As parents, we shape the memories our children will carry through their lives. What a delightful, and intimidating, prospect!
“The Dog Who Came to Stay”
"Moments after bringing our new puppy home, I understood that raising this dog would begin to create a history for our new daughter, would lodge her firmly within our family. A family pet conjures notions of family ties, of belonging."
Ask AF: Adoption Visa Clarification
We finalized our daughter's international adoption a few years ago, but haven't gone through the naturalization process yet.
Ask AF: Defining Special Needs
Are all children from foster care considered "special needs," and, therefore, eligible for the full adoption tax credit?
Ask AF: Insecure About a Sibling
We're adopting a second child, and we worry that our daughter's insecurity will lead her to compete with a new sibling. Any advice?
Ask AF: Talking About Adoption with Tweens
My 12-year-old son came home upset the other day—a classmate had told him he felt sorry for him because he doesn't live with his "real parents."
“Moving Past a Miscommunication in Our Open Adoption”
14 years into our open adoption, we've learned that conflicts can occur, as in any family. Here's how we moved past one sticky situation when our son's birth mother sent him a check in the mail.
Talk to Me! — Treating Speech Delays in Adopted Children
Concerned about your child's speech or language development? About 10 percent of all children have difficulties in this area. But early intervention can turn the most reluctant talker into a chatterbox.
Mortifying Moms
You used to be the coolest mom on the block–at least in the mind of your kid. Now she rolls her eyes at everything you do. What's up?
A Child to Love
The path to adopting a child for many involves becoming a foster parent first. Learn about the risks, rewards, and responsibilities of caring for children in the U.S. foster care system.
“Eli’s First Year Home”
When I adopted an older child, I was prepared to teach him what it means to have a family. Instead, I found myself with a little boy in deep mourning for the loss of his loving foster parents.
[Book Review] The Joy of Family Traditions
Like many women, Jennifer Trainer Thompson had always been drawn to family traditions, but it was becoming a mother—to her biological son, and to her daughter, adopted from Guatemala—that led her to search for customs to incorporate into her family's life.
“A Homeland Trip with My Teens”
I planned our homeland trip, hoping to see my children's birthplaces. Surprisingly, those proved elusive, but we found meaning at every turn.
“Pushing Past My Fears to Become a Single Mother”
A recent "adventure vacation" I took with my daughter brought back memories of the scariest leap of all — becoming a single mom.