24| Building Bonds Beyond Blood: Katie Gibbons’ Story of Adoption and Family

Katie Gibbons, a therapist, author, and adoptive mom, describes her journey through adoption, blending families, and navigating the challenges of motherhood. Katie shares her inspiring story of adopting two boys from Belarus, the challenges of blending families, and the intentionality she brought to her parenting. She also discusses her book series, The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo, which highlights the adoption journey for kids and families. Katie’s insights offer powerful advice on resilience, connection, and self-compassion in motherhood.Key Takeaways:Blended Families Require Patience and Communication: Blending families is tough, even when everyone is excited about the new dynamic. Communication is key, and sometimes, it takes time to build the trust and bond needed.Intentional Parenting: Katie emphasizes the importance of intentionality in parenting, from building strong relationships with her adopted children to creating a cohesive family environment after remarriage.Adoption is Rooted in Trauma: Adoption, while beautiful, can also be deeply traumatic for children. Katie shares how understanding this trauma has shaped her parenting approach and helped her children process their adoption story.Representation Matters: Through her book series, The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo, Katie aims to help adopted children see themselves in the characters and normalize their experiences, while also helping all children understand adoption better.Key Quotes:“Adoption’s rooted in trauma. It’s important to recognize that, even as we celebrate the family we’ve built.” – Katie Gibbons“Intentionality in parenting is a superpower that helps us be present and connect with our kids on a deeper level.” – Katie Gibbons“I always wanted to be a parent my kids could talk to, to give them the space to share their thoughts, even if it’s hard.” – Katie Gibbons“We have to trust our kids’ voices. When they say they’re okay, sometimes we have to believe them and not push too hard.” – Katie GibbonsAbout Katie Kibort GibbonsKatie Kibort-Gibbons, an adoptee, an adoptive parent, and a licensed clinical professional counselor specializing in adoption, is an invaluable resource and advocate in the field. Her personal and professional experiences give her a unique perspective on adoption's emotional and practical aspects. Katie adopted her two children in 2001 from Belarus and credits her own adoption experience as an invaluable tool in parenting her sons. In 2023, Katie used all her knowledge and life experience to write her first published children's book, The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: We Are Brothers! This book, featuring the main characters, Bandit and Pablo, a dog and a cat who become brothers after being adopted, is not just a story. It's a resource that explores the thoughts and emotions of adopted children, making it an excellent tool for them and any kids affected by adoption, including adoptive parents, counselors, and educators.Book: The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: A children’s book series about adoption that helps adopted children see themselves in the characters, while providing education about adoption for all kids.Website: Find Katie at https://www.katiesshiningstories.com/aboutAbout Your Host:Amy Grace is the heart behind Everyday Supermoms, a podcast that inspires and empowers mothers by sharing diverse stories of resilience and connection. As a licensed therapist, she supports moms through all stages of motherhood with transformative therapy intensives and signature courses like The Motherhood Mindset Reset and Create Your Own Motherhood. A mom of six, Amy draws from her own journey—from single parenting to blended families—to create a community where mothers can embrace their unique paths with confidence and grace.For More Info and your FREE Embracing Your Inner Supermom Workbook visit www.everydaysupermoms.com