How does your child’s birth mother feel about being called a “birth mother,” about the frequency and format of contact, her voice in the relationship, and more? We asked five birth mothers in open adoptions these questions. Here are their answers.
Love Sees in Color
About a decade ago it was popular to say, “Love sees no color. I really don’t see that my kids are different.” I’m hoping we’ve moved away from that, because it’s just not true. We all notice differences, and, if we say we can’t, we’re denying something.
“Prison Baby”
In this personal essay, one adoptee describes all the questions she wanted to ask her birth mother when she visited her birth country: a jail.
Ask AF: Creating a Lifebook for a Teen
One adoptive mother wonders if she should make a lifebook, even though she doesn't have many photos of his life before he came to her. AF readers respond.
Ask AF: Proof of Parenthood
When I take my daughter of a different race to the dentist or gym, I'm often asked to provide a document confirming my parenthood. Is this OK?
Ask AF: When Rocking Behavior Interferes with a Good Night’s Sleep
Our adoptive son rocks before going to sleep, and it's started waking him up at night. How can we help him break out of this disruptive bedtime routine?
Ask AF: Talking About a Birth Parent’s Death
Our expert explains how to navigate the difficult discussions about a birth mother death with a very young child: what to say, and when to start talking.
Parenting an Older Child Through the Testing Phase
Our readers asked how to parent their adoptive children through the testing phase. Our expert has answers for dealing with lying, carelessness, and anger.
Our Readers Share: The Best and Worst Comments About Adoption
We asked our readers, and they shared the rudest and most beautiful comments about adoption they've heard from friends, strangers, and family alike.
Foster Adoption Resources
Adoptive Families supports a year-round focus on foster adoption. These web resources provide support and practical assistance for families.
It Takes Two — Lily & Gillian
Identical twins, separated at birth — but raised as sisters since the day they were born — are giving new meaning to the phrase "blended family."
Double The Love — Anaïs & Sam
A set of identical twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different families — not to be reunited until age 27.
“Two Days to Adoption”
We’d had seven days notice for our first adoption. For our second, four. Now, two. It was as if we’d been training for this moment, and we were at peak performance.
“An Expectant-Adoptive Mom”
While I was waiting to be matched, I tried to step out of the shoes of "adoptive mom" and into the shoes of "birth mom."