The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast

Welcome back to Season 2! Today we are covering ways to support a foster family and their kids. This episode idea comes from Layne. Thank you, Layne! If you have ways to support a foster family that weren't mentioned, feel free to comment on the post for this episode on Instagram. My snapshot for this week involves getting some news about two of our kids and how I've been processing it. 

I am starting to work on the episode of things to NOT say to a foster or adoptive family. If someone has said something off-the-wall to you, please send it my way so it can be included! My thought process behind this episode is to not only shed light and process things that have been said, but also to explain WHY these things are inappropriate to encourage people to stop saying them. 

If you would like to connect or have an episode idea or topic, please email me @ themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com or reach out to me on Instagram.

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together we've got this mamas!

XO,

Brittany

Welcome back to Season 2! Today we are discussing contact with a child's birth family. I share what contact with one of our kid's birth family's looks like, how to set up healthy and respectful boundaries, and how to navigate contact as the child gets older. I also share how we handle only 1 of our 4 kids having contact with their birth family. My snapshot for this week involves food and I'll leave links down below to the shows I mention. 

https://www.tastemade.com/shows/linear-struggle-meals/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClOPM11kcAIYspTYqhKFCVA

Don't forget to share what your resolutions are over on the Instagram post for this episode!

If you would like to connect or have an episode idea or topic, please email me @ themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com or reach out to me on Instagram.

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together we've got this mamas!

XO,

Brittany

After a year of being away from the microphone, The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast is back for Season 2! 

Today we are discussing why we are no longer foster parents, what our lives look like now that we are on the other side of foster care, and if we have plans to continue growing our family. I also share something completely normal that stresses me out and a few funny things my youngest said this week in a new segment. 

I want to say a huge thank you to those of you who continued to follow along with the podcast even though I was MIA. Thank you for checking in on me and still listening to episodes. You are amazing and there are no words to express my appreciation. I hope Season 2 finds you well! I've missed this community and I'm so excited to be back. 

I will be checking TMFM Instagram regularly. If you would like to connect, please email me @ themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com or reach out to me on Instagram. 

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together we've got this mamas!

XO,

Brittany

Sponsorships: on for this episode

Welcome back to the final episode in season 1 of The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast! 

Today we are discussing all things trauma and the holidays. The holidays can be stressful enough as it is, especially this year! But adding trauma can make this time of year even more challenging. We discuss tips on how to help your kids through the holidays, as well as ideas on how to make this time a little more manageable as a caregiver. I also share my rose and thorn for the week! 

I want to say a huge, genuine thank you to every single person who has listened to this podcast! As I reflect on season 1 of this podcast, I still can't believe the reception it has had. Episode 15 is the last episode of this season and I plan on returning (refreshed and inspired!) for season 2 next spring. Thank you for every download, every review, every rating, and every share. Y'all really have no idea how much my podcast family means to me. I love each of you and I wish you the very best holiday season ever. 

I am still off of Instagram until at least January. If you would like to connect, please email me @ themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com. 

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together we've got this mamas! 

XO,

Brittany

Welcome back to episode 14 of the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast!

Today we are discussing ways to support your husband in your foster care journey. Too often our husbands are overlooked or forgotten about. I share ways you can make your husband feel valued and let him know his feelings are valid. I also share my roses (yes, plural!) and thorn for the week. 

If you would like to connect, please reach out to me through themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com. I am taking a sabbatical from Instagram until at least January. :)

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas! Talk to you SOON! 

Welcome back to episode 13 of the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast!

After a month-long hiatus, I catch you up on some changes in my life through a brief life update. Then, we jump into one of my favorite topics: food! We discuss how to meal-plan for changing family sizes due to foster care, meal plan tools, where to shop, some of our favorite recipes, and ladies I look up to, as well as much, much more. This was such a fun episode to record and I hope you enjoy it! 

If you would like to connect, please reach out to me through themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com. I am taking a sabbatical from Instagram until at least January. :) 

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas. Talk to you next SOON!

