also find out about our roadshows…and much more! We always love hearing from you and we want to know, what do you want to hear in future episodes? Are there any topics that you feel we should be covering, that we haven't covered so far and is something that you would like to find out more about? If there is be sure to let us know by emailing marketing@adoptionnow.org.uk and we will do our best to try and include your chosen topic in a future episode of Adopter Stories by Adoption Now.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we have been excited to bring you very some special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast, in which we asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In this fourth and final episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Shauneen, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Thank you very much for listening and we hope that you have a brilliant Christmas!

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In the third episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Matthew, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In this first episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Tracey, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In this first episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Terry, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

National Adoption Week (16th – 22nd October) by You Can Adopt, backed by Northwest Regional Adoption Agency, Adoption Now is celebrating the life stories of different generations of adopted people to encourage potential adopters to come forward to change the lives of children who are still waiting for their forever home. To find out more about the National Adoption Week campaign or to seek information or support, visit www.youcanadopt.co.uk/NAW2023 If you are thinking about adoption we would love you to consider adopting with our agency - you can all our Information Line on 01204 336096 or visit our website www.adoptionnow.org.uk! #NationalAdoptionWeek

President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has joined ADOPTION NOW for an incredible interview. Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children for more than 30 years.  As the leader of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity, her mission is to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care. They are working hard to find permanent families for the more than 140,000 waiting children in the United States foster care system. The non-profit was inspired by Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's fast-food restaurant chain, who was adopted himself! Rita shares his story, as well as her own journey in working with families and children. If you are interested in adopting an older child from the foster care system, this episode is for you!

The overwhelming majority of people who contact our agency and are thinking about adopting do so with the intention of adopting a child that is aged 0 to 2 years old. And understandably everyone has their reasons for this. However, our latest figures show that 40% of our children that have a Placement Order are in fact 3 years old or older, and with this group of children waiting the longest for their forever families we have more need than ever for adopters to consider whether they could adopt an older child. These are still very young children, and due to the nature of their births there will be some developmental delay, meaning that while these older children may present as older they are in fact still very young and need just as much love and attention. But how do you officially class a child as older? At what age do YOU consider a child to be classed as old? The team at Adoption Now hit the road at shopping centres in Bolton, Blackburn and Bury to challenge these preconceptions at our recent July Roadshows! We took five life-sized, cardboard cut-outs, based on real children, were displayed and passers-by were asked how old they thought they were based on their height. The children ranged from ten months old to seven years old. 100% of the people asked were unable to guess all the children's ages correctly with 23% guessing only one child's age right. On average the children were thought to be between one and four years older than they actually were. In this episode we will here how people across all 3 roadshows reacted to the answers! If you are thinking about adopting and could now consider adopting a child over the age of 3 we would love to hear from you. You can visit our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk or you can call our Information Line on 01204 336096 where a member of the team will be able to answer ANY questions you may have about adoption and the adoption process. And don't forget, you can also book your free place at one our upcoming Online information events. 100% live and hosted by one of our social workers with an adopter guest speaker, these are the perfect place to start your adoption journey. You can book your free place by visiting www.adoptionnow.org.uk/events

Author Sarah D. Shearer joins ADOPTION NOW to talk about her adoption story.  In her words, her story started off with little hope, “I was born with various medical needs and was left in a Russian hospital where nuns helped to keep me alive until I was transferred to an orphanage.” The Russian orphanage was convinced that no one would want her, but a family in Thomasville, GA saw her picture and fell in love. This is an uplifting story filled with gratitude and grace towards adoption. Sarah has written a memoir called “Extra Ordinary” to share her positive perspective. She says, “no one can speak to adoption more than an adoptee.” Listen to this episode and check out her book on

