FEATURE ARTICLES | PAGE |
A Million Children Waiting by Melissa Fay Greene
In part one of a two-part series, we learn about the tragedy of Ethiopian children who have lost their parents to disease--and their prospects for adoption. Here we consider what the adoption community can do to help the children left behind; in the next issue, we'll follow one child to her new home in the U.S. | p. 29 |
Order in the House by Marybeth Lambe and Carrie Krueger
Two Adoptive Families moms compare notes on the discipline methods they use to foster harmony in their homes. Marybeth Lambe tells us how the "dictatorship to democracy" approach of 1-2-3 Magic works. And single mom Carrie Krueger reports on Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP), a method based on respect and responsible behavior. | p. 32 |
Until They Get it Right by Adam Pertman
Tired of seeing yet another sensationalized report on adoption in the newspaper or on the five o'clock news? Journalist Adam Pertman offers a crash course in how you can get reporters and producers to present a more accurate picture of adoption. Includes step-by-step guidelines for who to contact and how to present your perspective. | p. 35 |
Indelible Images a photo-essay by Michele McDonald
A mother recalls the poignant letter pinned to her daughter's clothing by her foster mother--and their journey back to China to get to know her and other important figures from her daughter's early life. | p. 38 |
Paradoxes of Adoptive Parenting by Jana Wolff
Five years after writing Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother (now in its fifth printing), Jana Wolff returns with more candid insights into the emotional highs and lows of parenthood. | p. 41 |
Talking to Your Six- to Eight-year-old About Adoption by Susan Saidman
This Adoptive Families Clip-and-Save Guide presents common questions children ask, strategies for answering them in a way your child can understand, and activities you can work on together to affirm that adoption is a great way to form a family. | p. 45 |
GROWING UP ADOPTED
Age-specific parenting tips and information |
Ages 0-2: "Vision and Hearing Testing"
Dr. Edward Kolb explains the reasons you'll want to have your child's vision and hearing screened as soon as you come home. | p. 47 |
Ages 3-5: "Ready, Set, Regress"
Is your preschooler reluctant to give up her bottle or to leave her crib behind? Psychologists tell us that some children regress in order to calm themselves or regain a sense of control--and that, in most cases, regression at this age isn't cause for worry. | p. 48 |
Ages 6-8: "When Your Children's Abilities Differ"
One child's an A-student; her sister struggles in school. This doesn't have to be a recipe for sibling rivalry and parental pressure. | p. 49 |
Ages 9-12: "When Children Deny Their Heritage"
As the teen years approach, children become increasingly conscious of where they fit, in their peer group and in the wider world. Children of a different ethnicity or heritage from their family may begin rejecting their heritage at this age in an attempt to "be like everybody else." What should parents do? | p. 50 |
Ages 13+: "Your Job as Consultant and Coach"
We can't make decisions for our teenagers. But by talking with them about possible actions and their consequences, we can help our children develop the decision-making skills they'll need as they develop into responsible adults. | p. 51 |
DEPARTMENTS |
Adopted Child by Lois Melina: "How Do We Define Belonging?"
Most of us toss around terms like "ethnicity" and "culture" as though they were interchangeable. In fact, it's a complicated subject. In her popular column, author Lois Melina offers advice on helping our children develop a secure sense of identity and belonging. | p. 23 |
Our Story: How We Became a Family: "Finally, Our Turn!"
A new column, in which we invite parents to share the stories of how they met and fell in love with their children. In this issue, Kim Rapier describes becoming a parent at 41--the most wonderful "mid-life crisis" she could possibly imagine! | p. 17 |
Waiting Game: "Announcing Your Decision to Adopt"
Waiting mother Margaret Olander shares excerpts from the announcement letter she sent to friends and family, along with helpful tips for anticipating questions and communicating your excitement about adopting to the people you love.
| p. 19 |
About Birthparents: "Letters from the Heart"
Birthparents tell us that while they love to exchange letters with their birthchildren's parents, they sometimes feel inadequate to the task. In this moving essay, birthmother Sharon Roberts explains why she continues to write, and how important it is to keep the connection alive. | p. 21 |
Been There: Voices of Adult Adoptees: "A Hunger for Words"
Susan Ito's deeply personal memoir of her lifelong passion for literature--and how the books she loves have led her, over the years, to a more profound understanding of her own story. | p. 25 |
In My Opinion: "What Your Clients Are Afraid to Say"
Adoption advocate Kim Kennedy presents ways adoption professionals can better serve adoptive parents during the adoption process. | p. 27 |
Parenting the Child Who Waited: "Special Delivery"
When they decided to adopt, Kate McKee Robertson and her husband imagined bringing a baby into their home. But when they learned about the older children waiting for families in the U.S., they realized that foster adoption was right for them. Here's how it turned out for their family. | p. 55 |
Letters
Feedback from the Adoptive Families community, including a special "Share Your Story" section, in which readers share their strategies for making bedtime more manageable and helping children to sleep through the night.
| p. 5 |
Adoption News and Notes
Reports on citizenship documentation, National Adoption Day, grants for parent groups, singles adopting in Guatemala, adoption-related tax benefits, and more. | p. 11 |
Bulletin Board
Tips and resources for parents, including: an online database of toy recalls, immunizations for internationally adopted children, customized baby books, a new PBS series on Chinese-American history, an important study on adopted children's success in school, and more. | p. 16 |
Parent Exchange
Readers share questions, advice, and information. In this issue: Is a child's desire to change her name a cause for concern? . . . A mother's request for feedback from other parents whose children had unanticipated special needs. . . A father's thoughts on bonding . . . "Thumbs Up" to an employer offering paid adoption leave . . . "Thumbs Down" to negative images of birthmothers on CBS-TV. | p. 10 |
Family Album
Your photos, your families, your stories. | p. 52 |
Legal Q&A: "Wrongful Adoption: What It Is, What It Is Not"
Adoption attorney Sam Totaro explains what courts have held--and have not held--
as grounds for wrongful adoption lawsuits. | p. 54 |
Book Reviews
Books for adults and children, including: a roundup of tried-and-true resources on how to help your child sleep better; After the Morning Calm: Reflections of Korean Adoptees, edited by Dr. Sook Wilkinson and Nancy Fox; The Sea Chest, a charming new adoption story for children by Toni Buzzeo; and the Autumn Jade mystery series, the action-packed adventures of a plucky girl detective adopted in China, by Steve Whan. | p. 58 |
At Home: "When Shady Neighbors Come to Call"
Amy Williams recalls the racist comments of a couple who were considering moving into her neighborhood--and how much better she felt after sending them on their way.
| p. 78 |
