Claim OwnershipAdoptive Mom Life | Open Adoption, Adoptive Parenting, Birth Family, Christian Community, Biblical Encouragement
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Do you struggle to find the right words to share your adopted child’s stories with them? Do you pray that your child will be able to maintain a strong relationship with their birth families? Do you worry about your child’s mental health or behavioral diagnoses? Ever feel like you’re never enough? Do you find yourself parenting from a place of fear?
I am so glad God led you here! This podcast will help you raise connected and self-aware kids, navigate their stories with love and intention, cultivate healthy, open relationships with their birth families, and guide you through seasons of mental health or trauma-related challenges, all while supporting your own needs as a mama.
Hey, I’m Carly. A believer, work-at-home-mom, wife, and adoptive mom to two amazing kids.
After a long journey with infertility, we felt the Lord calling us to adopt our children. I realized that I didn’t really know how to parent kids from hard beginnings, navigate open relationships with birth families, or handle behavioral or mental health challenges that may come our way. Not only was there not a manual for raising children, there certainly wasn’t a manual for raising adopted children. I felt alone.
Once I let go of my own plans and fully embraced God’s plans for our family, I learned to lean into Him more than myself. I learned how to communicate in a healthy way with our birth families, and I figured out ways to parent my kids that worked for their unique needs. I also learned that I need to unapologetically fill my cup so I can better pour into my kids, especially when things get tough.
I found my voice as an adoptive mom and found other adoptive moms to link arms with. I created a sounding board and support system for myself and other adoptive moms through this podcast, where I talk candidly about parenting adopted kids, and bring in experts in areas where we need the most help. I pray these honest conversations bless you as much as they’ve blessed me!
If you’re ready to...
Be the best mom you can be to your children,
Gain skills in parenting their unique needs,
Support your child’s identity and their sense of belonging in your family,
Help share their stories in an age-appropriate and supportive way,
Navigate birth family relationships for the long haul,
Fill your cup so you can be a joyful, present mom,
And trust God with the outcome of your child’s life - this podcast is for you!
Top off that iced coffee and grab a comfy seat - it’s time to dive in.
I am so glad God led you here! This podcast will help you raise connected and self-aware kids, navigate their stories with love and intention, cultivate healthy, open relationships with their birth families, and guide you through seasons of mental health or trauma-related challenges, all while supporting your own needs as a mama.
Hey, I’m Carly. A believer, work-at-home-mom, wife, and adoptive mom to two amazing kids.
After a long journey with infertility, we felt the Lord calling us to adopt our children. I realized that I didn’t really know how to parent kids from hard beginnings, navigate open relationships with birth families, or handle behavioral or mental health challenges that may come our way. Not only was there not a manual for raising children, there certainly wasn’t a manual for raising adopted children. I felt alone.
Once I let go of my own plans and fully embraced God’s plans for our family, I learned to lean into Him more than myself. I learned how to communicate in a healthy way with our birth families, and I figured out ways to parent my kids that worked for their unique needs. I also learned that I need to unapologetically fill my cup so I can better pour into my kids, especially when things get tough.
I found my voice as an adoptive mom and found other adoptive moms to link arms with. I created a sounding board and support system for myself and other adoptive moms through this podcast, where I talk candidly about parenting adopted kids, and bring in experts in areas where we need the most help. I pray these honest conversations bless you as much as they’ve blessed me!
If you’re ready to...
Be the best mom you can be to your children,
Gain skills in parenting their unique needs,
Support your child’s identity and their sense of belonging in your family,
Help share their stories in an age-appropriate and supportive way,
Navigate birth family relationships for the long haul,
Fill your cup so you can be a joyful, present mom,
And trust God with the outcome of your child’s life - this podcast is for you!
Top off that iced coffee and grab a comfy seat - it’s time to dive in.
56 Episodes
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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.
Ever feel like you’re stuck in survival mode as an adoptive mom? In this 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 tune in next week for PART 2 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.
“I just want to know that my child is going to be okay.”
If you’ve ever whispered those words, you’re not alone. As adoptive moms, our deepest desire is for our children to feel fully known, fully loved, secure in their identity, and at peace with their story. But sometimes, fear of the future sneaks in and quietly begins shaping the way we parent.
