ADOPTION STRUGGLES AND SUPPORT | Adoption Trauma, Parenting Guides, Biblical Encouragement, Respite, Anxiety Bible Verses

Tim Maudlin, Adoptive Parent, Adoption Life Coach
  • 4.9 (85)
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The Go-to Podcast for Struggling Adoptive Parents Who Need Biblical Encouragement In Their Parenting Journey! **Top 2% Globally Ranked Podcast** **Top 15 Best Adoptive Mom Podcast – MillionPodcasts ** **Top 50 Christian Parenting Podcast** Did you finally realize your dream of having a family only to have your happily ever after turn into a nightmare? Are you constantly second-guessing your parenting, anxious about whether your child will make good choices and remain faithful? Have you neglected yourself to the point that it’s taken a personal toll on you? If you’re a struggling adoptive parent searching for answers in your parenting journey, you’re in the right place. Hi Neighbor, Welcome to Adoption Struggles and Support. I’m Tim, an adoptive parent, adoption life coach, and ambassador of encouragement. I too felt the joy of having a family of my own, and I wish we could be like other families. But I found myself up late at night, anxious about my adopted child’s future and asking myself, will my child be okay? Where did I go wrong? It was only by grabbing a lifeline from God and my friends that I was able to navigate the challenges of adoptive life. And now I can’t wait to share everything I’ve learned with you. My mission is to teach Christian adoptive parents how to be okay even when their kids aren’t by anchoring them in biblical principles. If you’re ready for real and raw talk with strategies that lead to peace beyond comprehension, so you not only survive, but thrive in life’s storms, this podcast is for you. Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim Connect: tim@anchorsofencouragement.com Community: https://timsuggests.com/community

  1. 5D AGO

    229 – Permission to Pause: Stillness for Adoptive Parents in the Psalms

    Have you ever sensed in your body that you’ve reached your limit—before your mind was ready to admit it? 💭 Hi Neighbor, In today’s episode, we slow down together and explore a truth many adoptive parents know deep down but rarely give themselves permission to embrace: your body often recognizes the need for stillness long before your mind accepts it. 🕊️ If you’re walking through a difficult season—feeling heavy, drained, or overwhelmed—this conversation is an invitation to pause, step back, and show yourself grace. 🤍 Drawing from Psalms 46 and 121, I share how God’s unchanging presence gives us permission to be still, even when our homes, our hearts, or the world around us feel chaotic. ✝️ In this episode, you’ll hear: 🌿 Why your body may be signaling that it’s time to slow down and be still ⚓ How Psalm 46:10 anchors us in God’s sovereignty during life’s storms  🌙 The comfort of knowing the One who watches over you never sleeps (Psalm 121) 📖 Practical examples of stillness: quiet walks to journaling to embracing silence 📝 A simple “Daily Doable” to help you create space for rest and reflection Stillness is not weakness. It is trust. It is surrender. It is an anchor in the storm. You are not alone in this journey. 🤝 Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s have a one-on-one conversation where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

    13 min

  2. FEB 7

    228 – Life Is More Interesting When You’re Happy — Even With Cancer!

    Have you ever faced a moment as a parent when everything changes in an instant? 💔 Hi Neighbor, Today’s episode is a little different than what you’re used to hearing here. Like Episode 16, this is a t-shirt story—where something ordinary ends up carrying extraordinary meaning. But while Episode 16 focused on a natural disaster, today’s story is deeply personal. It’s about a young girl and her battle with cancer—and a perspective that far exceeded her years. Joining me today is my neighbor and brother Simon Harris. He’s going to share a story that has inspired my family and me, and I believe it will inspire you too. In this episode, you’ll hear: 💪 How Kelsey faced cancer with courage beyond her years 👕 The story behind the T-shirts that became a symbol of hope ❤️ How her perspective influenced her parents and everyone she touched 🌟 Lessons on choosing joy and making a lasting impact, no matter the circumstances Kelsey’s life reminds us that even in the hardest storms, perspective and joy can ripple far beyond what we ever imagine. 💖 Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S. See the T-Shirt inspired by her quote.  And see Kelsey’s grave marker. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s have a one-on-one conversation where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

    35 min

  3. JAN 31

    227 – Drowning as an Adoptive Parent? Simple Tools to Regulate Yourself (with Crystal Luke Worrall)

    Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your own emotions as an adoptive parent — unsure how to calm yourself down or pick yourself back up when the weight feels like too much? Hi Neighbor, For many Christian adoptive parents, the challenge goes beyond supporting a child through trauma; it’s learning how to regulate yourself when the demands of parenting feel overwhelming 💔😮‍💨 In today’s episode, I’m joined once again by my neighbor from London, Crystal Luke Worrall. Crystal is a music therapist, EMDR practitioner, and clinical supervisor specializing in helping children and families heal from early trauma 🧠🎶 In previous episodes, Crystal shared powerful insights on EMDR and music therapy for adopted children. This time, the focus shifts to you — the adoptive parent 🤍 Together, we explore what emotional regulation actually looks like in real life and why adoptive parents are not meant to do this alone. 🤝 We talk through practical, body-based tools to help you calm down when anxiety or anger runs high, as well as strategies to gently activate yourself when sadness, numbness, or low energy take over. In today’s conversation, we explore: 🤝 Why adoptive parents are not meant to regulate alone and how co-regulation supports healing 🧺 The “emotional laundry” analogy and how naming emotions reduces overwhelm ⏸️▶️ How to tell whether you need to slow down or speed up emotionally 🌬️ Simple grounding and breathing techniques that help calm anxiety and bring clarity ⏰ The role of intentional self-check-ins and routines in long-term regulation 🏡 Why regulating yourself creates safety and steadiness for your entire family If you’ve ever felt unsure how to manage your own emotions while caring for a child with big feelings, this episode offers practical hope. You are not alone in this journey. Support, tools, and understanding are available 🙏 Learning to care for yourself is not a weakness, but a vital part of caring for your family 💛 Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s have a one-on-one conversation where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through. Connect with Crystal: Website: https://www.clapandtoot.com/ Email: crystal@clapandtoot.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-luk/ Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always consult your healthcare provider with your health questions and concerns. As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.

    39 min

  4. JAN 24

    226 – The Dangerous Lie Adoptive Parents Believe — 7 Truths That Change Everything

    Have you ever felt completely alone in your adoption journey — like no one truly understands what you’re carrying or the struggles you’re facing? 💭 For many Christian adoptive parents, the hardest part isn’t just managing behaviors or navigating trauma. It’s the loneliness. The quiet fear. The anxiety that creeps in during sleepless nights. The constant questions: Will my child be okay? Did I do something wrong? What does their future hold? Hi Neighbor, In today’s episode, I share a powerful childhood story that shaped how I understand loneliness, perseverance, and what it truly means to be “all alone.” From watching Secretariat run the Belmont Stakes to walking through the hardest seasons of our own adoption journey, I explore how isolation can feel overwhelming — and why it doesn’t have to stay that way. My wife and I know firsthand what it’s like to believe you’re the only ones going through this. We carried anxiety, negativity, crisis, heaviness, overwhelm, and exhaustion — until we realized something life-changing: we were not alone! In this episode, I introduce a simple, practical exercise built around the word ANCHOR — a way to name what you’re feeling, touch the hard emotions, and begin replacing isolation with hope, healing, and connection. In today’s conversation, we explore: 💔 Why loneliness feels so heavy for adoptive parents  🌪️ How anxiety, overwhelm, and crisis often grow when we feel isolated ✍️ A simple writing exercise that helps identify emotional weight and invite healing 🤝 How community, connection, and faith help replace fear with hope  ⚓ Why grabbing hold of an anchor can change the way you walk through adoption trauma If you’re feeling alone, overwhelmed, or exhausted by the emotional weight of adoption, my prayer is that today’s episode reminds you of this truth: you are not alone 🙏 There is hope. There is healing. And there is support waiting for you 🌿 Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s have a one-on-one conversation where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

