17 minute read
WHAT TO DO THIS SUMMER
WHAT TO DO
THIS S
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Compiled by Lynn Beckett, Angela Mains and Neisha Roberts
Pull out the water toys, the s’more sticks, and trampoline — it’s SUMMER! After a long, difficult spring, summer couldn’t be more anticipated. For families built through adoption and foster care, summer can be a fun adventure in bonding and attachment. Try these entertaining activities out together that help build trust, eye contact, and healthy touch.
You’ve Got Mail — Utilize a personalized mailbox to connect with your child throughout the week, allowing for expression in a non-threatening manner. Take a box and attach it to your child’s bedroom door (or anywhere that works for you). With construction paper, create a “flag” and add your child’s name or the word “mail” to the top. During the week, add a special note to the box and raise the flag. Your child can be encouraged to do the same in return. Once in a while you can drop in a “coupon” for something special, like “No chore day” or “You choose the movie night.” (from Kelli Wild) Cotton Ball Hockey — Get down on the floor on your hands and knees with your children and blow cotton balls back and forth between you, trying to get the ball under each other’s arms. (Theraplay ® ) Follow the Leader — Your family members can stand and form a line holding on to the waist of the person in front of them. The first in line chooses a particular dance move or action, and everyone copies. The leader moves to the back of the line and a new leader chooses a new action, and so forth. (Theraplay ® ) Shaving Cream Game — Get out your aprons and let your child experiment with shaving cream.
This is a great tactile experience. (“The Out-of-Sync Child” by Carol Stock Kranowitz) Plastic Bag Kite — On a sunny day, get outside and bring a plastic grocery bag, string, colorful ribbon, scissors, and a stapler. Cut the string about three yards in length and attach one end of the string to one (or both) of the handles of the plastic bag. Cut the ribbon (one yard in length) and attach it as a streamer with the stapler. You now have a very inexpensive and fun kite on your hands. Human Jungle Gym — Let your kids climb on you or pretend to be zoo animals that are swinging on dad’s tree branch arms. Child Weight Lifting — Let your children be your weights for bench pressing while lying on a carpeted floor, or do bicep curls with your kids. Caution: Be careful not to hurt yourself in this process … or drop your “weights.”
UMMER
Donut Dare — Since it’s summer, enjoy those yummy treats you may try to avoid in the normal day to day. Hold a donut on your finger and have your child see how many bites they can take before the donut falls off. Of course, if you want it to be a bit healthier, you could use a pineapple ring. Marshmallow Fight — Each person gets a stack of marshmallows and tries to throw them at each other (using pillows as a shield). You can do the same with crumpled up paper. Bubbles — Bubbles encourage laughter and eye contact. You can catch them, count them, or chase them around with your child. Fort Building — Build a fort together (inside or outside) with pillows, blankets, or towels. This is a fun and easy game to do with older children and can easily be done even in a hotel room or at a relative’s house if you’re traveling. Stand for Orphans ® — Join us to take a socially distant stand this summer and find creative ways to make a difference in the lives of children around the world. Hop on social media and participate in the lemon challenge or showcase your talent. To learn more and for other fun ideas, follow @standfororphans.
It’s good to also consider that children who have joined your family through adoption or foster care also need some routine throughout the summer months. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind in the middle of all the fun: • Try to maintain some form of routine or regular schedule for your days. • Consider the individual needs of each child in your home, adopted or biological. • Plan activities during the day that use large muscle groups such as swimming, biking, or swinging to promote balance and a sense of spatial orientation. • Intersperse rest time or calm activities so that a child is not overstimulated. • Stay hydrated and well fed — it will help keep meltdowns at bay. • Make frequent stops if on a long car ride to provide much needed deep muscle activity. • Over prepare your child for a new activity before the event. The Fourth of July can be overwhelming if a child does not know what to expect.
These are just a few ideas to start the fun in your family’s summer. Summertime is a great opportunity to encourage play, and promote healing at the same time.
Milestones
Mark Harrelson (5 yo) came home in August 2019. He used to have a fear of water, but not anymore! Judah Hamiter (2 yo) celebrated one year home on February 15.
Anniston Marsh came home in August 2019. Here she’s
enjoying her first Kona Ice. She is a social butterfly! Hallee Joy Napier recently turned 2. Her favorite things to do are dancing and walking her Chihuahua.