In this episode, we’re unpacking:
Why fear-based parenting shows up so often for adoptive moms
How fears about birth family history, not being “enough,” or our child feeling different can shift how we show up
The impact this has on our kids (and on us!)
A better way forward—parenting from presence, connection, and trust in God
What if instead of trying to control outcomes, we could meet our child right where they are today? What if we could release the fear and surrender their future to the God who already chose us to be their parent?
Let's keep this conversation going! If this episode resonates with you, book your coaching call with me today.
FREE coaching call application -> bit.ly/AMLcoaching (**limited time only**)
Contact - > Carly@adoptivemomlife.com
Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast
Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife
Become an Insider - > AMLInsider
It’s that time of year again….back to school!
Back-to-school season can feel like a whirlwind — new routines, new teachers, new anxieties… and that’s just for us moms! ;) For our adopted kids, this time of year can bring extra layers of worry, big feelings, and tricky transitions that other families might not experience.
But here’s the good news — we don’t have to just survive this season, we can actually create a smoother, more peaceful start to the school year, which creates a more peaceful home year-round.
So today, I’m sharing my best tips for helping your child feel prepared, starting them on the right foot each morning, partnering with their teachers, and keeping the peace at home when the school day is done.
Grab your coffee, friend, and let’s jump in.
FREE coaching call application -> bit.ly/AMLcoaching (**limited time only**)
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: Get more personalized support with a Coffee & Connection Coaching Call. A 60-minute clarity call with me, Carly, to uncover your greatest pain points and get to the next level in your adoptive parenting journey. Fill out the intake form here: bit.ly/AMLcoaching
On today's episode, we're reflecting back on summertime with our adopted kids. How did it feel? Was it relaxing, jam-packed, or slow and steady? Did you intentionally spend time connecting as a family?
If you're wrapping up summer and have just a week or two left, how can you spend it best? What kind of lasting memories do you want to leave your kids with? Let's brainstorm together in this episode and come up with a few small but impactful ways to go out with a bang.
FREE coaching call application -> bit.ly/AMLcoaching (**limited time only**)
Contact - > adoptivemomlife@gmail.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: Get more personalized support with a Coffee & Connection Coaching Call. A 60-minute clarity call with me, Carly, to uncover your greatest pain points and get to the next level in your adoptive parenting journey. Fill out the intake form here: bit.ly/AMLcoaching
Summer is a great time for snuggling up and watching family movies together. There are SO many family-friendly movies that have subtle adoption and foster themes, while others are clearly adoption-centered.
Some are heartwarming and contain deep and valuable insight about love, belonging and overcoming hardships, while others miss the mark or cause more confusion than clarity.
On today’s episode, we’re talking about a handful of family-friendly movies with foster and adoption themes AND potential triggers that I want you moms to be in-the-know about as you consider watching them with your kids.
**We’re celebrating the podcast’s ONE YEAR anniversary with a giveaway! Simply leave us a review, take a screenshot and email me the screenshot to get your entry! You could be the winner of a $25 Amazon gift card to buy or rent your own movie for your next family movie night!** Drawing ends August 6, 2025.
FREE coaching call application -> bit.ly/AMLcoaching (**limited time only**)
Contact - > adoptivemomlife@gmail.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: Get more personalized support with a Coffee & Connection Coaching Call. A 60-minute clarity call with me, Carly, to uncover your greatest pain points and get to the next level in your adoptive parenting journey. Fill out the intake form here: bit.ly/AMLcoaching
Being in community with one another is ALL over the bible. Friends, I don’t think living alongside other believers is a bonus, I think it’s part of God’s bigger picture for our lives -- for being the moms He has called us to be when He assigned us these beautiful humans to care for, shepherd and love.
If fear of all the unknowns of parenting adopted kids has held you back for too long, let me come alongside you. Let me hold space for you. Let me cheer you on and encourage you with faith-based strategies.
Click the link below to fill out an application for a FREE 60-minute coaching session. For a short time only, I have space for FIVE mamas. Let’s have coffee and connection time, adoptive mom to adoptive mom.
