Adoptive Mom Life | Open Adoption, Adoptive Parenting, Birth Family, Christian Community, Biblical Encouragement – Details, episodes & analysis

Adoptive mama, bio mama, foster mama? This is for all mamas and wives! We're talking about L-O-V-E, how we show it and how we receive it. 

We all love our kids — but are we loving them in a way they actually understand?

In this Valentine’s-season episode, we talk about the 5 Love Languages and how they show up in real family life with your kids and your spouse.

From quality time and words of affirmation to acts of service, gifts, and physical touch, you’ll learn how to notice what fills your child’s heart instead of just giving love the way you prefer to give it.

If connection feels off, distant, or confusing right now, this episode will help you reset, slow down, and start speaking love in a language your family can truly receive.

If you’re craving community with other adoptive moms who truly get it, join the waitlist for The Adoptive Mom Circle.

It’s a faith-based space for encouragement, coaching, prayer, and honest conversation — like sitting around a table with coffee and women who see your story.

👉 Join the waitlist here

Or go to bit.ly/AMLcircle

You were never meant to do adoption alone.

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Adoption can feel lonely in ways no one prepares you for. Even when you’re surrounded by people, playdates, church, and activities, there’s often a quiet ache of feeling unseen, misunderstood, or like you don’t quite belong.

In this episode, we explore loneliness as an epidemic among ALL mothers — and then we look at what makes loneliness even more complex for adoptive moms.

We talk about identity shifts, unmet expectations, trauma-informed parenting, advocating for your child, navigating birth family relationships, and the invisible emotional load adoptive families carry every day.

You’ll hear research around motherhood and isolation, along with real-life examples from the adoptive mom experience that make many of us think, “Why do I still feel alone when my life looks full?”

This episode is an invitation start finding real, safe connection with likeminded mamas. It's time to find your village! 

If you’re craving community with other adoptive moms who truly get it, join the waitlist for The Adoptive Mom Circle.

It’s a faith-based space for encouragement, coaching, prayer, and honest conversation — like sitting around a table with coffee and women who see your story.

👉 Join the waitlist here

Or go to bit.ly/AMLcircle

You were never meant to do adoption alone.

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

Ready or not, it’s that time of year again — time for holiday shopping!

Do you send Christmas gifts to your child’s birth mom or birth family? In today’s episode, we’re talking about heartfelt, personal gift ideas for your child’s biological family — from simple, thoughtful gestures to more meaningful presents they’re sure to enjoy.

Whether you have an open adoption with ongoing contact or very little connection right now, this episode isn’t about creating pressure or obligation. It’s simply a chance to think through some intentional, grace-filled ways to let your child’s birth family know they’re remembered and cared for this Christmas.

Book a Coaching Call -> HERE

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

Step 3: Book a one-on-one coaching call here.

November is National Adoption Month, a time to raise awareness for children still waiting for families and to honor the stories of those already formed through adoption. But as adoptive moms, this month can stir up a lot of mixed emotions — gratitude, grief, and everything in between.

In this episode, I’m sharing how I’m holding space for both the beautiful and the broken parts of my kids’ stories — and how you can, too. From the history behind National Adoption Month to the sacred, everyday work of being your child’s safe place, we’ll reflect on what this season really means for those living adoption from the inside out.

If you’ve ever felt torn between celebration and sorrow this time of year, this one’s for you.

Book a Coaching Call -> HERE

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

Step 3: Book a one-on-one coaching call here.

Every adoptive parent wrestles with the same questions...

How do I share my child’s adoption story without saying too much or too little?

How do I even approach such a thing?

How do I know if they’re old enough to handle it?

In this episode, I walk you through what it looks like to share your child’s adoption story with honesty, discernment, and most importantly, God’s leading.

If you’ve ever second-guessed your words or worried about “getting it wrong” when sharing your child’s story with them, this one’s for you.

⬇️  ⬇️  ⬇️

LIVE workshop registration link HERE!  October 28th!

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

How do you know if your adopted child’s behavior is normal… or rooted in trauma? This is a question I hear from adoptive moms all the time!

In this episode, I chat with Jeanette Yoffe — adoptee, therapist, author, speaker, and founder of Celia Center and Yoffe Therapy — about how to parent with connection and compassion.