Throughout April to June we have been focusing on our Every Step campaign. As a fitting end to this campaign and with the brand new national adoption campaign from You Can Adopt starting on the 20th June I thought it would be an ideal time to sit down and reflect on the breadth of support that we offer to our adopters here at Adoption Now. My guest in this episode is our Head of Service Karen Barrick. She tells us about the support that is available, we cover the Adoption Support Fund and we also find out about the goals of this years You Can Adopt Campaign. If you would like to find out more about the You Can Adopt national campaign simply visit www.youcanadopt.co.uk or www.adoptionnow.org.uk/youcanadopt Want to start YOUR adoption journey? You can contact us directly via our online enquiry form at www.adoptionnow.org.uk or you can call our Information Line on 01204 336096

As an agency we are extremely passionate about putting our children first and at the heart of everything that we do. We are only as good as our team, and we are extremely lucky to have a truly amazing team here at Adoption Now! On the 1st June we are holding our Online Jobs Fair and we are inviting YOU to come and find out what it's like to be part of this amazing team along with finding out about the roles that we currently have vacancies for. In this episode you will get a sneak preview by hearing from some of our team talking about their roles and what they enjoy most about working at Adoption Now. Book YOUR place at our Online Jobs Fair by visiting www.adoptionnow.org.uk/joinourteam

Noah joins April on this episode to talk about so many things…like the new WEBSITE! They update us on how the kids are doing and share what is next for ADOPTION NOW. You do not want to miss this candid conversation the two of them have about life as a multicultural adoptive family.

The beginning of April saw the launch of our ‘We're with you EVERY step of the way campaign', in which we focus on the support that we offer here at Adoption Now; from that first contact and beyond. As part of this campaign we are proud our brand-new Welcome Team. While a new team they are highly trained, caring, and understanding professionals who staff our Information Line, and are often the first point of contact for the majority of our prospective adopters. In this episode I sat down to chat with Sarah, a member of our Welcome team and who is often the voice that you will hear answering the phone. You will hear that no question is a bad question and that between them, our Welcome Team have probably heard your question so many times before. What you can expect is a warm, friendly greeting from someone who is there for you right at the start of your adoption story. If hearing that warm welcome you will receive has got you thinking about Adopting through our agency then we would love to hear from you. You can visit our website www.adoptionnow.org.uk and fill out our online enquiry form OR you can call our Information Line on 01204 336096 and who knows, you may even speak to Sarah! Finally, we have some dates for your calendar! Our Online Information Events are the perfect place to help kick start your adoption story. Hosted by one of our social workers, along with a q&a with one of our adopters you will be able find out about adoption and the adoption process itself….and you can also ask any questions that you may have too! Dates for May 2023 are taking place on Wednesday 10th May at 12pm and Tuesday 23rd May at 5pm. To book your free place, visit adoptionnow.org.uk/events.

Buckle up Buttercup! Makayla Chadwick has a story to tell! She has waited years to be on ADOPTION NOW and this is her moment!! Makayla and her husband have adopted two beautiful babies but not without trials and grit! You can listen on podcast or watch on YouTube!

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we have been excited to bring you very some special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast, in which we asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In this fourth and final episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Shauneen, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Thank you very much for listening and we hope that you have a brilliant Christmas!

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In the third episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Matthew, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you very some special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories podcast. We asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In this first episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Tracy, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we are excited to bring you some very special, festive episodes of our Adopter Stories by Adoption Now podcast! We asked some of our families about their first Christmas as adoptive parents, those first precious moments as a family. In this first episode we had the privilege of sitting down to chat with Terry, finding out about their first Christmas as a family. If you are considering adoption and would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

For the first time ever, Noah and April bring the whole family on to say goodbye to season 6 and talk about what ADOPTION NOW means to each one of them. AJ introduces “Grandpa Joe” while Maliyah tries to steal the spotlight! Lily and AJ's heartfelt answers will make you want to hear more about their thoughts on adoption, and Vivy is proud to tell you what she is good at! This family was built on adoption, loves adoption, and has embraced adopting the whole story. Together they have brought you ADOPTION NOW, Telling Your Adoption Story. Adoption stories from all over the world shared by adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents. Don't miss this sweet family episode! Goodbye season 6…. hello season 7!

