January: Parenting with Authenticity, Purpose and Joy
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
Release Date: 01/25/2024
Exploring Freedom & Confronting Hard Truths in Adoption
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
In this July episode, host April Dinwoodie explores what freedom really means in adoption - personally, politically, and emotionally. Through four powerful lessons, she unpacks the complexitites of identity access, parental responsibility, grief, and the impact of systemic injustice. As July's national celebrations unfold, this episode challenges listeners to think beyond fireworks and flags - and instead, reflect on how freedom is experienced, denied, and protected in the lives of adopted people and the families who love them.
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Celebrating the Many Hands and Hearts That Hold Us (Part Two): Honoring Fatherhood in All Its Forms
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
In this heartfelt June episode of Calendar Conversations, host April Dinwoodie continues her two-part series exploring expansive definitions of family. With Father’s Day as our guidepost, we honor the many forms of fathering that show up in the lives of adopted persons — from fathers of origin and adoptive dads to mentors, uncles, grandfathers, and beyond. April shares personal reflections on the joy and ache of Father’s Day, shines a light on the systemic erasure of fathers (especially Black fathers), and offers tangible ways adoptive parents and caregivers can foster healing, identity,...
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Celebrating the Many Hands and Hearts That Hold Us: Part One - Honoring Motherhood in its Many Forms
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
This May, we are beginning a special two-part series: Celebrating the Many Hands and Hearts That Hold Us - an exploration of what it means to honor family expansively, through the lens of adoption. In this first part of the series, we focus on Mothers’ Day - the emotions it carries, the opportunities it presents, and how adoptive parents can hold space for the many hands and hearts that are part of a child’s life. This Mother’s Day, I invite you to celebrate expansively. Hold space for complexity. Honor the many hands and hearts that shape your child's life - including your own.
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Naming the Truth: Adoption, Identity & Belonging
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
In this episode, host April Dinwoodie unpacks the power of names—those given at birth, changed by adoption, or chosen later in life—and the deep emotional weight they carry. For adopted people, names are often tied to complex layers of identity, loss, and belonging. April shares a personal story that illuminates these truths and invites adoptive parents to reflect on what their child’s name might hold, and how to honor the full journey behind it.
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March: Luck and Adoption, Blessing and Burdens
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
March is often associated with luck. For many adopted persons, we hear this word a lot, You are so lucky to be adopted.” But is adoption really about luck? Or is it about something much deeper - an experience shaped by love loss gain, and grief all at once? Join host, April Dinwoodie to uncover how luck plays a role in adoption.
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February: The Intersection of Love and Loss
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
In this February episode, host April Dinwoodie invites parents of adopted children to acknowledge the reality of loss and its impact on identity. April also allows listeners to reflect together to find a quiet yet powerful place to create space for healing the deep complexities of adoption.
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January: Honoring Family Connections
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
In this first episode of 2025 host April Dinwoodie invites adoptive families to explore the power of the calendar in creating connection, healing, and belonging. January’s theme, "Honoring Family Connections," challenges families to redefine traditions and mark time in a way that reflects their unique journey.
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December: Evolving Traditions
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
The December holidays give us an opportunity to think about traditions, tied to different cultures and religions. Regardless of what you and your family honor and celebrate, we can be inspired to take a closer look at what traditions mean to us, and how we can expand our thinking and actions. Join host, April Dinwoodie as she discusses ever evolving traditions and of course reflections on this year.
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November: Sustaining Strong & Healthy Families
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
November brings us one of the more complicated historical holidays (Thanksgiving) and for many in the US, one of the more family and food-centric. This month also brings National Adoption Awareness Month (NAAM) which can be challenging for some adopted persons. Join host, April Dinwoodie as she arranges the perfect table of questions for parents and professionals to ask themselves before setting the holiday tables this year.
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October: Revealing What’s Under the Mask
Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents
Whether you participate in Halloween or not, October 31st has many children and youth dressing up in costumes and wearing masks. But for adopted persons, mask wearing may be a year long or lifelong endeavor. Join host, April Dinwoodie as she unveils what is behind the mask that most adoptive parents and professionals don’t see.
info_outline"Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents" is an engaging and informative podcast that explores the power of utilizing the calendar as a guide to create a brighter path to inclusive parenting. Hosted by transracially adopted person and parenting coach, April Dinwoodie, this podcast aims to provide valuable insights, practical tips, and emotional support.
Through thought-provoking discussions and personal stories, "Calendar Conversations" dives into the significance of recognizing and honoring important family milestones related to the life-long adoption journey. From adoption anniversaries and birthdays to navigating days of loss, this podcast offers guidance on how to navigate these experiences with sensitivity, inclusivity, and resilience.
Listeners can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by adoptive parents and discover strategies for creating meaningful traditions and rituals that encourage a deeper sense of belonging for children and stronger family bonds. The podcast also explores the importance of self-care and provides resources for building a supportive community.
With its conversational tone and expert advice, "Calendar Conversations: A Guide for Adoptive Parents" is an invaluable resource for adoptive parents seeking guidance, inspiration, and a sense of connection. Tune in to this podcast and embark on a journey of growth, understanding, and celebration one month at a time.