Supervised Visitation Details

Supervised Visitation Details by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services LLC Supervised Visitation is usually ordered by a judge. Often, judges order supervision when a parent has made some serious parenting mistakes and the judge wants to ensure the child’s safety while keeping the parent-child bond intact. Sometimes … [Read more…]

The Problem of Overpraising

Advice about overpraising - Wishing Well Family Services - Virginia Beach

The Problem of Over-Praising by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder of Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services We all know what it feels like to go without praise. It’s a basic human need to be acknowledged by our people, to hear that we are ok, to every-so-often hear admiration from another. Praise your children … [Read more…]

Respond v. React

Appropriate to respond or react? - Wishing Well Family Services - Virginia Beach

Respond v. React by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services For the purpose of this line of thinking, let’s define reacting as something you do in the moment without thinking about it first. People say “knee-jerk-reaction” referring to the involuntary movement of your leg when your doctor hits … [Read more…]

What is a Home Assessment?

by Linda Michie Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services What is a Home Assessment? A Home Assessment is a snap-shot of a family and their living arrangements. It’s a one-visit tour of your home and interview with each household member. Pictures are taken and a summary report is sent to … [Read more…]

MAKING children behave!

Helping Children Behave - Wishing Well Family Services - Virginia Beach

Making Children Behave by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder of Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services You can’t make children behave. You can’t really make anybody do anything. You can inspire them. You can teach them the benefits of being good. You can set a good example. You can reward them when they are … [Read more…]

All you need is love… right?

Love is not enough. Parenting advice from Wishing Well Family Services - Virginia Beach

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services All you need is love . . . right? Wrong. You need skills. Parenting skills. In my work I have supervised hundreds of parents who have had problems with the courts, and Child Protective Services because they mistreated their children. They … [Read more…]

Safe Sleeping

Safe Sleeping advice from Wishing Well Family Services - Virginia Beach

Sleeping with Baby by Linda Michie Executive Director and Founder of Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services This will be the most important blog I ever write. Please help me share this information any chance you get with anyone who will listen. Last year 37 healthy babies died, in Hampton Roads alone, due to Sudden … [Read more…]

Setting Clear and Simple Expectations

Setting Expectations - Parenting advice from Wishing Well Family Services - Virginia Beach

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services Many years ago I attended a wonderful training to become a mediator. During the training, the instructors had us play a card game. No one was allowed to talk. They gave us written instructions for the game with a point value … [Read more…]

Heal Yourself

Tips on Healing Yourself - Wishing Well Adoption and Family Services, Virginia Beach

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services If at all possible, before you have children, heal yourself. If you already have children, start today. Deal with your old hurts and resentments. Put to rest your old pain, family grudges, and childhood disappointments. Pack up your past and throw … [Read more…]