Here's what we talk about: 

• How to spot when behaviors are trauma-related
• Simple tools and interventions to help kids process their complex stories
• The PACE model for attachment-focused parenting
• Why minimizing struggles amplifies them — and how connection diffuses them
• Using Sad Bags, Anger Bags, and Shame-wiches 

Tune in for Part II today, and go back and listen to Part I if you missed it! 

Ways to reach Jeanette:

Main website: www.JeanetteYoffe.com  YouTube Channel: Jeanette-icallySpeaking 

The Traumatized & At-Risk Youth Toolbox Book

Psychology Today: Inner Life of Foster Care

Book and body socks on Amazon:

Jeanette's Book

Body Sock 

FREE live workshop on October 28th. Register here! 

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

How do you know if your adopted child’s behavior is normal… or rooted in trauma? This is a question I hear from adoptive moms all the time!

In this episode, I chat with Jeanette Yoffe — adoptee, therapist, author, speaker, and founder of Celia Center and Yoffe Therapy — about how to parent with connection and compassion.

We cover:

• How to spot when behaviors are trauma-related
• Simple tools and interventions to help kids process their complex stories
• The PACE model for attachment-focused parenting
• Why minimizing struggles amplifies them — and how connection diffuses them

Tune in for Part I today, and don’t miss Part II next week as we continue this essential conversation.

Ways to reach Jeanette:

Main website: www.JeanetteYoffe.com  YouTube Channel: Jeanette-icallySpeaking 

The Traumatized & At-Risk Youth Toolbox Book

Psychology Today: Inner Life of Foster Care

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

Have you ever caught yourself running on autopilot—snapping at your family, juggling endless tasks, and realizing you’re stuck in survival mode? As moms of adopted children, those heavy, chaotic weeks can leave us feeling drained and defeated.

In this episode, I share a simple reset you can use anytime, anywhere, to calm your mind, steady your heart, and step back into presence with your kids. It’s practical, faith-filled, and designed to remind you that you don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode—you can move forward with peace, one small step at a time.

And, I have some exciting news to share next week! Make sure you’re on the email list and in the Facebook group so you can be the first to know. Hint: it’s designed just for you as adoptive moms.

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

Are you drowning in screen time struggles with your kids?

After a long, hot summer where screens slowly shifted from an ‘extra’ to the default, I knew it was time to try something different. I came across a simple reward system from a first grade teacher, and it’s been a game-changer for our family.

As moms, we know too much screen time can impact our children’s brains, development, and attention spans. And as adoptive moms, we often feel an added responsibility to guide our kids toward becoming confident, balanced, and well-rounded little humans.

While not all screen time is bad—and not every reward system will fit every family—I hope this episode encourages you to take an honest look at the role screens play in your home. If something feels ‘off,’ I pray that you feel equipped and empowered to make small changes that bring more balance to your family.

Articles referenced from PubMed here and here.

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.

Ever feel like you’re stuck in survival mode as an adoptive mom? In the second half of this two-part episode, I’m joined by Keli Tondre, adoptive mom, trauma therapist, and founder of Tondre Therapeutics.

Keli shares both her personal adoption journey and her professional expertise to help us understand trauma, regulate our nervous systems, and find hope in the hard places.

We talk about:

• Why adoption always carries trauma (even in the best situations)
• What Polyvagal Theory + Internal Family Systems mean for adoptive parent
• Simple ways to know when you are dysregulated—and how to reset
• The importance of co-regulation in parenting our kids

Keli also shares her program, the Adoptive and Foster Parent Trauma Transformation, which offers online teaching, group coaching, and community for parents who want to move from surviving to thriving.

Resources Mentioned:

• No Bad Parts by Dr. Richard Schwartz
• Altogether You by Jenna Riemersma
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce D Perry
• How We Feel app

Be sure to go back and listen to PART I  of this eye-opening conversation.

Connect with Keli:

tondretherapeutics.com

To book a call: tondretherapeutics.com/call

To view masterclass: tondretherapeutics.com/webinar

**Use referral code CARLYGRACE for a program BONUS!

Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com

Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast

Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife

Become an Insider - > AMLInsider

Next Steps:

Step 1: Join the private community with other adoptive moms looking for support and camaraderie at Adoptive Mom Life.

Step 2: Sign up for the monthly Adoptive Mom Life Newsletter here.