Adoption, Fostering & Tea: The New Family Social Podcast

Molly and Zoe return to the podcast after they changed adoption agency during assessment.  They talk about a very bumpy family finding process and the children they're going to be matched with tomorrow.  

Changing agency and volunteering at summer camp Molly and Zoe's previous episode

Jake's daughters have different birth families to each other but both children have face-to-face contact with their birth parents.  Jake talks about how they prepared for this as a family and the challenges and benefits of this fairly uncommon arrangement.  He explains how the meetings can be emotionally charged, sometimes awkward but still beneficial for everyone.

Stuart and Bradley return to the podcast to tell us how the first year has been with their son.  They talk about attachment, nursery, bonding over time and how thrilled they are to be his parents.

Seren is an asexual, single adopter.  She has Complex PTSD due to her abusive childhood.  After years of mental health problems, she reached the end of her NHS therapy and tried to take her own life.  She was able to access more therapy which is how she realised what happiness could feel like and how she knew she wanted to adopt.  Initially, her agency didn't think she was ready but she wasn't deterred and eventually began the journey which led her to adopter a brother and sister.  She talks about how parenting her children has made her "the happiest and most fulfilled I've ever been" and how she manages triggers and challenges.

If you need someone to talk to, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit their webpage Samaritans

Stuart and Simon return, having featured on two previous podcasts.  They talk about their kids' additional needs and the laborious process of securing support for them.  They also talk about joyful family moments, including taking their Disney princess on a rollercoaster!

Previous episode here