    18 min

  5. JAN 17

    225 – Calm in the Chaos? A Hope-Filled Practice for Anxious Adoptive Parents

    Have you ever found yourself wondering whether you made the right choice as a parent—especially when loving your child means making decisions that feel heartbreaking, confusing, or impossible to explain? 💭 For many Christian adoptive parents, the struggle isn’t just managing behavior or circumstances, it’s learning how to find calm when everything around you feels chaotic. How do you hold steady when fear, guilt, and uncertainty all collide at once? ✨ Hi Neighbor, Today’s episode goes back to the very beginning of this podcast. I’m revisiting the opening lines from Episode One, words that still give me chills because they carry the weight of one of the hardest seasons my wife Mary Beth and I have ever walked through. They come from the moment we left our son at residential treatment, carrying questions we couldn’t answer and fears we couldn’t escape: Would he hate us for loving him this much? Would he see this as the ultimate act of betrayal? Would he embrace the help we had finally found for him? What we knew was simple and devastating all at once, our son needed help that our love alone couldn’t give. I revisit these words not to relive the pain, but so I can sit with you in yours. In this episode, I share how that chaotic season—one later shaped by the realities of adoption trauma, became the place where I learned how to find calm in the chaos.  I introduce a simple, practical practice that helped ground me when everything felt overwhelming: becoming a “copycat.” In today’s conversation, we explore: ❓ What chaos really feels like for adoptive parents living with constant uncertainty 🌀 Why chaos feels inescapable when we only see confusion, fear, and endless storms ✍️ How slowing down with pen and paper can help calm the nervous system 📖 Why copying words rather than trying to “fix” feelings can bring peace 🌿 Why focusing on comforting words helps move you from chaos to calm If you’re carrying anxiety, questioning your decisions, or feeling like the storms in your home never stop, my prayer is that this episode reminds you that you are not failing and you are not alone. There is a way to experience calm, even here. 🙏✨ Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s have a one-on-one conversation where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

    12 min

  6. JAN 9

    224 – Does God Really Want You to Adopt? How to Trust Him When You’re Not Sure

    Have you ever found yourself wondering whether adoption is really what God wants for you especially after so many no’s, delays, or painful moments that leave you questioning everything? 💭 For many Christian adoptive parents, the struggle isn’t just about the process of adoption, it’s about learning how to trust God when the path forward feels unclear. How do you keep moving forward when faith and fear collide? ✨ Hi Neighbor, Today’s episode comes straight from the heart. I’m responding to a question shared inside our adoptive parent community, one that my wife Mary Beth and I know all too well: “We’re struggling with trusting that adoption is what God wants for us.” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In this episode, I share parts of our own adoption journey, the doubts, the disappointments, the no’s, and the moments when we wondered if we had misunderstood God entirely.  I also share the story of a phone call we almost missed… a moment that became one of the clearest clues that God was at work, even when we couldn’t see the full picture. In today’s conversation, we explore: ❓ Why even faithful Christian couples struggle to trust God in adoption 📖 What the story of Gideon teaches us about asking God for reassurance 🧩 How God often provides “clues” instead of full answers 📞 The adoption phone call we were seconds away from missing—and why it mattered 🌱 How to trust God when you can only see one step ahead 📜 Why Proverbs 3:5–6 is an anchor verse for uncertain seasons In Scripture, we see a God who meets His people in their doubt, provides reassurance, and continues to guide them forward with patience and grace. 🌿 If you’re wrestling with trust, feeling worn down by the ups and downs of adoption, or wondering whether God really has this, I pray this episode reminds you that He sees the whole picture, even when you can only see the next step. 🙏✨ Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s have a one-on-one conversation where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

    14 min

  7. JAN 2

    223 – Can Listening Really Bring Peace to Adoptive Parents?

