Episodi
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We dive into the hidden emotional impact of foster care and adoption on parents. This episode explores how parenting children from hard places can unexpectedly surface unresolved trauma, emotional triggers, and past wounds we thought were long behind us. As we navigate attachment, behavior, and trust, we often find ourselves confronting our own stories in powerful and sometimes uncomfortable ways.
Designed for foster and adoptive parents, this honest conversation highlights the connection between trauma-informed parenting and personal healing. We unpack how increased self-awareness can lead to stronger relationships, healthier responses, and lasting transformation for both parents and children. If youâre parenting through foster care or adoption and feeling triggered, this episode will help you feel seenâand give you tools to grow through it.
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When trauma shows up in your home, it rarely looks like fear â it looks like defiance, meltdowns, shutdowns, and power struggles.In this episode, we sit down with the Director of Therapeutic Services at A Door of Hope and TBRI specialist, Shaleigh Schneider, to unpack whatâs really happening underneath those big behaviors. Why do they exist? What is your childâs brain and body communicating? And how can parents move from reacting to regulating?We talk about what co-regulation actually looks like in real life, how to stay steady when emotions escalate, and practical tools you can use in the moment to help your child feel safe, seen, and deeply loved.If youâve ever felt overwhelmed by behaviors you donât understand, this conversation will give you clarity, compassion, and concrete next steps for building safety at home.
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Episodi mancanti?
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If youâve ever felt the nudge to foster but found yourself hesitating⊠this conversation is for you.
This week we sit down with Billy Babbino, Director of Communications for A Door of Hope, who has spent years recruiting, training, and walking alongside foster families. Billy has seen the fears, the objections, the âwhat ifs,â and the incredible transformations that happen when families say yes.
We talk about:
âą The most common reasons people hesitate to foster
âą What prospective parents are most afraid of
âą What actually happens when you take the first step
If you feel the tug but arenât sure youâre ready⊠this episode might be the clarity youâve been praying for.
If you'd like more information about becoming a Foster Parent - Sign up for A Door of Hope's Info Sessions by clicking HERE
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Big moments matterâbut what happens after matters even more. In this episode, we talk about repair: the conversations, reconnections, and care that follow conflict, meltdown, or rupture. Through the lens of attachment and bonding, we unpack why repairânot perfectionâis the foundation of trust with our kids, and how showing up after the hard moments can actually strengthen the relationship.
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Attachment and bonding donât always come naturally in foster and adoptive homesâand that doesnât mean anyone is failing.
In this episode, we unpack some of the most common misconceptions foster and adoptive parents have about bonding and attachment, including the belief that love, time, and consistency alone will âfixâ attachment struggles.
We explore why foster and adopted children often struggle with healthy attachment, how early trauma, loss, and disrupted caregiving shape the nervous system, and why behaviors that look like rejection or defiance are often rooted in self-protection.
Most importantly, we share practical, trauma-informed practices for the homeâsimple shifts that help create safety, build trust, and nurture connection over time. If attachment feels slow, confusing, or one-sided in your home, this conversation is for you.
Bonding isnât brokenâitâs built differently.
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Holidays can be filled with joyâbut for foster and adoptive families, they can also surface big emotions, challenging behaviors, and unmet expectations. In this episode of Unprofessional Parenting, we talk honestly about holidays, attachment, and bonding, and why meaningful connection doesnât happen by accidentâit takes intention and it takes a village.
We explore how children impacted by foster care and adoption experience the holidays differently, especially when trauma, grief, loss, and disrupted attachments are part of their story. From overwhelmed nervous systems to fear of change and pressure-filled traditions, we unpack whatâs really happening beneath the behaviorâand how caregivers can respond in attachment-informed ways.
This episode also highlights the intentional work of bonding and why foster and adoptive parents cannot (and should not) do it alone. We talk about the power of safe adults, extended family, church, friends, and support systems in helping kids build trust, experience consistency, and feel secureâespecially during emotionally charged seasons.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why holidays can be triggering for foster and adopted children
How attachment and bonding require purposeful, everyday choices
The role of community and âthe villageâ in trauma-informed parenting
Practical ways to create connection without forcing memories or emotions
How to release unrealistic expectations and lead with grace
Whether youâre a foster parent, adoptive parent, kinship caregiver, or part of a support network walking alongside these families, this conversation will remind you that attachment is built slowly, bonding is intentional, and healing happens best in community.
đ§ Listen now for encouragement, practical insight, and honest conversation for foster care and adoption journeysâespecially during the holidays.
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Foster kids donât just enter a new homeâthey enter a new world. In this episode of Unprofessional Parenting, we break down the unknown emotional, relational, and environmental barriers our foster kids faced and how those challenges shaped our parenting. If youâre fostering, adopting, or walking with families who are, this raw conversation is for you.
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It wasnât scripted. It wasnât easy. It was real. We talk with our kids about the moment they were given permission to call us âMomâ and âDadâ â and the storm of emotions that came with it. From guilt to identity to love that still feels new, this is the side of adoption most people never hear.
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We are back from the CAFO Conference in Houston â and wow, do we have a lot to unpack. From inspiring keynotes to raw conversations about foster care, adoption, and church engagement, weâre sharing our favorite moments, biggest lessons, and whatâs stirring in our hearts after a week surrounded by people who get it. Whether you were there or following along from afar, this episode will give you a front-row seat to how God is moving in the world of orphan care and family restoration.
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In this raw and unfiltered episode of The Unprofessional Parenting Podcast, Matt and Laney sit down with no notes, no prep, and six real questionsâthree eachâabout their foster care journey. From the moments that broke them to the ones that built them, they open up about what foster parenting has taught them about love, loss, attachment, and faith.