I’ll see you on the other side!
FREE coaching call application -> bit.ly/AMLcoaching (**limited time only**)
Contact - > adoptivemomlife@gmail.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: Get more personalized support with a Coffee & Connection Coaching Call. A 60-minute clarity call with me, Carly, to uncover your greatest pain points and get to the next level in your adoptive parenting journey. bit.ly/AMLcoaching
Do you have a group of people you’re doing life with, or are you sitting on the other side wishing you had a group of people to do life with as an adoptive parent?
Friends, what if I told you it wasn’t just “nice to have” but also biblical to live in community with likeminded people? What if I told you it would bring down your stress levels, improve the lens in which you view inevitable challenges in life, and increase your resilience to whatever adoptive parenting throws your way?
If you’re lacking a support system or other moms who just get it, stick around because we’re going to talk about 6 ways to develop a support system and community as an adoptive mom!
Contact - > adoptivemomlife@gmail.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: Get more personalized support with a Coffee & Connection Coaching Call. A 60-minute clarity call with me, Carly, to uncover your greatest pain points and get to the next level in your adoptive parenting journey. Email me at adoptivemomlife@gmail.com.
Our adopted children’s journey began long before we held them—and it’s sacred. It includes grief and beauty, pain and redemption. Some of it belongs only to them and the Lord.
In this episode, I dive into why we, as adoptive parents, share, and how we can be more mindful in what we share about our child’s story.
I also give you 4 “heart check” questions to ask yourself before sharing something that feels conflicting.
If you’re a Christian adoptive mom who wants to advocate for your child while honoring their privacy, integrity, and dignity…this episode is for you!
Contact - > adoptivemomlife@gmail.com
Podcast -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlifepodcast
Private FB Group -＞ bit.ly/adoptivemomlife
Become an Insider - > AMLInsider
Are you an adoptive mom who feels weary? Do you try to juggle everything only to be left feeling depleted?
On today’s episode, I’m giving you tips for refilling your empty cup so you can pour into your children and be the mom God has called you to be.
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Join our private community on Facebook: bit.ly/adoptivemomlife
Welcome back to Adoptive Mom Life! If you’ve been feeling a little disconnected from your child lately — especially as an adoptive parent — you are not alone.
Summer can be this open stretch of relaxing free time, but it can also bring up emotions, boredom, tricky behaviors, or dysregulation. And sometimes, summer can unintentionally be filled with too much solo time or screen time for your child.
As moms, we sometimes wonder, “Am I doing enough?” “Are we connected?” “Are there more ways I can truly connect with my child?”
On today’s episode, we’re diving into 5 fun, easy ways to connect with your child this summer — all through the lens of building trust, joy, and attachment.
These tips are designed to help you feel more bonded, laugh more, and create moments that really become memories down the road for you and your child.
And what’s more? They’re so simple! Let’s get into it.
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Join our private community on Facebook: bit.ly/adoptivemomlife
Hey mama! If you've ever felt the whisper that you're not enough, this episode is for you!
Does that mom guilt creep in more often than you’d like? From the small things, like feeding them too many chicken nuggets and not enough veggies, to the BIG stuff, like being fully responsible for their relationship with their birth families as they grow up.
As a mom, it can feel impossible to do it all sometimes and meet the needs of everyone in the home, but it can also feel like we’re simply not enough.
As an adoptive mom, sometimes the guilt or the weight is just a little bit heavier. Well friends, feeling like you aren’t enough is a lie from the enemy.
Today, I want to give you some biblical truth straight from the Word to combat the lies about your worth as a mama.
Let’s dive in!
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Join our private Facebook community: Adoptive Mom Life
It’s summertime! Maybe your kids are out of school for summer, or they’re about to be! This is when either excitement or panic sets in for you, mama!
For all of you work-at-home moms, how do you navigate a peaceful summer where they have fun, but you’re able to get actual work done, too? How can you balance your need for vocation and vacation? Your must-dos and your want-tos? Your needs and their needs?
Whether you work at home or you’re a SAHM, we’re all trying to create fun, lasting summer memories while our kids are still at home – and time with our kids living at home is fleeting! But how do we create that illusive BALANCE during summer?
