Years after reconnecting with her son, a birth mother explores her place in his life.
“Santa’s Dilemma”
This year, we've vowed to cut back at Christmas. Well, perhaps it wasn't a vow, but at least a serious intent to try. Then again, they are children for such a short time.
Saying No to Racism
You can offer your children support—and the tools they need to fight back.
Ask AF: Explaining to a Child That His Sibling Will Be Adopted By Another Family
An expectant mother who's making an open adoption plan wonders how to explain to her child that his baby sibling will be adopted by another family. A birth mother offers advice.
“What ‘Gotcha’ Means to My Family”
While I acknowledge that the word carries only a hint of the day's complicated meaning, to me, "Gotcha" says it all.
My Four-Year-Old Told Me “You’re Not My Mom.” Is This Normal?
A mother shares that her four-year-old has said, "You're not my mom!" when angry. Fellow parents assure her this is normal and suggest different ways to respond.
Empowering Children and Teens of Color Who Face Racism
White parents do not have the experience of feeling vulnerable or targeted based on race, so telling a transracially adopted child "I know how you feel" isn't right—but silence is also not the answer. Adoptees and experts discuss how parents should speak out and take action.
Parent-to-Parent: Holiday Gifts for Your Child’s Birth Family
We asked our readers: If you'll be giving your child's birth parents a gift this holiday season, what is it and how will you give it to them? Read the answers from adoptive parents.
“My Cardiologist Opened My Heart to Adoption”
The defective structure of my physical heart ultimately led my emotional heart to pause and consider—do I try for pregnancy, or for parenthood through adoption?
“Uncharted Territory”
Sometimes, you go somewhere expecting it to be totally different, and it ends up seeming familiar. I had that feeling as I led a group of students on a trip to China—and then again, back home, as we met an expectant mother.
“A Visit to My Daughter’s Homeland”
Our trip to her birth country gave my daughter a picture of her early life. She discovered that she was, and had always been, real.
Why Race Matters for Teens
Teens need their parents' guidance in forming their racial identity.
Making the Connection with Birth Parents in Adolescence
When teens establish contact with their birth families, they face risks, as well as rewards.
“Is It Just a Phase?”
Teens may try on different identities as they seek to determine who they are.
Wrongful Adoption: What It Is, What It Is Not.
A lawyer explains types of misrepresentation or fraud that are classified as wrongful adoption—and what parents can do about it.
“Mom, Were You Alive During Woodstock?”
Age limits for those adopting have been stretched or even eliminated. How might this affect the children of these "older" parents?
“Mommy, Were You Adopted?”
I'm not sure why I never told my children. But when they asked, I knew it was time to end the secrecy for good.
“The Adoption Advantage”
Coming to parenthood on equal terms lets my husband and me appreciate the experience all the more.
A Helping Hand Through the Foster Adoption Process
Have you considered growing your family through adoption from U.S. foster care, but don’t know where to begin? Contact the experts at AdoptUSKids for personalized guidance and the reassurance that “you don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.”
Becoming My Own Beauty Role Model
"Growing up, makeup felt like a mask—a cover-up for my true inner self."