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."
“Three Real Families”
When my granddaughter asked me if I was the “real” mother of her mom, whom I adopted as an infant, I found a way to help her explore her many real connections, through biology, law, and love.
News Briefs: Rwanda Reopens, Ethiopia Processing Only Pending Adoptions
Read the latest about the Ethiopia adoption suspension and Rwanda's intercountry adoption program reopening.
“Parenting After Foster Adoption—Like Playing Jenga, Backward”
As a father who raised a child from birth and is now parenting older children adopted from foster care, I’ve come to see that the game and pieces may, indeed, be the same, but you have to play in an entirely different way.
Ask AF: “We Don’t Hear Back from My Child’s Birth Mother…”
"In the beginning, my son's birth mother seemed to want a lot of contact. I send photos or updates about once a week. She hasn’t seen him in a year, however, and her family hasn’t seen him since birth. Should I back off?"
Share Your Story: How Did You Tell Your Extended Family?
Here are five of the thoughtful letters we received.
Share Your Story: Announcing Your Decision to Adopt
We polled our newsletter subscribers, "How did you tell your extended family about your decision to adopt?" Here's what some of you said.
Ask AF: Encouraging a Cohesive Racial and Cultural Identity
"We have always tried to make sure our internationally adopted son feels proud of his heritage. This year, when the class was writing about Thanksgiving, he asked if he could skip the assignment because people from his birth country do not celebrate Thanksgiving. I know I need to talk to him, but I’m not sure where to start."
“My Journey Through the Stages of Adoption”
Much like the trimesters of pregnancy, I moved through phases of worry, disbelief, and pure joy while I waited to adopt.
Should I Send My Child to Culture Camp?
"My child is approaching an age where I am thinking about sending her to culture camp. Is this something I should pursue or not?" Our panel of adult adoptees responds.