National Adoption Week this October aims to highlight the importance of identity. Having some form of link to be connected to our pasts, that gives a sense of identity and emotional wellbeing, is something that is crucial for those who have been adopted as they mature into adulthood. One of the ways in which we help our children maintain some from of link to their past is by creating a Life Story book for them. Each local authority and agency has their own way of creating these pieces for the children, however they all have some record of the child's past by photographs, notes and such like about their birth family. They go into their present and they also look towards their future by including information about their adopted family. In this episode I sat down to chat with Kerry, a member of the team here at Adoption Now to find out more about Life Story books and the crucial role that they play in an adopted childs identity. Could you be part of a Life Story? If you're thinking about adoption then we could love to hear from you. You can contact us through our website www.adoptionnow.org.uk or you can all our information line on 01204 336096, and this line is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Find out more about National Adoption Week by visiting www.adoptionnow.org.uk/youcanadoptor by heading to www.youcanadopt.co.uk

Motherhood doesn't always start in the womb. April Fallon knew from the time she was born, her calling was to adopt, to work with the vulnerable and be a voice for children.  Today, April is the adoptive mom of four and shares her journey through her four successful adoptions along with three disrupted adoptions. Join Katie and Mandy as they walk with April through her journey of adoption, the beautiful messy journey of love that not only changed the lives of the April, her husband, and her children but the birth parents they took in along the way. April Fallon is currently the host of the Adoption Now podcast and is spreading adoption awareness by sharing people's stories of adoption around the world.

Family is family, and at Adoption Now we welcome your enquiry no matter what your sexuality. A common myth that still exists is that you can't adopt if you are part of the LGBT+ community and in a relationship. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 came into law in December 2005, giving unmarried couples the right to adopt and this included the same rights to adopt for same sex couples. In this episode we are going to be hearing from not one, not two but 3 of our adopters! Sam, who adopted with his husband Tom, Heather & Emma and Lee. As we always say, no two adoption stories are the same and that is certainly the case with the adopters featured in this episode. But you will be hearing about their adoption journeys and some of the challenges they faced during the adoption process. If listening to them has inspired you to think about starting your adoption journey, then simply give us a call and we'll be happy to talk to you and answer any questions that you may have. You can call our information line, which is open 9am -5pm Monday to Friday on 01204 336096. Or you can also visit our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. There you can download our free information pack, check out our FAQs page, read stories about the children who are currently waiting for their forever families, and you can of course stream all the other episodes of the Adopter Stories by Adoption Now podcast!

Across our website and social media we talk a lot about adoption support. The support we provide for our children is our number one priority and we are also passionate about supporting adopters throughout the adoption process and beyond. We are extremely proud to have our own team of specialist, therapeutically trained adoption support workers who are there for you once you have been approved and matched with a child or children. In this episode we are talking to Elaine and Laura, two of our social workers who are on our adoption support team. They are here to talk about what that support actually looks like and how they go about delivering that support. Our Adoption Support Line is 01204 336097 and that's open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. If hearing about the support that you will receive from Adoption Now has you thinking about adoption we then would love to hear from you. You can call our information line on 01204 336096 or visit our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. You can find us across the usual social media channels just search ‘Adoption Now' and you will be sure to find us.

