Real World Parenting

All behavior comes from the brain. I used to think that was reductionist. But in this episode we talk about trauma, attachment loss, the brain and the connection between these things and behavior. If we don't understand trauma and brain science, many children and parents experience blame, shame and failure. In reality, many trauma responses and challenging behaviors are a sign of growth. Superhero...

The voices of first/birth parents, sadly, are rarely heard in the mainstream media related to adoption. This week on the Real World Parenting Podcast, Dr. Laura Anderson brings on Susan Dusza Guerra Leksander, LMFT to discuss navigating the power dynamics in adoptive families, dealing with the trauma that is inherent in the adoption process, and so much more. They touch on the fears involved in ge...

This week's guest is Author and Training Specialist at the Center for Adoption Support and Education, Tony Hynes. Dr. Laura and Tony share a conversation on his experience as an adoptee with two mothers and existing in the space in between, often referred to dueling loyalty. Growing up in this unique circumstance, sometimes it is easy to focus only on one side of the coin when it comes to the chal...

With the holiday season in full gear, you may notice a spotlight on shifting expectations and dysregulated behaviors. This time can be a reminder of loss, grief and the complex mixed feelings for many adoptees. Dr. Laura Anderson brings on Mike Berry to share tools you can use to navigate this stressful time of year. Mike Berry is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Honestly Adoption, a virtual support,...

This week on the Real World Parenting podcast, Dr. Laura Anderson continues her conversation from last episode with Mark Hagland on intersecting identities of being LGBTQ+ and a transracial adoptee. Mark Hagland shares how learning about and engaging with the complexities in his identity have deepened his thoughtfulness, compassion, and vision. He explains the phrase he coined, "Don't tragedize yo...

Love alone is not enough to protect your transracially adopted child from the difficulties they will face. This episode aims to highlight strategies for raising children with intersecting identities, and shed light on the resources that are available today. In this episode of the Real World Parenting podcast, Dr. Laura Anderson brings on a special guest to discuss the intersecting identities of be...

Dr. Laura Anderson brings on Beth Wheeler for a long overdue conversation. The two join together in discussing whiteness and the anti-racist work that we, as White people, need to be doing. Dr. Laura and Beth identify the common roadblocks people face in their anti-racist work and what keeps White people from speaking up. This episode will give you the tools you need to move forward on your own so...

This week Dr. Gamby joins Dr. Laura to discuss things to look for if you’re wondering whether or not your child may have autism. If your child does have a pattern of developmental differences, it is important to intervene early. Dr. Gamby highlights steps to take to ensure your child's needs are being met. Tanya Gamby, Ph. D. is a Hawaii licensed psychologist and a past President of the Hawaii Psy...

Welcome to Part 2 of the Sensory Processing and Adoptive Parenting episode. In Part 1, Dr. Laura Anderson shares why your child's sensory needs are important and how to identify sensory processing issues. Part 2 focuses on a deeper dive of how to make this work for you on a daily basis. Pause for a moment right now and consciously become aware of what you're seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting;...

This week Dr. Laura Anderson shares part 1 of her 2 part episode on sensory processing. Sensory processing refers to the way our bodies take in, and sort, the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches in the world around us. Dr. Anderson has seen daily lives in families change dramatically when parents understand sensory processing issues, and the way they impact a child's behavior. These episod...

Very often we're afraid we're going to say something wrong- therefore we say nothing at all. We forget that silence leaves an impact too. In this episode of Real World Parenting, Dr. Laura Anderson brings on the esteemed Beth Hall to share her expertise on having concrete conversations about race with your transracially adoptive child. Beth Hall is an adoption educator who co-founded Pact, An Adop...

Dr. Laura Anderson invites April Dinwoodie to the mic in this week's episode of The Real World Parenting Podcast. April Dinwoodie is an accomplished corporate marketing and branding professional turned nationally-recognized voice on adoption, foster care, and multiracial/multicultural families. From creating a mentoring program for youth in foster care to becoming the CEO of the Donaldson Adoption...

With the back to school season upon us, there is a lot of trepidation, fear, dread, and excitement about the return to school. To help mitigate all these feelings, Dr. Laura Anderson has brought on guest Debbie Reber: parenting activist, New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the founder of TiLT Parenting, a top podcast, community, and educational resource for parents raising diff...

This week Dr. Laura Anderson brings back Katie Wynen, MSW, a transracial, international Colombian adoptee with a Masters in Social Work, to continue last episode's conversation. Katie has worked with members of the adoption triad since 2006. She works with families who are looking to adopt, providing education and preparation locally and nationally for families. This episode jumps right back in wh...

Too often, conversations about adoption are parent-centered and from the perspective of parents. This can be quite harmful for adoptees and adoptive families. This episode features a transracial adoptee who offers a well rounded perspective of adoption. Katie Wynen, MSW, is a transracial, international Colombian adoptee, with a Masters in Social Work. Katie has worked with members of the adoption...

This week, Dr. Laura is joined by a dear friend and strong wealth of knowledge, Kwame Abernathy, JD. Kwame is the youngest child of two modern-day civil rights activists, Juanita Jones Abernathy and Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy. Kwame received all that he is the honest way: he inherited it. An upbringing stressing honesty, education and dedication to a movement for equality and human rights, he...

Dr. Laura Anderson is joined by Dr. Cedric L. Alexander in this week’s episode about speaking with kids about police violence and racism. Dr. Cedric L. Alexander Psy. D. is a law enforcement expert with over 40 years of experience in public safety. He has appeared on national media networks to provide comment on police-community relations and as a CNN law enforcement analyst. He is a former Nation...

Board certified clinical psychologist and professor Dr. Kim Finney joins Dr. Laura Anderson to talk about the experiences that Black children have in predominantly White educational institutions. Sharing wisdom from her decades of professional experience, and as a Black woman and mother, Dr. Finney offers a formula for inoculating Black children against the harm they face in predominantly White in...

Dr. Laura S. Anderson is a child and family psychologist with decades of working with kids, teens and families. In this introductory episode Dr. Anderson sets the stage for her approach of combining decades of experience working with kids and families in schools and offices, with lessons learned on her living room couch as a parent. Dr. Anderson makes child psychology accessible to parents and pro...