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?