Throughout June we have been focusing on our need to find adopters who can consider adopting siblings or family groups, and in this latest episode we thought it would be good to talk to one of our team about the sibling groups that we are currently finding families for. I sat down to chat with Lisa, one of our social workers on the Family Finding team here at Adoption Now. We talked about the role that the Family Finding team carry out, along with an insight into how they go about keeping siblings together as best as they can. If you are thinking about adoption why not book onto one of our Virtual Information Events to find out more? These are free, online events in which you can find out about adoption, the adoption process as a whole and also have the chance to listen to our adopter guest speaker. Presented by either myself or my colleague along with one of our social workers and you will have the chance to ask any questions that you may have about adoption. To book your place visit www.adoptionnow.org.uk/events. Don't forget you can also call our information line on 01204 336096, and it's open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Children need a loving stable environment and adopting a child on your own means that you may well build an extra special relationship together. As you will hear in this episode featuring Emily. You'll be hearing about her adoption journey, how she came to the decision to adopt on her own but also the bond between Emily and her adopted son. If hearing Emily's story has you thinking about adoption then we would love to hear from you. You can call our information line on 01204 336096 or visit our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. You can find us across the usual social media channels just search ‘Adoption Now' and you will be sure to find us.

Throughout May we are talking about being single and adopting. We are continuing our interviews with some of our adopters who are single and adopted. In this episode are talking to Zoe, where among other things you will be hearing about her adoption journey and how she came to the decision to adopt on her own. If hearing Zoe's story has got you thinking about adoption then we would love to hear from you. You can call our information line on 01204 336096 or visit our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. You can also find us across the usual social media channels just search ‘Adoption Now' and you will be sure to find us!

This story comes to us from Australia!!! After a ten-year journey of failed IVF treatments, 9 miscarriages, 2 ectopic pregnancies, and unsuccessful attempts at surrogacy, Kaisey and Ashley share how their two incredible children came into their home through adoption. Noah and I have waited a long time to interview this couple and though we have never met them, this episode sounds like we have been friends forever! It's very exciting to know that ADOPTION NOW is reaching other countries and bringing together like-hearted people who want to share their story in hopes it may inspire you in your journey!!

In this episode we are going to be talking about being single and adopting with our special guest Sharon. Sharon is a social worker who is a member of the recruitment team here at Adoption Now and she has a wealth of experience in helping and guiding single adopters throughout the adoption process. In this episode she talks about some of the challenges that anyone who is single and thinking about adoption may face, and she will also be talking about some of the benefits too, for both the child or children and the adopter. If you are single and thinking that adoption could be the right next step for you then we would love to hear from you. You can visit our website, www.adoptionnow.org.uk and fill out our contact form where you will be able to book a phonecall with us to talk about what the next steps would look like. Alternatively you can ring our Information line directly on 01204 336096 and speak to a member of our team. Our information line is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Be sure to check out the rest of our adopter stories by adoption now podcast episodes to hear more from our adopters, and while you're there be sure to hit that subscribe button!

A common misconception when it comes to the adoption process is that you can't adopt if you're single or not in a relationship. In this podcast we sit down to have a chat with Christopher who made the decision to adopt on his own. We will be finding out more about what it was that lead him to make that decision, as well as what it was like going through the adoption process as a single male adopter. If hearing Christophers story has got you considering adoption then we would love to hear from you! If you would like to enquire with Adoption Now, or ask any questions that you may have then please head over to our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Or, alternatively you can ring our information line on 01204 336096. Our Information line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

In this latest episode we are continuing to focus on Fostering for Adoption or FfA by talking to Laura who, along with her husband adopted via Fostering for Adoption. She tells us about their adoption journey, why they chose to adopt via this particular route to adoption and also about the challenges and highs that can come with Fostering for Adoption. If you would like to know more about Fostering for Adoption then I would wholly encourage you to check out the previous episode of Adopter Stories by Adoption Now with our Early Permanence Champion, Kayleigh. You can also check out our Fostering for Adoption blog post on the Adoption News tab on our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. Alternatively, you can speak to one of our team by ringing our Information line on 01204 336096. This line is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Noah and April speak from the heart about the journey they have had with ADOPTION NOW and the much needed break they need at this time. Don't miss this episode as they bring on a special guest, AJ, their 9 year old son, who shares his thoughts on adoption.