Today, as more and more adoptees reach adulthood, they are finding birth relatives-or are being found by them. Whether a child is from the U.S., Guatemala, Russia, or China, she may one day be in touch with her first family. These stories, each detailing an unexpected family reunion, may well reflect the complexity of what is ahead.
“Should We Keep or Change Our Child’s Name?”
We carefully choose our children's names. But wait—our children will soon have their own ideas about who they are and what they should be called.
“How I Met My Daughters”
I may not remember when I first knew I wanted to be a mother, but the moments leading up to and the first time I saw my daughters are indelibly etched in my memory.
“Letting Go After Months of Struggling to Parent”
After struggling to parent my twin daughters for ten months, I sadly realized I couldn’t provide them with the stable life I’d envisioned.
Parent-to-Parent: Post-Adoption Contact Agreements
Parents in open adoptions share whether they have a post-adoption contact agreement with their child's birth parents and, if so, what it includes.
When My Parents Divorced
A woman shares the story of her adoptive parents' divorce.
Supporting Your Teen’s Developing Identity
Questions from their peers get more complicated for our teens—and their peers' questions may reflect their own worries about adoption.
10 Ways to Build Trust with Prospective Birth Parents
10 ways to show respect and build trust.
Bringing Birth Siblings Into Our Children’s Stories—and Lives
The vast majority of our children have birth siblings, yet parents may wonder how to approach the topic. Adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees share how they talk about biological siblings, and build brother-sister bonds.
News Brief: New Jersey Unseals Adoption Records
A New Jersey law signed in 2014 went into effect on January 1, 2017, and adoptees in that state may now access their original birth certificates and other adoption records.
Ask AF: Should We Adopt Our Child’s Birth Siblings?
A mother of three seeks advice on adopting her child’s birth siblings. She worries that her child will feel hurt if they don’t, but also that they won’t have the energy or resources to parent more children.
[Movie Review] Lion
This powerful new film, based on a true story, offers a sensitive and responsible portrayal of adoption. Highly recommended for teens and adoptive parents!
“More Love Is More Love”
In many families, relationships come without exact names. While adoption highlighted this truth, it was already a given in my family—and maybe in yours, too?
“Family Is Now”
What if my daughter doesn't choose me? What if she grows up and moves to live near her other mom—her birth mom? I think about that and I get scared. Then I think, so what if she does? I can’t worry about that; I can only parent now.
“We Are All Adopted”
From my own search for my roots through adopting older children from foster care, life has taught me to treasure my children’s biological connections while knowing that we don’t have to look alike to belong together.
“Finding My Place in the Family”
Though society doesn’t know what to do with birth mothers, I knew I had a place with my son’s parents. At his second birthday party, I learned that I had a place with their family, too.
Ask AF: Disagreeing About Discipline with the Birth Family
A parent in an open adoption asks what do do (and how to explain to her son) when his birth family uses different discipline approaches for his birth sibling. Adoption expert Regina M. Kupecky, LSW, offers advice.
Parenting with an Open Heart
Whether you see your child’s birth parents frequently or have never had contact, you can still imbue your adoption and your relationship with your child with openness.
“For the Love of My Child”
When Elizabeth was young, closed adoption was comfortable. But my outlook changed the day my teenage daughter said, "I want to find them."
“A Birthday Gift for Grace”
It wasn't until my daughter's first birthday that it hit me: I was grieving her birth mom's loss. With that realization, I was able to celebrate as she would have wanted.