On today’s episode, I share 10 fantastic tips for juggling WAHM life with kids and summertime!
Until next time, friends.
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com
Find our private community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama
Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/
Welcome to Part Two of our episode on how to support a friend who’s waiting to adopt a child. This can be a difficult journey to navigate.
The waiting, the hoping, the milestones, the holidays, baby showers, and getting your heart and home ready to welcome a child.
If you’re here, I can imagine you want to support them with love and grace, but you’re not sure how! Go back and listen to Episode 41 (as well as this one) and take some notes.
There’s a lot to unpack between these two episodes. I pray you gain new insight and wisdom to better support your loved one on this adoption journey. Kudos to you for being here for them and doing what it takes to understand the road they’re on.
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com
Find our private community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama
Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/
Do you have a friend or loved one who’s adopting a child? If so, this two-part episode is exactly what you need to show up with wisdom and kindness and support them in an intentional way.
The fact that you’re here today says a lot about how much you love your person, so first and foremost, THANK YOU for taking the time to better understand the world of adoption.
Please share this episode with friends and family who might find it helpful! As always, leave me a review so I can reach more women who are in a season of waiting to adopt or raising adopted kids.
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com
Find our private community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama
Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/
Would you consider yourself an introvert? If so, you’re in the right place!
On today’s episode, I’m talking about parenting adopted kids as an introverted mom. While it can be very challenging on the nervous system, it can absolutely be done. I’ll share some common burnout triggers for adoptive moms, along with ways to create boundaries and create time for recovery.
Believe it or not, introverted moms have so many gifts to offer their kids. We just need to find ways to charge our battery while also loving our families well. This takes intention and sometimes planning ahead.
Remember, mama, you aren’t broken. The need for alone time isn’t selfish. For the introverted mom, it’s actually survival!
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com
Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama
Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/
Today’s episode is all about open adoption and ways to stay connected with a child’s birth family. I talk about different methods for maintaining contact with your child’s birth family, and how each scenario is completely unique according to everyone’s preferences.
Whether you’re hoping to adopt and plan to have an open adoption, or you’re raising children and need to hear from someone who just GETS it, I’m here to share what our open adoptions look like in real life. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com
Find our private community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama
Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/
It’s time for another R.E.N.E.W. episode, and this time, it’s for April.
April means spring, and spring is ALL about renewal, so I can’t think of a better time to renew ourselves on this motherhood and adoption journey.
Whether you’re waiting for your family to grow or raising little ones like I am, we must keep our minds, bodies, and spirits nourished and cared for. Sometimes, that means educating ourselves and leaning into a different method of parenting, and sometimes, it simply means relaxing a bit and doing something enjoyable.
I hope you enjoy all the fun tips I have for reading, educating, nourishing, enjoying, and writing (R.E.N.E.W.).
See you next week!
Mentioned in today's episode:
Horacio Printing
The Self-Driven Child
The Calm Parenting Podcast
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com
Find our community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama
Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/
Inspired by a book and a podcast interview, I wanted to have a conversation around giving kids more control over their lives within safe and loving boundaries.
Moms, what if I told you that all kids’ and teens’ mental health issues revolve around one central theme: a low sense of control.
Clearly, there may be other factors involved, like genetics, trauma, and neurodiversity, and each child is uniquely their own person. And if you’re raising kids by adoption, there are, arguably, so many more variables.
But with today’s moms becoming more and more micromanagers and helicopter moms, it’s no wonder our kids are lacking in confidence and self-motivation.
Where can you offer more autonomy to your child today? We can start small! What can they decide for themselves within appropriate boundaries? Let’s pray over our kids, their choices, and our hearts as we let go juuuust a little.
They may fail, they may fall, but they will undoubtedly be stronger for it and learn invaluable life skills.
The Self-Driven Child book
The Gift of Failure book
Email Me: heartgrownmamapodcast@gmail.com
Check out the blog: heartgrownmama.com
Find our PRIVATE community on Facebook: Heartgrown Mama
Check out our digital adoption journal: https://heartgrownmama.com/waiting-well-journal/
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