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 @ [email protected] 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 @ [email protected] 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 @ [email protected] 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 @ [email protected].  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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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  [email protected]. 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  [email protected]. 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 10 of the Millennial Foster Mom Podcast! This week is the final episode in our mini-series on post-adoption depression and anxiety. For the third and final episode for this series, I knew I had to have Amanda McWhirter on the podcast to share her story. I reached out to Amanda after finding her through an Instagram hashtag for PADS/PAA about a year or so ago. I would say messaging a complete stranger about what I was going through was definitely one of my more vulnerable moments in my walk with PADS/PAA. Amanda has held a special place in my heart ever since! She has an amazing story of redemption in her walk with PADS/PAA. She is a special needs mom who has also experienced an international adoption. I am so excited for you to hear her story! Connect with Amanda on Instagram @amanda.mcw. 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  [email protected]. 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! Amanda's PADS Instagram Post https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp_RBlYHN10/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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 [email protected]. 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!