May 5th was a different kind of celebration for us–Our first training event through The Sparrow Fund in collaboration with CHOP’s International Adoption Health Program.
About 100 mothers and fathers gathered to learn all about adoption related issues in the classroom–learning issues resulting from traumatic infancies in institutions or hard situations, developmental milestones and red flags and how to have a big picture view of what we might be seeing in our children, how to handle difficult assignments in school as well as simply encourage adoption and attachment awareness for the educators who work with our kids, and social issues in a school setting for both adopted children and biological children who are their siblings.
Despite some running around, I was able to take some of the training in myself, bringing home some real practical things I can do to help all my children.
But, the highlight of the day was probably in the last 20 minutes. Cheryl Nitz, founder and director of the Attachment and Bonding Center of PA, told parents that if they only remember one thing from her whole presentation to remember this–YOU are what your child most needs.
As I stood in the back and could observe everyone listening, my eyes caught one of the fathers. His wife had shared earlier how much they are struggling, how much her children are struggling. When Cheryl said that statement, this man put his arm around his wife and rubbed her back just a little. Probably no one else in the room noticed. He said no words but encouraged her perhaps more than his words could have, reminding her that she is the mother her children need, whether they realize it or not right now.
And, I was reminded of why we’re doing all this.
Thanking God for an incredible day Saturday and for all the hands involved to make it happen nearly flawlessly.
A fall training is already in the works.
And, we’re excited to see what’s next.
(photography donated by Ben Leaman, who is one of The Sparrow Fund’s partners to Build the Nest this May, mind you)
Thanks for a your hard work… Although I know it’s work your heart loves and must do..I appreciate all your time , energy and creative ways of being there for families and orphans alike!
What wonderful reminder… This mama needed to hear that too!
Love reading your account of how it all went. You had a great turnout!!
Well done.
It was an outstanding event. And you are spot on – I came home with such a new awareness of things I can be doing to minister security and confidence to all my kids. In fact, I used some of the stuff I learned to help one of my boys just yesterday to talk thru some hard things he’s facing.
I walked away feeling so encouraged that even when I don’t “do it right” the fact that I’m there every day doing SOMETHING count for ALOT with building my kids’ trust and attachment.
And I know, that I know, that I know that that is setting them up for their own healthy attachments to The Father and to the family God will give them to raise some day.
Thanks for all your hard work and organization to pull it all off!
Thank you for posting this!!! I needed to hear that statement too! It gets hard day to day but OH so worth it!!! Blessings and love! XO
ahh that brought tears to my eyes! beautiful! What an exciting thing!
great post, Kelly — your photographer is great and i wondered if he was photoing his wife as she was texting him? :)
The event was fantastic, fun, and all good things… and yes, Cheryl’s words were fantastic to wrap up the day and to give families hope… and I totally agree with TW! the reminder that while we are all learning every day how we can do it better, that ultimately just being present in our kids lives as we all “work it out” is all they need… looking forward to coordinating fall with you guys!
Kelly, I hope your “overthinking” continues leading to more and more wonderful events like this for the adoption community. I’m glad SWEET MOON BABY was a part of it. Thanks for thinking of me.