Advice from Adoption Experts

Adoption experts answer your questions about talking about adoption, attachment, birth parent contact, and more.

Ask AF: Biracial and Multiracial Identity

Deborah H. Johnson - April 16, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Racial Identity, Talking, Talking to Kids, Transracial

Ask AF: Biracial and Multiracial Identity

Deborah H. Johnson - April 16, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Racial Identity, Talking, Talking to Kids, Transracial

My daughter’s birth parents are Caucasian and African-American. How should we talk with her about race? How do we fill out forms that ask about race and allow you to check only one box?

Ask AF: Blogging Basics

Editorial Team - April 15, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Talking, Talking to Others

I’d like to blog to document our adoption process, and keep far-flung families up-to-date, but I’m not tech-savvy.

Ask AF: When a Child’s Race is Ambiguous

Deborah H. Johnson - April 13, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Racial Identity, Transracial

Answers to your parenting questions.

Ask AF: Ongoing Grief About Infertility

Joni Mantell, LCSW - April 12, 2016 - Bonding, Expert Q&A, Family Adjustment

Q: My husband and I became parents via adoption after a long struggle with infertility. Our son, now two, is truly the love of our lives. When my best friend recently had a baby, I was surprised to feel sad, and even jealous. How can I get over this? A: If someone cries at a wedding, its…

Ask AF: Telling Nieces and Nephews About Adoption

Editorial Team - April 11, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Talking, Talking to Kids

How can we explain our plan to adopt to our nieces and nephews (ages one to nine)?

Ask AF: Prospective Parents’ Mental Health

Editorial Team - April 10, 2016 - Expert Q&A, The Home Study, The Process

Answers to your parenting questions.

Ask AF: Anger Management

Gregory C. Keck, Ph.D. - April 9, 2016 - Bonding, Expert Q&A, Parenting, Transitions 3+

Answers to your parenting questions.

Ask AF: How Do I Find an Adoption Medicine Physician?

Deborah Borchers, M.D. - April 8, 2016 - Adoption Medicine, Expert Q&A, The Process

Is there a certification process for physicians who specialize in international adoption?

Ask AF: Is There an Adoption Watchdog Organization?

Editorial Team - April 7, 2016 - Adopting, Decisions, Expert Q&A, Resources

We were unhappy with the lack of disclosure, the low level of professionalism, and the lies that we were told by our adoption agency.

Ask AF: Alleviating a Child’s Anxiety

Deborah D. Gray - April 5, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Health & Development, Parenting

Anxiety can affect a wide-range of children, even those that seem “well-adjusted.” If anxiety is a problem for your child, try following this expert advice to help him manage his feelings.

Ask AF: Two Moms, Two Roles

Kathleen Silber - April 4, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Living with Openness, Openness

“Our daughter’s birth mother recently signed a card ‘from Mommy.’ It bothered me. Am I overreacting?”

Ask AF: Birth Sibling in Another Family

Mary Ann Curran - April 3, 2016 - Connections to the Past, Expert Q&A, Openness, Talking, Talking to Kids

When I adopted my two-year-old son, I was told that he has a biological sibling who was adopted by a family who lives in another state. My son is my only child, but his brother has adoptive siblings. How do I explain this to my son?

Ask AF: When to Share Birth Family Information

Ronny Diamond - April 2, 2016 - Expert Q&A, Talking, Talking to Kids

How do we answer our young child’s questions about adoption, and her birth mother?

Ask AF: Sibling Adjustment

Mary Ann Curran - March 31, 2016 - Bonding, Expert Q&A, Family Adjustment, Family Dynamics

Our 16-month-old has been home for about a month now, and our three-year-old (who was also adopted) still sees his little brother as Public Enemy #1. Will this get better? What should we do?