    How can adoptive parents experience peace in their lives? I believe it can be as simple as learning to listen.  Hi Neighbor, Some of the questions I hear most often from other adoptive parents sound like this: ❓ How do you keep going when it feels overwhelming? 🌫️ How do you navigate the challenges, uncertainty, and weight of this journey? 💔 And especially this one… how can you be okay even when your kids aren’t? More than 25 years into this journey, the lessons I carry were shaped by: 🌙 Sleepless nights ⛈️ Hard seasons 🌿 Unexpected moments of quiet grace Those are the stories I want to share with you. I want to begin with something many adoptive parents are longing for but often feel is missing: 🕊️ Peace So the question becomes: How can adoptive parents experience peace in their lives? I believe it can be as simple as learning to listen. Anchors of hope and healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim 💙 P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Book your anxiety management call with me today where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email to tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 And, if you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

    7 min

  8. 12/25/2025

    222 – Is Attachment Really the Root Issue in Adoption? (with Dr. Ray Guarendi)

    Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the behavioral challenges that can come with adoption wondering if love alone is enough? 💙
 When discipline feels like a daily battle and progress comes slower than expected, many adoptive parents quietly ask, “Am I doing this right?” 💭 Hi Neighbor, Today’s episode brings you the second half of a rich and honest conversation with adoptive father, clinical psychologist, and speaker Dr. Ray Guarendi. In this practical and encouraging discussion, Dr. Ray speaks directly to the realities adoptive parents often aren’t prepared for, discipline struggles, trauma-based behaviors, attachment concerns, and the perseverance required to parent children with complex histories. In Part One (Episode 221), Dr. Ray shared his family’s adoption journey, why he and his wife kept saying yes, and the often-unspoken realities of trauma histories, prenatal exposure, and safety concerns. In this episode, we move into the how of parenting:
 How do you discipline a child whose wiring is different?
 How do you balance firm standards with deep affection?
 And how do you persevere when attachment and bonding don’t happen on your timeline? Dr. Ray offers calm, confidence-building wisdom rooted in both professional experience and decades of parenting ten adopted children. This is an episode you may want to listen to with a pen and paper nearby. Together, we explore how to: 
🧭 Lead with calm, confident authority instead of power struggles and nagging
 🛠 Understand why some children need repetition, structure, and perseverance not quick fixes 🤍 Balance increased discipline with increased affection, reassurance, and one-on-one time
 🌱 Reframe attachment struggles by understanding trauma, prenatal exposure, and lived experience
 🕊 Persevere through hard seasons without lowering standards or losing hope Toward the end of the episode, we address common misconceptions around birth family reunions, attachment timelines, and the cultural messages that can quietly undermine an adopted child’s sense of belonging. At the close of the episode, I share a Biblical principle that has guided my own adoption journey: Practicing Pure and Undefiled Religion from James 1:27.  If you’ve ever questioned your approach to discipline, worried about attachment, or needed reassurance that perseverance truly matters, this episode will strengthen and steady your heart.💙 Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor,
 Tim 💙 P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s have a one-on-one conversation where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey. 👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙 If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through. Connect with Dr. Ray: Website Facebook Instagram Book – Adoption: Should You, Could You, and Then What?

    26 min
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The Go-to Podcast for Struggling Adoptive Parents Who Need Biblical Encouragement In Their Parenting Journey! **Top 2% Globally Ranked Podcast** **Top 15 Best Adoptive Mom Podcast – MillionPodcasts ** **Top 50 Christian Parenting Podcast** Did you finally realize your dream of having a family only to have your happily ever after turn into a nightmare? Are you constantly second-guessing your parenting, anxious about whether your child will make good choices and remain faithful? Have you neglected yourself to the point that it’s taken a personal toll on you? If you’re a struggling adoptive parent searching for answers in your parenting journey, you’re in the right place. Hi Neighbor, Welcome to Adoption Struggles and Support. I’m Tim, an adoptive parent, adoption life coach, and ambassador of encouragement. I too felt the joy of having a family of my own, and I wish we could be like other families. But I found myself up late at night, anxious about my adopted child’s future and asking myself, will my child be okay? Where did I go wrong? It was only by grabbing a lifeline from God and my friends that I was able to navigate the challenges of adoptive life. And now I can’t wait to share everything I’ve learned with you. My mission is to teach Christian adoptive parents how to be okay even when their kids aren’t by anchoring them in biblical principles. If you’re ready for real and raw talk with strategies that lead to peace beyond comprehension, so you not only survive, but thrive in life’s storms, this podcast is for you. Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor, Tim Connect: tim@anchorsofencouragement.com Community: https://timsuggests.com/community

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