Amanda Preston shares her journey of becoming a mom to eight amazing children through foster care and adoption. Amanda, a social worker, discusses the ups and downs of adopting children, including those with special needs and prenatal drug exposure. She opens up about the challenges she faced, including navigating the foster care system, dealing with neurodivergent diagnoses like ADHD and autism, and the emotional toll of loving children with uncertain futures. Despite the struggles, Amanda and her husband have built a loving, thriving family. She also shares her insights on how to support foster and adoptive parents, how to get involved in adoption, and how to find resources for families navigating these journeys.
Keywords: Adoption, Foster care, Parenting special needs, Neurodivergent children, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Prenatal drug exposure, ADHD, Autism, Foster parenting, Adoption journey, Social worker, Parenting challenges, Foster care resources, Foster care advocacy, Neurodivergent parenting, Parenting support, ADHD parenting, Foster care education, Adoption resources
Key Takeaways:
The Importance of Foster and Adoptive Parents: Amanda emphasizes the crucial role of foster parents in providing love and stability for children in need.
Navigating Trauma and Neurodivergence: Amanda’s journey highlights the importance of trauma-informed parenting, particularly for kids with neurodivergent brains or prenatal exposure.
Mindset Shifts: Through her experiences, Amanda stresses the need for flexibility and a willingness to learn as a parent, especially when caring for children from challenging backgrounds.
Building Community: Finding a supportive community is vital for foster and adoptive parents. Amanda shares her experience of connecting with others in the neurodivergent and foster care communities.
How to Get Involved: Amanda provides valuable information on how individuals can support the foster care and adoption process, whether through fostering, adopting, or supporting foster parents in other ways.
Key Quotes:
“You don’t have to be a superhuman to be a foster parent, just someone who is willing to love and learn.” – Amanda Preston
“Love is not enough. You need to be open to continuous learning when parenting children from trauma.” – Amanda Preston
“There’s over 100,000 kids in the U.S. and 30,000 in Canada waiting to be adopted. Your heart could be the home they’re waiting for.” – Amanda Preston
“It’s not about having the perfect house or the perfect life, it’s about making a difference in the life of a child who needs you.” – Amanda Preston
“Foster care and adoption aren’t easy, but the rewards are priceless. It’s worth every bit of struggle.” – Amanda Preston
About Amanda Preston
Amanda Preston is a registered social worker, author, and mother to 8 neurodivergent children. She is the founder of a national nonprofit supporting the adoption/fostering community, and is the CEO of a multidisciplinary mental health clinic supporting neurodivergent families and specializing in Autism and PDA. She left the big city behind 3 years ago and started a homestead with her husband and 8 kids!
www.instagram.com/the_neurodivergent_bunch
www.instagram.com/thefostermomsocialworker
Her book : Foster Parent Collaboration
About Your Host:
Amy Gra
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