Whether youâre a foster parent, an adoptive parent, or simply someone who wants to understand the heart behind foster care, this episode is for you
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In this episode of the Unprofessional Parenting Podcast, Matt and Laney sit down with Biblical counselor, Josh Waulk of Baylight Counseling, to unpack the powerful connection between attachment and the theology of adoption. Together, we explore how understanding attachment styles can help foster parents build trust, create stability, and form secure bonds with children from difficult backgrounds.
This conversation also digs into the gospelâs picture of adoptionâhow God welcomes us into His familyâand how that truth shapes the way we parent foster and adopted children. With practical tools, healthy family rhythms, and biblical wisdom, this episode equips you to build a safe and secure home where healing can begin.
đ What youâll learn in this episode:
An overview of attachment styles and how they show up in foster care
Why healthy rhythms are essential to building security and trust
Practical steps to create a safe, stable home environment
How the theology of adoption shapes our understanding of parenting
Encouragement for foster and adoptive parents to parent with patience, grace, and gospel-centered love
Perfect for foster parents, adoptive families, and anyone who wants to better understand how Godâs design for family brings hope and healing to kids from hard places.
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Foster care doesnât just change your homeâit changes your marriage. In this episode of the UnProfessional Parenting Podcast, we dive into the realities couples face when stepping into foster care: the stress, the miscommunication, the late-night conversations, and the unexpected strain it can put on a relationship. But we also share the practical things that have helped keep our marriage strong and healthy in the middle of it all. Whether youâre married and considering fostering, already in the thick of it, or simply curious about how foster care impacts couples, this conversation is full of honesty, lessons learned, and encouragement that youâre not alone.
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With Special Guest Jeff Ford - CEO of ManUp
Fatherlessness has become one of the greatest epidemics facing America todayâimpacting foster care, families, and the next generation. In this episode of UnProfessional Parenting, we sit down with the CEO of ManUp, Jeff Ford, to talk about the fatherlessness crisis in the U.S., why it matters, and how foster families are stepping into the gap. From the impact of absent fathers on childrenâs development to practical ways the church and community can respond, this conversation shines a light on both the challenges and the hope for change. If youâre a foster parent, adoptive family, or someone passionate about breaking cycles and building strong homes, this episode is for you.
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The foster care system doesnât just involve families and social workersâitâs deeply shaped by the court system. In this episode, Circuit Family Court Judge, Aaron Hubbard, joins us to share the court systemâs perspective on foster care cases. We discuss the frustrations judges face, the difficult balance between legal timelines and a childâs best interests, and the realities of making decisions that impact children, biological parents, and foster families.
If youâve ever wondered how the court views foster care, why some cases take so long, or what challenges judges encounter behind the bench, this conversation gives an honest look at the intersection of child welfare and the legal system. Perfect for foster parents, adoptive families, child advocates, and anyone who wants to better understand the foster care process from the courtroom side.
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UnProfessional Parenting 1.20 with special guest, Ron Cooney (Executive Pastor at Calvary Church Clearwater).
What role does the church play in meeting the needs of vulnerable children and families in foster care? In this episode,Called to Care, we dive into the biblical call to defend the fatherless, real stories from foster and adoptive families, and practical ways churches can step into the gap. Whether youâre a pastor, a foster parent, or simply someone who wants to live out James 1:27, this podcast equips and inspires the body of Christ to rise up for kids and families in crisis.
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In Part 2 of How to âCo-Familyâ in Foster Care, we dive deeper into how foster parents can build strong, healthy, and intentional relationships with biological families. Learning how to âco-familyâ is essential for supporting reunification, reducing conflict, and creating stability for kids in care. In this episode, we share real-life foster care experiences, practical co-parenting strategies, and insights on communication, boundaries, and empathy. Whether youâre a new foster parent or have been fostering for years, youâll discover encouragement and practical tools to help you partner with biological families in ways that truly put the childâs best interests first.
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(Part One)
Foster care isnât just about opening your homeâitâs about navigating relationships. In this episode, we dive into the often complex, emotional, and important interactions between foster parents and biological families. From building trust to finding common ground, weâll talk about what healthy co-parenting looks like, the challenges along the way, and why collaboration matters for the child at the center of it all. Whether youâre a foster parent, bio parent, or simply want to understand the process better, this conversation will give you perspective and encouragement for the journey.
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In this episode of Unprofessional Parenting, we explore the powerful bond between siblings and why keeping them together in foster care can be life-changing. From shared memories to built-in emotional support, siblings can be a vital anchor in a childâs world when everything else feels uncertain. Weâll share real-life stories, discuss the challenges that sometimes separate siblings, and talk about how foster and adoptive parents can advocate for keeping brothers and sisters under the same roof. Whether youâre a foster parent, considering becoming one, or just curious about the system, this conversation will open your eyes to the lifelong impact of sibling connections.
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In this episode, we dive into the heartwarming (and sometimes hilariously chaotic) movie, Instant Family. With its blend of humor and heavy truths, the film attempts to capture the real-life messiness of foster care and adoption. But how accurate is it? We break down what the movie gets right, what it misses, and how it hit us right in the feels. Whether youâre a seasoned foster parent or just love a good family film, join us as we laugh, cry, and maybe even cringe a little. Spoiler alert: itâs not all sunshine and inspirational montages.
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In this episode of Unprofessional Parenting, we dive into one of the toughest and most misunderstood aspects of foster careâsaying no. Whether it's declining a placement that doesnât align with your family's capacity or recognizing when you're approaching burnout, learning to say "no" can actually be one of the most loving, responsible things you do. We talk about the guilt, the pressure, and the reality of navigating foster care with healthy boundaries. If you've ever wondered when it's okay to say noâor how to recover when you're running on emptyâthis episode is for you.
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