Derek Clark Urges Fostered Teens to Never Give Up

01/31/23 • 34 min

20 THINGS ADOPTION PODCAST with Sherrie Eldridge

Derek Clark’s life is one of resilience and redemption. As a
child he suffered unthinkable child abuse, abandonment and
emotional distress before being turned over to the psychiatric
hospital at age five. His 13 years in the San Francisco bay area
foster care system reflected an early life of humiliation,
aggression, emotional distress, overwhelming anxiety and
being wrongfully labeled.
Eventually, with the help of loving foster parents and a
fantastic social worker, he defied the artificial limitations
imposed upon him. Derek knows first-hand how to cope with
adversity and overcoming hardship. His past has never held
him back from accomplishing what he set his heart and mind
to.
Derek is an inspiring speaker, author and has recently become
a viral video sensation for his “Rapping Dad” videos which
have had over 250 million views. He’s also been featured on
CNN Headline News, The Steve Harvey TV Show and many
other TV shows around the world.
He is the author of seven books including “Disable the Label”,
“Never Limit Your Life” and the “I Will Never Give Up” book
series.
His true-life trials and personal triumphs have inspired
organizations with his message of hope and unwavering
perseverance. He has turned his situation from a victim to a
victor, equipping him with the wisdom and the will to never
give up.
Here is the link for the podcast.

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Previous Episode

The Hot Potato of Adoptee Anger

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Bronwen interviews Sherrie on a rare topic--adoptee anger. They discuss the two kinds of anger and emphasize the fact that anger itself is good--its a God-given emotion that warns us if something is wrong, like the red light on a dashboard.
Anger can become toxic when anger is stuffed and turns into bitterness and hate.
The unintentional adversarial relationship that often occurs between adoptive moms and their children is common, but its a topic that hasn't be addressed by adoption professionals, speakers, and therapists.
Adoptees secretly attribute their lion-like anger to a personal defect, while wounded moms fear their children will never experience their love.
Sherrie shares a time a purging, where she did the hard work of recovery. Signs of healing emerged first in regard to Retha, her mom through adoption.
Listen to the inspiring story of how trash became treasure.

Next Episode

Ron Nydam Ph.D. Revisits Adoption and Relinquishment

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Ron Nydam, Ph.D., is a highly respected and beloved pastor, speaker, author, counselor, and teacher in the field of adoption. For the last two decades, he educated international audiences about relinquishment and adoption. These two topics are his specialty and he addresses them with the finesse of a skilled surgeon. His main audiences are:

Adoptees struggling with the repercussions of relinquishment.
First (Birth) parents, continuing to mourn their losses.
Adoptive parents who can't understand the behavior of their teen and adult children.

Ron has authored of two books:
ADOPTEES COME OF AGE: Living within Two Families (Counseling and Pastoral Theology)
https://www.amazon.com/Adoptees-Come-Age-Families-Counseling/dp/0664256716
WISE ADOPTIVE PARENTING: When Kids Struggle to Adopt Their Parents
https://www.amazon.com/Wise-Adoptive-Parenting-Struggle-Parents/dp/1387748475

For speaking and counseling, 616-822-1536