Parenting Tips – Page 2 – Wishing Well Families

Why is the 10-minute warning so important?

April 11, 2018 by Linda Michie

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services Imagine this: You are at the best concert of your life. The music is perfect. They are playing your favorite songs. Your best friends bought you the tickets for your birthday and it’s pretty much the best time you ever had. … [Read more…]

Does your child have steady positive input?

April 4, 2018 by Linda Michie

Positive Input Tips from Wishing Well Families, Virginia Beach

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services So many parents tell me that they spend their days telling their children “don’t do this”, “stop that”, “cut it out or you’re going to your room”. This is a steady stream of negative attention that teaches our children if they … [Read more…]

Let’s talk about consequences…

March 28, 2018 by Linda Michie

Parenting Tips and Consequences by Wishing Well Families, Virginia Beach

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services With great wisdom, we, as a culture, have begun to move away from punishment as the main staple of parenting. We’ve moved almost entirely away from corporal punishment, having learned that this was a least effective way to change behavior and … [Read more…]

Are we celebrating the good things?

March 21, 2018 by Linda Michie

Celebrating the Right Things - Positive Reinforcement in Parenting from Wishing Well Families Adoption and Family Services

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services What I mean is, in our day to day parenting, are we making a big deal out of the really important things we want our children to learn? What ARE the most important things we want our children to learn? Kindness? … [Read more…]

Do our children have the right amount of autonomy?

February 21, 2018 by Linda Michie

Children Need Autonomy - Wishing Well Adoption and Family Services

by Linda Michie, Executive Director and Founder at Wishing Well Adoption & Family Services From birth to adulthood, we teach our children skills. We clap when our baby first holds a spoon. We cheer them on when they participate in sports. We warn them of the incredible responsibility of their driver’s license. If we’re really … [Read more…]

"Linda, from Wishing Well Families, was wonderful to work with. My husband and I were, of course, nervous going into the home study process for the first time. Linda made the process easy and smooth. She was really helpful in teaching us what was needed instead of what we were lacking. She has a pleasant and caring demeanor that eases all the anxiety. We couldn't have been more pleased with choosing her."

- Home Study Client

"Linda, from Wishing Well Families, was wonderful to work with. My husband and I were, of course, nervous going into the home study process for the first time. Linda made the process easy and smooth. She was really helpful in teaching us what was needed instead of what we were lacking. She has a pleasant and caring demeanor that eases all the anxiety. We couldn't have been more pleased with choosing her."

- Home Study Client

"When going through the adoption process, it can seem difficult, slow-moving, and overwhelming. Wishing Well eased those feelings, made us comfortable and assured us that we were not alone. Because our experience was so positive, we continue to recommend Wishing Well to our friends and family going through similar experiences.

- Adoption Client

"My husband and I have had the dream of adopting a child from foster care for years but had no idea where to begin and were very intimidated by the notion. We’ve been so blessed to have Linda working with us. She has helped in giving her sound advice and input from her years of experience, not only has a social worker but a foster parent herself."

- Adoption Client

"My daughter absolutely loves Miss Linda. She is wonderful with kids and really cares for your child. She is always looking out for what's best for the kids and super easy to work with. We are very happy with Linda."

- Supervised Visitation Client

"Wishing Well provided unique guidance, support, and an educational foundation to help or family navigate through many challenges. I highly recommend Wishing Well Families to anyone seeking parental support, supervised visitation, or a change in their family dynamic."

- Parenting Coaching Client

"My experience with Wishing Well Families has been filled with an atmosphere of professionalism, heartfelt kindness, and numerous opportunities for growth as a parent."

- Parenting Coaching Client

"She single-handedly gave me something that I thought I had lost. Hope."

- Parenting Coaching Client

"Linda did an excellent job helping us adopt our son. She was so caring, compassionate, and professional. Her heart is definitely for helping the children. She was a great help to get our son safely secured into his forever home with us as swiftly as possible."

- Adoption Client

"Linda is prompt, efficient, whip-smart, and caring. You will find no better advocate in your adoption journey than Linda Michie."

- Adoption Client

"She was always very professional and confident during supervised visitation. I was comfortable with her communication and responsiveness and her interactions with my child. I always felt that she had my child's best interest as her top priority regardless of what was occurring between me and my spouse."

- Supervised Visitation Client

We fondly call Linda, "Coach Linda." She successfully guided us through a difficult adoption journey, providing us with advice as we transitioned from an infant placement to an older sibling group adoption. Her unwavering commitment to high standards during the process combined with sound advice and a nurturing personality gave us the assurance to make the best decisions for our family. With Wishing Well Families, our adoption was completed ethically and professionally. After our placement, our daughter asked, "Mommy, what do you wish for now when you throw a penny in the fountain because your wish came true – you have us." Linda makes family's wishes come true every day.

- Adoption client