NAV I G AT I N G T H E C O M P L E X I T I E S OF A BIRTH PARENT REUNION
At Lifeline Children’s Services, we believe in walking hand-in-hand with families through every part of their adoption journey. At times, this path may include an adoptee or a birth parent seeking to meet one another. When a Lifeline birth mother or domestic adoptee reaches out to us to inquire about such a reunion, we engage them and the adoptive parents with insight, support, and counseling. In each step of a domestic reunion journey, Lifeline provides necessary counseling that assists each person in recognizing and processing the various complex emotions and situations that occur. Laura Armstrong, Lifeline social worker and reunion coordinator, explains the important role that Lifeline’s reunion counseling plays: “We realize and respect that a search and reunion can be done alone without the support and counseling of the placing agency. However, we believe there is no reason for either the adoptive parent, birth parent, or adoptee to go through the search and reunion process alone. It is a journey that can be full of many complex feelings and emotions. As those emotions are experienced, we desire to be a safe place where people can navigate the unknown waters successfully.“ Our counselors see each member of the adoption triad with empathy, and we honor each person’s story. Counseling and support from Lifeline during the search and reunion has been proven to help adoptive and biological families in the following ways:
ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Help parents understand their child’s desire to connect to his or her biological family Assist parents in dealing with their own emotions about their child’s search and reunion
BIRTH PARENTS:
Help birth mothers and/or fathers to manage feelings of loss, fear, guilt, and anxiety that can be triggered because of the search and reunion Address concerns about how being reunified would impact what their life looks like today ADOPTEES:
Help adoptees cope with feelings about adoption, identity, and their relationships
Help adoptees decide if a search and reunion is truly desired or if non-identifying information from the file is most satisfying at that time Counseling will also identify any negative/unhealthy motivations for pursuing a search and reunion such as wanting to express anger or resentment; a feeling of brokenness that needs to be fixed; not being able to resolve a sense of loss; or being pushed by someone to proceed with a search. Searching and reunifying with a birth parent or child can be beautiful, but, no matter the outcome, the emotions and reality of the process are highly complex. Lifeline wants to walk with everyone involved so that each person is cared for, supported, and known by someone who understands.
For more information on domestic reunification, call Lifeline at 205-967-0811 and ask for Laura Armstrong.
MEET OUR COUNSELORS
All of Lifeline Children’s Services’ counselors are trained in various modalities of therapy to tailor fit the best treatment plan for you and your family. knew it was going to be a good fit for me.”
ANGELA MAINS, MA, LPC Angela has served at Lifeline since 2012 and is the Counseling Program Director. She specializes in the area of attachment and trauma and is a Fully Certified Theraplay ® Therapist and a Registered Play Therapist. “I love working with families to help them gain insight into themselves, discover the blocks to intimacy that may exist, and find a deeper sense of joy and relationship with one another and God. I enjoy the creativity I can exercise in using so many different approaches to do that.”
ASHLEY YEAGER, MSW, LICSW, PIP Ashley has worked as a social worker for eight years, practicing family therapy for about four years. She focuses on the area of attachment and trauma. She enjoys using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Theraplay ® and Play Therapy techniques in counseling. “I first became a Clinical Social Worker because I enjoy helping people grow and meet their goals to enhance their well-being. Even from a young age, I recognized the relational brokenness in our ability to aid in these situations.”
KEMONIA BROWN, MA, ALC, NCC Kemonia has been in the counseling field for two years and recently joined Lifeline’s Counseling & Education team. Her specialties include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, and Trust-Based Relational Intervention ® (TBRI ® ) principles. “I’ve always had a strong passion for helping hurting people find hope and healing. Even though becoming a therapist was always a dream of mine, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue after losing my parents at the age of 12 and visiting a counselor of my own.” WHITNEY WHITE, MED, LPC, BC-TMH Whitney has served at Lifeline for nine years and mainly works with international adoptive parents. She utilizes various modes of therapy including Theraplay ® , TBRI®, and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. “I love helping to equip parents to be ‘therapeutic parents’ for their children. At a fairly young age, I learned that counseling was a profession I felt confident I was able to do. I was amazed that helping people and supporting people could be a job and
world and knew the Lord gave me the passion and
KATIE YADUSKY, BSW, MSW, LCSWA Katie has been a social worker since 2016. In 2020, Katie transitioned to serve as a family therapist. Katie focuses on adults and children with common challenges like trauma, attachment difficulties, grief, anxiety, and depression, and is trained in Theraplay ® and Corrective Attachment Therapy. “I love caring for and bringing hope to adoptive and foster children and their families through effective therapeutic solutions.”
LYNN BECKETT, LBSW Lynn has worked as a social worker since 1981 and became a TBRI ® Practitioner in 2016. She focuses on preparing and equipping foster and adoptive parents, but also works with them post-placement period. She utilizes TBRI ® principles, along with Corrective Attachment Parenting & Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy guidelines.“My father was a great role model for me and as I saw him volunteer and care for the needy … I felt led to work in child and family welfare. It has been my earthly father’s example paired with my heavenly Father’s mandate to ‘care for the least of these’ that has kept me in this work for more than 30 years.”
Our team understands that sometimes there are financial barriers that come between families and treatment, so all of our counselors accept a reduced rate private pay and some work through insurance companies.
Thank You to Our Partners
November 2019- April 2020
Aaron & Mandi Mowery Adam & Whitney White Alan & Amy Botkin Alan & Elise Logan Alan & Dina Long Alex Petty Allison Christopher Alton & Sandra Hardy Amelia Strauss Amy Cobb Amy Kellogg Amy Platt Andrew & Ashley McMakin Andrew & Bridget Patterson Anna G. Smith Austin & McCall Hardison Barry & Lea Anne Parker Barry & Debra Peterson Benjamin & Rachel Winslett Bill & Rachel Curtis Blake & Holly Beth Harris Blake & Shae Wilson Booth & Laura Armstrong Brad Green Brad & Heidi Sapp Brad & Gena Spearing Brad Wood Bradley & Brittany Bowman Bradley & Vicki Wilson Brandi McKinnon Brandon & Kristi Nesler Brent & Meredith Leatherwood Brian & Paula Sewell Brigitta C. Brott Brooke Arnold Browning & Hannah Thornton Bruce & Jane Scott C.N. & Sarah Bailey Caleb Bagwell Calum Hayes Calvin & Kim Turnipseed Cameron & Jamie Clayton Carlton & Brenda Nell Catherine Roy Celes Parks Chad & Lauren Haun Charla Hudson Charles & Cherion Crow Charles Edwards Charles Macgowan Charlie & Holly Taylor Chelsea R. MacCaughelty Chris & Jen Prier Chris & Brittany Welsh Christopher & Rachel Clayton Christopher & LeighAnn Hillman Christopher & Jennifer Pearson Christopher & Leslie Sanders Christopher Simmons Clare Purinton Clinton & Lauren Townsend Corey & Ruth Braun Corley Jr. & Jan Odom Craig & Julia Ogard Croft & Christie Mac Segars Curt & Tammy Stokes Curtis & Kati Wallace Dale & Ginger Wallace Dan & Stefanie Cinadr Dan & Renee Griffin Daniel & Stacie Jackson Daniel & Lynne Knee Daniel & Megan Logan Daniel & Meagan Murphree Daniel & Heather Myers David & Julie Clark David Maddox David & Amanda McNabb David Nelson David & Erin Orr David Scott &Julia Moore David & Melissa Whitten David Zomeren Dennis Kern Diane McFalls Don Blevins Donald & Melanie Roths Dottie Neuf Doug & Gail Acton Doug & Lee Ann Glidewell Doug & Ann Knostman Dustin & Lindsey Teat Dylan & Stacey McSweeney John Feller & Elizabeth Armstrong-Feller Elizabeth Burley Emilee Johnson Eric & Meredith Mann Eric & Melissa Nelson Erik Clinite Eugene & Heather Preskitt Floyd & Georgia Kay Carter Frank Brocato III Frank Reilly Frank & Kyndra Resso Franklin & Stacy Eaton Fred Morris IV Mary Gwin Morris Frederick & Karen Gregg Garry & Alison Rice George & Jennifer Files Gerald & Sally Friesen Gerald & Barbara Gunn Glen & Donna Martin Gloria Browne Greg & Rene Armbruster Greg & Vicki Kelley Gregory Franks Gregory & Mary Grace Heston Gregory & Sarah VanderWal Greta Gray Hal & Kaysha Clark Harold & Amy Walker Heath & Aimee Comer Heather Wood Houston & Kathleen Hardin Hugh & Regina Mathews Hugh & Beth Tappan Hunter Berry Hunter Evans Hunter & Leslie Nelson J. 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Take a Socially Distant Stand for Orphans
