Called to Love: An Adoption Podcast for Christian Parents - Christian Adoption, Trauma and Healing, Foster Care, Parenting Adopted Children

• Three B's to Help Regulate Your Child

  Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! This is our third week in my new series breaking down how to emotionally regulate your household and I am going to give you tools for de-escalating your child during those meltdown moments. This episode is all about the 3 B’s: Breathing, Bilateral Movement, and Beating Heart. These three tools can effectively help you calm your child, build trust and connection, ultimately leading to better emotional regulation and communication within the family. These strategies do not take away the need for guidance, correction, and addressing dysfunctional behaviors but help your child receive your instruction because you’ve built trust and love. I would love to hear from you if you begin using these strategies or share ones you’ve found that work in your household! Here are a few key takeaways: Dysregulated behaviors require a confident caregiver's presence.Breathing techniques help reset a child's nervous system.Bilateral movement engages both sides of the brain for regulation.Heartbeat time provides comfort and connection during distress.Practicing tools alongside children builds trust and safety.Regulation tools prepare children for better communication and correction.Planning and having tools ready can improve family dynamics.Free Downloadable Resource From Somer: Click Here & Enter Your EmailYou can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more! 

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• The Number One Regulation Method for Adoptive and Foster Parents

  Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! This is our second week in my new series breaking down how to emotionally regulate your household. Specifically in this episode, I am explaining the HALT method--Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired—a powerful tool to help manage behavioral escalations. I am also sharing some personal examples and practical insights to guide you in fostering a nurturing environment with a biblical foundation. Tune in to learn how addressing basic and felt needs can transform family dynamics and build trust. Don't miss this essential episode for every parent looking to enhance emotional and behavioral regulation at home! Here are a few key takeaways: The HALT method is essential for emotional regulation.Understanding hunger can prevent behavioral issues.Anger is a natural emotion that needs management.Loneliness can occur even in crowded spaces.Rest is crucial for emotional and physical health.Building trust is key to effective parenting.Recognizing triggers can help in de-escalation.Biblical examples provide insight into caregiving.Practical tools can be adapted for individual needs.Consistency in approach fosters better relationships.Free Downloadable Resource From Somer: Click Here & Enter Your EmailYou can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more! 

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• How to Promote Emotional and Behavioral Regulation in Your Family

  Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! In this episode, I am kicking off a five-part series on emotional and behavioral regulation in your family. We are in the thick of summer but if we’re being honest, it hardly feels like a “summer break.” From summer camps, VBSs, traveling, and all other kinds of extracurricular activities that keeps our summers busy, there is hardly a “normal” day. The routine of the school year is almost completely out the window for many of us. This can be a fun time but it can also be an exhausting and overstimulating time of year. That is why it is the perfect time for me to tell you about these emotional and behavioral regulation tips and strategies, and I will be diving deeper into them over the next four weeks. I hope in this episode you will:Better understand the signs of dysregulation and its impact on family dynamicsLearn how to model emotional regulation and create a calm environmentDiscover the importance of maintaining healthy authority and setting boundariesAnd, explore practical tools like positive reinforcement and teaching emotional language. Here are a few takeaways: Disregulation affects both parents and children.Recognizing signs of disregulation is crucial.Self-regulation is essential for effective parenting.Creating a calm environment can reduce disregulation.Modeling emotional regulation helps children learn.Validating emotions while maintaining respect is important.Teaching emotional language aids in communication.Establishing boundaries provides safety for children.Encouraging problem-solving fosters ownership in children.Patience and consistency are key in parenting.Grab your FREE DOWNLOAD: 10 Ways to Promote Emotional and Behavioral Regulation in Your Family You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more! 

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• From Short-Term Missions to Adoptive Mom of 15: Katie Davis Majors

  Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! In this episode, I am joined by Katie Davis Majors. You may know her as the author of “Kisses from Katie” and she is the founder of the Amazima Ministries which works to keep kids with their biological families in Uganda. Katie shares her incredible story of how God took her “Yes” and and multiplied not just her family (raising 13 adopted girls and having two biological boys with her husband) but her ministry. In our conversation, I ask Katie about how on earth she juggles fifteen kiddos and all the work she does, along with other questions about trauma, supporting those kids with resources, and what she has learned along this wild journey. Here are a few takeaways from our conversation: Katie's journey began with a mission trip to Uganda.Many children in institutional care have living relatives. These kids are living in orphanages because it can be their best option for education, meals, and healthcare but it means separation from their biological families. This broke Katie’s heart. Foster care experiences led Katie to adopting 13 children.Community support is vital in parenting and service.Learn how to say “I need help!” and not feel ashamed or embarrassed; we need each other, especially in this calling. Dependence on God is essential in parenting challenges. Connect with Katie on social mediaCheck out her websiteCheck out her book, “Kisses From Katie” Learn more about Amazima Ministries! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

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• A Conversation About Transracial Adoption with Rachel Van Kluyve

  Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! In this episode, I am joined by Rachel Van Kluyve, who is a homeschooling, book-writing, bio and adoptive mama to four kiddos! Rachel’s two adoptive daughters are both Black American which has given Rachel some interesting challenges to navigate. She realized they do not have a lot of representation, from baby dolls to storybooks, which inspired her to create her own children’s book series about two black girls. In our conversation, we unpack the unique challenges of a transracial adoption: the unsolicited questions and comments from friends, family, or people online, how to style their hair, how to incorporate their culture and affirm their identities, and more. Rachel also shares that both of these adoptions are open adoption and recommends parents consider it, even though it seems “scary.” In fact, Rachel encourages parents to consider any kind of adoption and trust the Lord will provide the child, no matter the race, gender, background, etc… Here are a few takeaways from our conversation: Understanding the Lord's sacrifice is comparable to adoption.Open adoption can provide a sense of connection for children.Faith plays a crucial role in the adoption process.Representation in children's literature is essential.Navigating criticism as a transracial family can be challenging.Building relationships with birth mothers is important for the child's identity.Every adoption story is unique and requires grace and understanding.Connect with Rachel on social mediaOr you can check out her website And pre-order her new children’s book! “Louie and La'Ree Empty the Sea (Sister Adventures)”You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!

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