EPISODE 24: Joining me on this podcast episode is Jenifer Beaney - a CTC community member and a mom of four who is going to talk about her adopted 16-year-old daughter, the tough times they had at first, and how she turned it around.Before joining Jen's family, her daughter was tagged "challenging" so many times, and the people in her life just gave up on her. In just eight years, she’d been shifted through 12 placements. (Imagine how challenging that must've been, even for an adult.)She was described as more challenging than any other kid: way off track, too much to handle, a lost cause, you name it. And that came from the professionals in the system that was meant to help her.But where others gave up and turned their back, Jen was all in. She accepted the challenge and tried a different approach - the Calm the Chaos way. And guess what? It worked!Jen got through to this child, helping her feel seen, heard, and understood without trying to change who she was.Now, this teen is successfully balancing both high school and a Community College Cosmetology course. And only 9 months ago, she'd been kicked out of school.Want to hear how Jen and her daughter transformed from being near strangers - with the kid only communicating through screams - to a deeply connected parent-teen duo? Dive into this episode.Her daughter recently said: "Mom, thanks for giving me a voice." That's where their journey led. Bet you'd love to hear the whole story.Tune in now!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)The challenge of calling kids challenging (01:17)How Jen adopted her daughter (07:04)Jen’s daughter was written off by the social worker (10:54)A CTC plan that made a big difference (16:04)Special moments of connection (22:15)What to do when they can't/won’t tell you what's wrong or blame you (25:38)Removing consequences and punishments (30:09)Jen’s takeaway for a parent who has a foster or newly adopted child (35:51)Forgetting structure and rules FOR NOW (39:15)Do not ask them to share their story (43:31)Jen’s favorite resource for parenting foster or adoptive children (45:33)Additional resources:? Get your copy of Calm The Chaos Book ✨ Hear the Success Stories? Check out my website ? Check out my YouTube channel Connect with me on social media:? TikTok ? Instagram ? Facebook Calm the Chaos Parenting is a podcast offering parents practical tools and strategies to navigate the challenges of raising strong-willed, highly sensitive, and neurodivergent children.? Follow us on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode!