04/28/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B2rPW77su/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Did you know that trauma can leave a biological imprint—not just on the person who experiences it, but on their children & even grandchildren?
Epigenetics is the science of how our environment & experiences can influence the way our genes function. It doesn’t change our DNA itself, but it can affect whether certain genes are “turned on” or “turned off.”
I have started learning more & for our foster & adopted kiddos, this matters more than many of us realize. If a birth mom experienced chronic stress, abuse, substance use or malnutrition, those experiences may have left biological marks on her DNA—& those marks can shape how her baby’s body & brain respond to the world.
It can impact how a child handles stress, how their brain develops, how their immune system functions & even their risk for mental or physical health challenges.
This doesn’t mean they’re broken—but it does mean that their bodies & brains may have been wired for survival from the very beginning.
Here’s the good news: epigenetics isn’t set in stone. Research shows that with the right environment—filled with love, safety, nourishment, therapy & connection—those biological switches can shift. Brains can rewire. Nervous systems can settle. Healing is possible.
This is why being trauma-informed matters so much as foster & adoptive parents. It means we look beyond the behavior & ask, “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”
It means we lead with compassion before correction, create safety before expecting trust, stay regulated so they can co-regulate & believe that connection is the foundation for change.
Every hug given, every routine kept & every moment of felt safety is doing more than calming a meltdown—it’s helping to rewire a brain & reshape a nervous system.
It’s why I find it so important to keep learning, keep loving & keep holding space for healing. Because that is what our kiddos need from us, it’s what they deserve.