Resources Mentioned In this Episode:

Meal planner: https://www.amazon.com/Meal-Planner-Journal-Calendar-Planning/dp/1974561798/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=meal+planer&qid=1603846164&sr=8-15

Magnetic Calendar (*this is not our exact one, but it is similar): https://www.target.com/p/quartet-14-34-square-frameless-magnetic-dry-erase-calendar-chevron-border/-/A-80117367#lnk=sametab

Jordan Page's Website: www.funcheaporfree.com

Jamerrill Stewart's Website: www.largefamilytable.com

Homemade No-Knead Bread Recipe (*sourced from Christine @ FrugalFitMom on Youtube)

3 Cups White Flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp yeast, 1 1/2 cups warm water; stir and cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel for 8-24 hours. Roll into a ball and let dough rest for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. DO NOT spray or oil your pan! Only use flour to help with sticking. Add rested dough to the pan and cover with a lid and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Let cool before slicing. 

Welcome back to episode 12 of the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast!

This week, I am excited to welcome Cheyenne to the podcast! Cheyenne is a single foster mama and shares what she's learned fostering as a single parent. She explains the challenges she's faced as well as how to break down the common misconception that you have to have a partner to foster. If you would like to connect with Cheyenne, you can find her on Facebook @ Cheyenne Thornton. 

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can  find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at  themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com.

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast  listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this podcast to show up during searches. Thank you to everyone who has taken  the time to rate or review the show. Thank you again for listening! New episodes air every Wednesday.

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas. Talk to you next week!

Welcome back to episode 11 of the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast!

This week, we are discussing the controversial term "Gotcha Day". Not only do we break down the literal meanings, but we also look at the impact of the term on our adopted children, what to say instead, and why we should really stop using this term. I also share my embarrassing thorn for this week and a rose I am very excited about! 

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at  themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com.

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this podcast to show up during searches. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to rate or review the show. Thank you again for listening! New episodes air every Wednesday. 

Sources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-we-dont-celebrate-gotcha-day_b_57767a8de4b00a3ae4cdb5be

https://redthreadbroken.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/whats-wrong-with-gotcha-day/

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas. Talk to you next week!

Welcome back to episode 9 of the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast! 

This week, I'm welcoming back Caitlin Frost. Caitlin came on earlier in the season for Episode 3, where we talked about preparing your heart and your home for foster care and what it is like to move to a different state once you're licensed. Caitlin is a foster and adoptive mama to 5, the founder of Respite Redefined, and is super genuine and an all-around awesome person. On today's episode, Caitlin is continuing our mini-series on post-adoption depression and anxiety by sharing what her walk with PAD looked like. We also laugh a lot about the realities of post-adoption on our bodies (yes--it's a real thing!) and we share our roses and thorns from the week (I'm looking at you, Universal Thread shoes). 

Please know if you are currently struggling with PAD/PAA, you are not alone and it does not make you a bad mom. Over 26% of adoptive parents experience this. 

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com.

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this podcast to show up during searches. Thank you to everyone who has take the time to rate or review the show. Thank you again for listening! 

And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas. Talk to you next week! 

Welcome back to episode 8 of The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast! This week, we are kicking off a mini-series on post-adoption depression and anxiety. I share my personal journey with post-adoption depression and anxiety in my most vulnerable episode yet. I am actually a little nervous to even post this episode! But I know the more we talk about PADS/PAA (what an acronym, amirite?) the more awareness we will raise for the debilitating stress and depression that can sometimes come after an adoption. Know that if you are currently struggling with PADS/PAA, you are not alone and it does not make you a bad mom. In the following weeks, I hope to have more adoptive moms share their stories with PAD/PAA. 

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com. 

Sources Mentioned/Used In This Episode:

-Raise Magazine 

-https://www.postpartumdepression.org/postpartum-depression/adoption/ 

-https://www.adoptionstogether.org/blog/2013/01/07/why-arent-i-happy-recognizing-post-adoption-depression-syndrome/ 

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this  podcast to show up during searches. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to rate or review the show. Thank you again for listening! And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas. Talk to you next week!

Welcome back to episode 7 of The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast!

Last week we chatted with Valerie, who is a foster-mom-to-be in the middle of her fostering classes. I had a listener reach out and ask me about tips for navigating fostering classes and the home study process. So this week we are talking about those specific things more in detail. I share tips for making your fostering classes less stressful and how we personally prepared for our home study. Plus, I give a sneak peek to some of the questions you might be asked during your interviews. This episode is on the shorter side and I do apologize for that. I am in my second week back to work and am still adjusting. I would rather put out a shorter episode than none at all! :)

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can  find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at  themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com.

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast  listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this  podcast to show up during searches. Thank you to everyone who has taken  the time to rate or review the show.

Thank you again for listening! And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas.

Talk to you next week!

Welcome back to episode 6 of The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast!

In today's episode, I have the honor of talking to Valerie. Valerie and her husband are in the middle of their foster parenting classes and should be fully licensed this fall. We talk about foster parenting classes, how she and her husband are preparing, and we break down some common misconceptions about becoming a foster parent.

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at   themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com.

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this podcast to show up during searches. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to rate or review the show. 

You can connect with Valerie on Instagram @valeriefm80. Please lift this soon-to-be foster mama up and show her some love and support as she continues on the path to become a foster parent!

Thank you again for listening! And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas.

Talk to you next week!

Welcome back to episode 5 of The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast!

In today's episode, I am sharing 15 survival tips for foster and adoptive mamas. These are things I've learned over the years. I also share my rose and thorn from this week!

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can  find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at  themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com.

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast  listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this  podcast to show up during searches. (I am up to 6 reviews on Apple  Podcasts....can we get to 10 by August?!)

Sources Mentioned In Today's Episode:

-www.togetherwerise.org

Thank you again for listening! And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas.

Talk to you next week!

Welcome back to episode 4 of The Millennial Foster Mom Podcast! 

In today's episode, we are discussing how to talk about adoption. We cover the benefits of having an open dialogue with your child about their adoption, the correct vocabulary to use, and the importance of keeping the conversation going. We also talk about what it looks like when you have a mixture of biological, foster, or adoptive children in your home and how to navigate those conversations about adoption. The biggest takeaway from today is to just start talking to your kids about adoption! I also share my rose and thorn from this week!

Shout out to April for this episode topic! Thanks, friend!

If you have an idea for an episode or just want to connect, you can find me at The Millennial Foster Mom on Instagram or email me at themillennialfostermompodcast@gmail.com. 

Please take a minute to rate or review the podcast on your podcast listening platform! The more ratings/reviews, the easier it is for this podcast to show up during searches. (I am up to 6 reviews on Apple Podcasts....can we get to 10 by August?!)

Sources Mentioned In Today's Episode:

-"The Magic of Motherhood" https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magic-of-motherhood-ashlee-gadd/1123949227

-Coffee + Crumbs Podcast (available on Apple Podcast, but they have recently switched over to Patreon as their podcast platform.)

-"One Family" by George Shannon https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-family-george-shannon/1119966020

-Parks & Rec (2009-2015)

-Stuart Little (1999)

-https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/adoption-and-foster-care/Pages/Respectful-Ways-to-Talk-about-Adoption-A-List-of-Dos-Donts.aspx

-https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/navigating-the-adoption-journey/201703/how-and-when-discuss-adoption-your-child

Thank you again for listening! And remember, motherhood is hard no matter how you get there, but together, we've got this mamas. 

Talk to you next week!

Episode 2 is all about court hearings in foster care. We talk about how to prepare for court hearings, from what to bring with you to what to expect. You'll also learn what I WISH we would've been told during our foster parent training about court hearings. We also talk about what court hearings look like since we are in the middle of a pandemic. A new segment also makes an appearance! Please consider following the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast on Instagram and follow wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes every Wednesday. -Brittany

Episode 1 of the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast is live! What better time to start a podcast than in the middle of a pandemic? All jokes aside, foster care and adoption is something that has changed my life forever. There aren't many resources out there for foster or adoptive mamas, especially for those who are millennials. This idea is something I've turned into a passion project over the past few months and turning it into a podcast seemed like the best way to start building a community for millennial foster and adoptive voices. I'm so glad you're here! This episode talks about how we came to foster, a little about our family, and what is to come as far as episodes and topics. Please consider following the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast on Instagram and follow wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes every Wednesday. -Brittany