Family Rituals
Adoptive Families' guide to celebrating and remembering special moments

Family life is full of rituals and traditions that bring members together as they celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and a variety of other special events. For adoptive families, some of the most important rituals come at the end of the adoption process, when a new child becomes an official member.

We’ve put together a collection of ways that families come together to recognize the meaningful events in their lives. Plus: see more suggestions for strengthening the family bond in AF's guide to bonding with your baby at adoptivefamilies.com/bonding/family.

The Importance of Traditions

• The Tie That Binds
  Whether you follow rituals from your own childhood or establish new ones for your family, traditions are what memories are made of.
• The Birth of Tradition, by JoAnne Solchany, R.N., Ph.D.
  Family rituals take on new meaning when we bring a child into our homes.
  
• Capturing the Spirit of Adoption, by Laura Rittenhouse
  Why and how I created a liturgy to celebrate the adoption experience.

Celebrating Our New Additions

• Showered With Love, by Lisa Milbrand
  An adoption shower allows family and friends to share in the excitement of the child’s arrival.
• The Day That Glowed as Bright as the Sun, by Justin James Laing
  A 10-year-old boy recalls the day a foster family became a forever family for him and his sister.
• Gotcha Day
  On the anniversary of a child’s adoption, friends and family form a circle and speak about how much the child means to them.
• A Bridge of Love: One Family’s Entrustment Ceremony, by Rebecca Weller
  An entrustment ceremony symbolizes a child’s transition from the birth family to the adoptive family.
• A Christening Ceremony, by Kristen Widham
  Some parents opt for a religious element in their celebration.
• Readers Share Their Stories!
  Domestic Adoption Showers
  Gotcha Day Celebrations

Old Holidays, New Traditions

• Creating Holiday Rituals, by Bonnie Perkel
  Children love rituals and rhythm, so the more, the merrier.
  
• A Mother’s Day Ritual, by Beth Roth
  Recognizing the contributions that both mothers have made in your child’s life.
• ‘Tis the Season, by Rochelle Green
  Tips and ideas for adding Chinese, Russian, or African flavors to your family’s festivities.

Everyday Rituals to Help Your Family Bond

• Family Night, by Lois Melina
  Dedicate one night a week as a time to address important issues, make plans, and, of course, have fun together.
• Thirty Ways to Celebrate Adoption
  Acknowledge the influence of adoption on your family’s life.
• The Book of New Family Traditions, by Meg Cox
  AF reviews Cox's book about ways to acknowledge adoption's influence on your family’s life.