Choosing age, race, and even gender is sometimes seen as the perk of adoption. Be careful not to attach expectations to these selections.
“How I Handled Calls from Prospective Birth Mothers”
Our advertising was placed, our adoption profile was ready to go, and it was only a matter of time before our 800-line started ringing with calls from expectant mothers. Yikes! Mercifully, I was prepared, thanks to the expertise of my adoption attorney, adoption consultant, and other adoptive parents. Here’s what I learned:
The First Conversation with a Potential Birth Parent
What matters most is not a list of questions or negotiating points, but finding a way to meet genuinely as people.
“What We Couldn’t Learn Before Adopting”
My wife and I learned a lot from reading, but there were some things not discussed in the books we read. So from one father to another, from one parent to another, here’s my notebook of thoughts after our adoption.
Surviving the Home Study
Use the home study to learn all about adoption.
What to Ask Before Hiring an Adoption Attorney
Everything you need to ask before picking a legal professional to handle your adoption.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Adoption Agency
Deciding on an adoption agency can be an organizational challenge. Read up on the best questions to ask before making your choice.
Assessing a Referral
We’ve heard from our agency that we’ll be receiving an adoption referral soon. What medical information will it contain, and how should we assess it?
Parent-to-Parent: Was It Fate?
On our Facebook page we asked readers: Adoption stories often involve serendipity. Please share any amazing coincidences that arose on your journey to family. Here are some of your responses
Parent-To-Parent: Sharing Our News
On our Facebook page we asked readers: After you decided to adopt, who was the first person you told? What did he or she say? Here are some of your responses.
Hiring Your Adoption Professional
Doing your homework helps you feel comfortable with your selection. How can you find that same comfort level when you hire an adoption professional? You probably have not done that before, and you may not know anyone else who has, either. You may not know what to ask for or how to get what you need.
“To Those Still Waiting”
Our “adoption journey” was not an easy one. No, our road was bumpy and dark and full of unmarked turns that were gently referred to by our social workers as failed matches or changes of heart. With every disappointment we endured, I struggled with what I call the both/and—holding two conflicting feelings at once.
“A Love We Never Expected”
When we first considered adoption, my husband and I discussed how much contact we were willing to have with the birth mother. We didn’t realize how close we’d become to the whole birth family.
“Our Happiest Meal”
Last September, after a Saturday morning of shopping with my mother, we stopped for a frozen yogurt. Around 12:15 P.M. I got a call from Kelly Jacobson, a contact at our agency. I presumed it was something volunteer related, as I had been helping out at the agency, so I calmly answered the phone.
“A Night I’ll Never Forget”
After 10 years, my husband and I were starting to doubt we’d ever be parents. But when the phone rang, I knew it was “The Call.”
“Our First Choice”
I always knew I wanted to grow my family through adoption.
What Do Religious Beliefs Have to Do with Parenting?
Whether or not I believe in a higher being, and whether or not I frequent a house of worship, is a terrible predictor of what kind of parent I’ll be.
“Dear Friends and Family” — Sample Adoption Announcement Letters
You’ve made the decision to adopt. How do you tell friends and family? Use the following letters as guides when composing your own.
On the Safe Side
After months of waiting, you finally get “the call.” But is your home really ready for a baby?
It’s The Law: Why Your Health Insurance Company Must Cover Your Children
My insurance company is refusing to cover medical expenses for my new child. Help!