Adoption can't be finalized until after marathon of post-placement visits and termination of parental rights. Here's what to expect before, during, and after the hearing.
Searching for Self
Can't pry your teen from the computer? The Internet can be a great tool for finding identity and networking with other adopted teens.
“Cornrows Fit for a Ballerina!”
A simple hairstyle was not so simple for a dance class full of little girls with beautiful heads of black hair.
Ask AF: Bonding with a Newborn
My baby will already be two days old when I bring her home. Should I be concerned about bonding?
Your Child’s Medical History
The information you need to know, and how to track it down.
Talking Matters
If you look like your child, you may be spared inquisitive glances or nosy questions about adoption from strangers. But that doesn't mean you don't have to discuss the topic.
“From Our Hearts”: Letters to Our Child’s Birth Parents
Writing about the little things in letters to our daughter's birth parents often tells a bigger, warmer story in the end.
Surprising Post-Adoption Emotions
When you finally bring your child home, yes, you will feel elated. But many new adoptive moms and dads are surprised by the complex emotions that can sit on the outskirts of that joy.
What Should We Include In Our Contact Agreement?
We've been selected by a birth mom who is due in two months. Our attorney advised us to draw up a contact agreement prior to the birth. What should we include?
When Therapy Is in Order
Sometimes, a teen's behavior calls for outside help. What to watch for and how to find the right adoption therapist.
Helping Your Preschooler Feel Good About Race
Preschoolers are starting to notice racial differences. Adoptive parents have a responsibility to talk about them.
“Getting Rid of ‘Gotcha Day'”
What do you call the day your adoptive child came home? In this personal essay, one mother explains why "Gotcha Day" can be offensive for some adoptees.
Ask AF: Invasion of Privacy
We have emphasized that our kids should choose whether to share (or not) their adoptive status, but some of our friends don't seem to get it and tell others.
Avoiding Overwhelm During the Holidays
Most parents look forward to sharing this time of the year with their children. But less is often more when it comes to holiday activities.
Answering Kids’ Questions About Reproduction
Kids' questions about sex are a tad more complicated when adoption is involved. Here, our experts give you the answers you need.
“Our Agonizing Decision to Decline a Referral”
We thought accepting a referral would be the easy part. It wasn’t.
Breastfeeding Without Birthing
A lactation consultant and breastfeeding adoptive mom explains how to achieve a nursing relationship with your baby.
Q&A: Bryan and Angela Tucker of Closure
After a lifetime of wondering who? and why?, an adoptee set out to find some answers. The award-winning documentary that follows her birth family search has already sparked thousands of dialogues.
“Was I Alone in the Hospital?”
Seeing where she was born—where she stayed with her birth mom and where we met her—gave my daughter greater confidence in her adoption story.
Ask AF: Comforting a Child During Temper Tantrums
Answers to your parenting questions.