#adoptivemum

[hollymarlow]

#adoption #fostercare #fostering #kinshipcare #socialwork #socialworkers #adoptionsupportuk #adoptioncommunity #adopters #fostercarers #adoptionsupport #adoptionjourney #adoptiveparent #adoptivemum #adoptivefamily #adopting #adoptionsupportnetwork #therapeuticparenting #diversebooks #inclusion #inclusivebooks #socialworker https://www.instagram.com/p/CofmS06MMPQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Had a lovely evening chatting with adopters and social workers from @western_bay_adoption this evening, about all kinds of adoption-related topic, including attachment, life story work, contact, and preparing birth/previously adopted children for a sibling joining the family by adoption. I really enjoy talking to adopters, foster carers and kinship carers, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you're a social worker or if you run a support group, etc and would like to arrange a talk. . #adoption #fostercare #kinshipcare #socialwork #socialworkers #adoptionsupportuk #adoptioncommunity #adopters #fostercarers #adoptionsupport #adoptionjourney #adoptiveparent #adoptivemum #adoptivefamily #adopting #adoptionsupportnetwork #adoptionstory #adoptionstories #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticlifestorywork #nationalstorytellingweek #storytelling https://www.instagram.com/p/CoDmkASMuXB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Got this message on Twitter earlier. I get it. The changes for the adopted child being moved to a new family are significantly more dramatic than the changes experienced by a child already in that family. Of course I advocate reading books to adopted children too, to help them to make sense of their situation and their feelings. My 2 most popular books (Delly Duck and Room in the Nest) are often used for that. When we adopted our son, we (as most adoptive parents do) tried to keep as much of his routine consistent with his routine in foster care as possible. I'm sure it was still pretty terrifying for him at times. My son's challenges don't invalidate those of my daughter. It's not a contest. We wouldn't have adopted if we didn't feel we could support the needs of two children. All the little adaptations to routine, meals, etc, plus the very fact that we had an extra child in the family, led to lots of changes for our birth daughter. If we'd had a 2nd child biologically, they would have grown up with the foods our daughter likes, the routine she was used to, etc. She coped brilliantly, but that's not the point. My daughter and others also deserve support and empathy when experiencing changes to their lives, even though their new sibling is going through a significantly more dramatic change. It's helpful for all siblings if you support the elder children so that they don't resent or reject their new sibling. The last thing an adopted child needs is to feel unwanted. So I think there's a need for these stories, and well, people keep buying them, so I guess others agree. . #siblingsbyadoption #siblingsthroughadoption #siblingadoption #adoption #adoptionmonth #adoptionawareness #adoptionmatters #adoptionawarenessmonth #adoptionbuiltus #adoptiveparent #adoptiveparents #adoptivemum #adoptivemummy #adoptivemama #adoptivedad #adoptivefather #adoptivefamily #adoptivesiblings #newbaby #adoptionsupportuk #adoptionsupport #adoptionafterabiologicalchild #adoptionafterbirth #storiesthatmatter #attachment #attachmentparenting #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticparent #bekind https://www.instagram.com/p/CjgADzLMNaY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

