If the word “journey” leaves you feeling exhausted or at the very least annoyed by its frequent use within the adoption community, you aren’t alone. A quick keyword search on adoption.com or...
A father is an important part of a child’s life. Studies have shown that children who have affection and support from their fathers have great cognitive and social development. When my husband, Ryan, and I...
Adoption has gone through a lot of changes over the years. In the 1960s, there was little to no access to birth control and abortion had not been legalized through Roe v. Wade. There was also still a lot of...
A few years ago while working at our local health and human services office I was asked nearly daily if we would consider adopting a foster child. My answer was a firm and constant no. I was afraid–pure...
Do you know an adoptive family? Have you checked in on them lately? They might be fine but just in case they aren’t, I have something to say. Here are some things adoptive families want you to know. 1. If we...
In the action-packed human-, alien-, and droid-filled universe that is the Star Wars saga, adoption has been a running theme throughout the twisty trilogy of trilogies—even as far back as when the famous words “A LONG...
Moms. They’re the ones who kiss our bruises when we fall down. They’re the ones who comfort us when we’re upset. They’re the ones who encourage us when we’re feeling low and the ones who...
JK Rowling introduced the world to the character of Harry Potter. Harry Potter, through his complex beginning, is the chosen child of the wizarding world. He spends 11 years of his adolescence fighting the dark world...
At this time, my own daughters are still children. You need to know that I have not helped any of my own daughters place a child for adoption – but I have helped someone else’s daughter on this journey. It was a...
As part of our own personal agency’s suggested to-dos before bringing our newly adopted child home, they suggested that we find a pediatrician and chat with them while we were waiting for court. Since we found a...
Finding out you are pregnant when it is unexpected can be quite a shock. Sometimes, a wonderful, blissful shock. Other times, a scary, terrifying shock. The truth is, no reaction to an unexpected pregnancy is right or...
As you face an unexpected pregnancy, you may be aware of the endless, monumental decisions that lay in front of you. It may be overwhelming, but take your time as you come to the decisions that work best for you and the...
A few years ago, I signed up for online dating. I have been single for quite a while and in all reality, things don’t work like they used to. You most likely won’t meet your future spouse on the produce aisle at the...
The biological family, child, and parents form the adoption triad. There is an attachment to the triad that can’t be denied. Love and loss are seen throughout in many different ways. The sense that there is long-term...
An unplanned pregnancy can be a frightening and struggling time for women of any age. You could be now facing an unexpected pregnancy and have no idea what to do or who to talk about it with. You need someone to trust...
As a teacher, I’ve had experiences with children who were adopted or in foster care. The common emotions and issues among children who have been adopted include the following: issues concerning identity, belonging, or...
When I first began my adoption journey, I didn’t realize that there are times that parenting adoptive children is different than it was for my biological child. I thought that parenting was parenting, an equal...
Hello, San Franciscan expectant mothers/parents! I am here to give you the steps to navigate your way through the world of adoption should you choose to place your baby in San Francisco. But, first, let’s look at some...
Are you an expectant parent? Are you considering adoption but just aren’t sure how it works? Here is a basic idea of the how-to of adoption. Keep in mind that while adoption is permanent and binding the relationship you...
If you have found yourself in an unplanned pregnancy, you have a few choices to mull over. I hope wherever this article finds you, you can take a deep breath and some time to make a decision. Whether you choose to...
When I consider the women behind adoption, there are a few obvious choices; the expectant mother, the adoptive mother, the agent involved in placement (though this could be a male), and possibly the adoptee herself. As...
Sometimes, we adoptive families are easy to spot. Other times, it would surprise you to find out that not everyone in the family unit is genetically connected. We may be easy to notice for a variety of reasons but I...
The pros and cons of open vs. closed adoption have long been debated in the adoption community. The continual question behind these pros and cons is how does it affect the adoptee? When examining today’s open vs. closed...
What is Open Adoption and Why You Might Consider it When Placing Your Baby for Adoption? There are many reasons expectant mothers and parents decide to place their babies for adoption. Whatever the reason, there are...
I’m always one to look for unique topics. While searching for a topic to add my thoughts and feelings to, I noticed one of the assignments said “Are You My Mother?: P.D. Eastman and Adoption” and I instantly decided to...
What is open adoption? In researching modern-day adoptions, the terms you will likely hear often are open and closed adoptions but what are the facts of open adoption? Closed adoptions are less common these days, but...
Adoption is a terrific way to expand your family. I wouldn’t have mine if we hadn’t had adoption as a choice. All of our kids are adopted. If you’re wondering what it looks like to choose adoption when you already have...
The adoption journey has many benchmarks along the way and one monumental benchmark is choosing a family. As an expectant parent, you may or may not have come to understand what is involved in the adoption process...
Waiting for the pregnancy test to tell you your fate can be extremely nerve-wracking. Perhaps you’re wondering about what the future has in store. An unplanned pregnancy can be devastating and you may feel like your...
HOW TO START ADOPTION: WHERE DO I BEGIN? If you are reading this, chances are you are in a situation where adoption is on your list of possible life adventures, likely because of a positive pregnancy test you were...
The decision to adopt is a very intimate and life-changing journey. You are most likely finding yourself being pulled to becoming a parent. This may be as a single person or as a couple. There is no right or wrong way...
For an expectant mother, making an adoption plan for your child is the most difficult decision you may ever make. It is a decision based on so many emotions and with the best interest of your child in mind. Yet it is a...
I have grown to be so close to my birth father that I consider him one of my very best friends. But that relationship has taken years, communication, and love. When thinking about how to have a healthy birth father...
Adoption Family Profile, what does that even mean? Let’s start with the basics because let’s be honest; adoption jargon can be hard to understand, especially if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy for the first time...
As an adoptee, I’ve grown more aware of people’s perceptions about adoption and the roles that incorrect and insensitive sayings and correct and informed statements have. First and foremost, “Give Up for Adoption...
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