Mastering the Chaos: Navigating Parenting with the Circle of Control
Key Takeaways Dial Down the Drama: Parenting kids with a trauma history amplifies this struggle. Let’s dive into a tool that turns down the volume on the chaos: The Circle of Control. Covey’s Circle Magic: Remember Stephen R. Covey? He gave us more than just habits; he gifted us the Circle of Control. It’s like […]
Building Skills with Connection
Building Skills with Connection: The Power of Scaffolding Have you ever seen a building under construction? Often it is surrounded by metal poles or wood planks. These temporary structures, called scaffolding, are put in place to provide stability for the growing parts and to aid in construction. Children who have experienced abuse and neglect often […]
Piñatas and Felt Safety
Finding the Function in Dysfunction My daughter has an irrational fear of piñatas—the fear that makes your heart race, palms sweaty and stomach turn. Complicating this fear is the fact that she spent most of the first 5 years of her life living in Mexico, land of the piñata. Where we lived, piñatas are just […]
Even Small Things Feel Big
I was never an angry person until I had kids. This is something I often joke about with my husband: I reminisce about how when I was a single college student, before him, before three littles demanding my constant attention, I don’t remember ever getting angry. Marriage made life more nuanced. Suddenly, there were things […]
Dr. Bruce Perry’s Concept of Regulate, Relate, and Reason
The Three R’s Think about a time you felt upset. Was it over something big or small? Did someone help you feel better? While you were still upset, did you listen to reason? Did hearing, “Calm down!” help? A popular phrase sums it up well, “Never in the history of calming down has anyone calmed […]
Back to School Advocacy
“My Child is Scared to Go Back to Class!” Speak Up to Help Students Succeed Is your child afraid to go back to class? A new school year can be an anxious time for any child. For children with hard histories, this transition can be even more complicated. As a parent, you can advocate for […]
Trauma Informed to Trauma Responsive Care
Loss hurts. Neglect and abuse cut deep. Early childhood trauma leaves lasting scars. Whether the baby in the womb adopted at birth, the 3-year-old being raised by grandparents, or the teenager in foster care, all children who have been separated from birth parents have experienced some level of trauma. As a result, these kids often face […]
Back To School Tips & Tricks
Back to School Parents may both cheer and dread these three words. Some feel hopeful about new beginnings, friendships, and learning. Others are anxious about learning struggles and loneliness. As parents of children who have experienced Complex Developmental Trauma, we have yet another layer to consider. Often, our children struggle with transitions. When our kids […]
Food Hoarding: Feasting on Control
A Few Small Steps & One Big Dream
Friends, I didn’t want to let today pass without memorializing such a special day. Twelve years ago, the idea for Chosen was conceived. On the start line of another inaugural race — the San Antonio Marathon — in 30 degree weather with 30,000 people around me, the buzzing air suddenly went silent as I had […]
ADHD and Children with Hard Histories
I love to spend time with my kids! But sometimes, I also dread helping them with homework. Though necessary, homework isn’t on my top ten list of “most fun family activities,” and I’m guessing I’m not the only parent who feels that way! When you are parenting children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), doing schoolwork can quickly shift from an annoying ritual to painfully frustrating. Why is schoolwork so difficult for children with ADHD? Consider […]
Saving Reasons Until the End
Devon* is an 11-year-old living with his grandmother. His mom left the family years ago and his dad recently went to prison. Devon misses his dad and doesn’t understand why his grandma acts more like his school principal than the fun lady who used to spoil him. He becomes emotional easily and sometimes has a […]