"We don't ride pandas on the stairs!" - things I never expected to hear myself say... 🙈 Pic of my son huffing and hmphing his way downstairs, because holding his panda is "boring." 😂 #toddlerantics #panda #pandas #stairs #teddy #spiritedchild #spirited #raisingaspiritedchild #gentleparenting #thingsmomssay #thingsparentssay #parenting #adoption #adoptiveparent #adoptivemum #adoptivemom #adoptivefamily #famille #familledacceuil #pflegefamilie #pflegemama #pflegemami #adopcion #adoptionstory #familiadeacogida #mamaleben #viedemaman #parentlife #wearefamily https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgo4Z6gsMqB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Thrilled with this article about my #fostercare and #adoption books in the MK Citizen newspaper! Love this photo of me with my sister, Suzy and my daughter, Zoe, who have illustrated the books I've published so far. These two are so awesome! ❤️ https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/milton-keynes-mum-writes-invaluable-books-to-help-fostered-and-adopted-children-understand-why-they-cant-stay-with-their-birth-families-3775573 #adoptiveparent #adopting #adoptivemum #miltonkeynes #author #stories #adoptivefamily #fostering #fosterfamily #socialwork #socialworkmatters #kinshipcare #kinship #specialguardianship #grandparentcaregivers #famille #familledacceuil #fostermama #pflegefamilie #pflegemama #pflegemami #adopcion #adoptionstory #storiesthatmatter #diversebooks #mamaleben #viedemaman #parentlife @shrimpanddoodle https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPDErgsvpo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Zoe just gave me this picture she's drawn of Delly Duck! ❤️ #adoption #fostercare #fostering #adoptiveparent #adopting #adoptivemum #proudparent #author #stories #adoptivefamily #fostering #fosterfamily #fosterparent #fostercarer #socialwork #socialworkmatters #famille #familledacceuil #fostermama #pflegefamilie #pflegemama #pflegemami #cuidadodeniños #adopcion #adoptionstory #storiesthatmatter #diversebooks #mamaleben #viedemaman https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPQT9Ps28J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Zoe just gave me this picture she's drawn of Delly Duck! ❤️ #adoption #fostercare #fostering #adoptiveparent #adopting #adoptivemum #proudparent #author #stories #adoptivefamily #fostering #fosterfamily #fosterparent #fostercarer #socialwork #socialworkmatters #famille #familledacceuil #fostermama #pflegefamilie #pflegemama #pflegemami #cuidadodeniños #adopcion #adoptionstory #storiesthatmatter #diversebooks #mamaleben #viedemaman https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPQT9Ps28J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Trying to eat a meal with this fidgety little comedian is quite the mission some days! 😂 #kidsdothefunniestthings #funnythingskidsdo #dinnertime #gentleeating #gentleparenting #attachmentparenting #playfulparenting #therapeuticparenting #respectfulparenting #hiding #hidinginplainsight #whatismychilddoing #toddlerlife #adoption #adoptivemum #adoptivemom #adoptiveparent #adoptivefamily #adoptionbuiltus #wecouldhavemissedthis #wearefamily https://www.instagram.com/p/CfwXmvhMEOb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

My son said this to me at breakfast time, out of the blue. I've had a few "I love yous" now and every time it melts me. It means a lot to me when my daughter says it too, of course, but it was much easier for her to love me. She heard my voice for months before she met me, and she was consistently reassured from birth that I was keeping her safe, warm and fed. My son had two Mums before me. He met me during the height of the pandemic, when we were only allowed to be 2 metres away from him. He was told "stay here" etc every time he crawled towards us. It was to keep us all safe, but it didn't help him to learn that we are his safe family. He cried the first time I held him. For weeks after he moved to live with us, he cried and pointed at the front door when anyone said "Mummy." Then the sadness turned to anger, and he pushed me away. 9 months of rejection was so hard. Just wanted to share, for those of you in the depths of rejection. It can be really depressing. If you hang in there and things improve, the "I love yous" are healing. Each one repairs me a little. #adoptionbuiltus #attachment #healing #gettooattached #wecouldhavemissedthis #adoption #adoptivefamily #adoptionstory #adoptionsupport #adoptionuk #adoptivemama #adoptivemom #adoptivemum #adoptivemummy #adoptiveparent #adoptioncommunity #adoptionjourney #adoptionprocess #adoptiontraining #attachmentdisorder #reactiveattachmentdisorder #adoptingababy #attachmentparenting #attachmentparent #gentleparent #gentleparenting #respectfulparenting #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticparent https://www.instagram.com/p/CeNx_E0MDCB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Had a lovely chat with Sarah Geogh this morning! We've been trying to arrange it for a while, but it's tricky for two adoptive Mums to find time between parenting, writing books and all the other chaotic things we have going on! Like me, Sarah has written children's books about adoption, so we had a lot to talk about! If you don't follow her already, check out her page @the_flamingofamily 🦩 . #adoption #adoptioncommunityuk #adoptionuk #adoptionsupportuk #adoptionukcommunity #adoptionbuiltus #adoptiveparents #adoptivemums #adoptivemoms #adoptionbooks #adoptionresources #adoptionreadinglist #socialworkresources #socialworkreadinglist #writingcommunity #authorssupportingauthors #authorlife #childrensbooks #childrensbookauthors https://www.instagram.com/p/Coe3Ptytgta/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Somehow my son and I have fallen into a routine of going on a Saturday morning walk together. I LOVE IT. We chat about ridiculous and random things, and I just love this one-on-one time with him. I hope this is our routine forever. ❤️ #motherandson #bonding #bondingtime #attachment #attachmentparenting #attachmentdisorder #attachmentbuilding #buildingattachments #connectedparenting #connection #playoutside #playoutdoors #outdoorplay #outdooradventures #love #lovemyfamily #wearefamily #thisisus #livingmybestlife #livingourbestlives #adoptivemum #adoptivefamily #famille #familia #familiasadoptivas #familie #familleadoptive #routine #foreverfamily #always https://www.instagram.com/p/CiVAlVRMzon/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=