Answers to your parenting questions.
Ask AF: Sharing Details We Found Online
"After my daughter's birth family stopped corresponding, I looked them up online. Is it unethical to share this information with her, since I obtained it without their consent?"
Ask AF: Rocking and Sleep
Rocking is a common sensory-seeking behavior, particularly for children who spent time in institutionalized settings.
Ask AF: Helping Mom Handle the College Transition
Answers to your parenting questions.
“Worth the Risk” – Living Through a Failed Adoption
Our failed adoption left our hearts shattered. But, as we learned, you take this risk no matter how you come to be parents, whenever you choose to love someone or something other than yourself.
A Nation’s Buried Pain
Kay Ann Johnson spent more than 20 years listening to the anguished accounts of Chinese people who relinquished, adopted, and hid out-of-plan or over quota children in the face of the country's One-Child Policy. In China's Hidden Children, she shares their stories.
A ‘Lost’ Daughter Speaks, and All of China Listens
I went to China to find the birth mother who left me on a street corner. Instead, I became the focus of a nation’s buried pain.
[BOOK EXCERPT] Attaching Through Love, Hugs, and Play
Using fun and games to connect with your child can reduce stress for both of you and lead to a secure, enjoyable relationship. A leading attachment therapist explains playful yet powerful ways to build lasting bonds.
The Adoption Process from the Expectant Mother’s Perspective
What is it really like to decide on adoption, look through parent profiles to choose a family, and place your child in their arms—and how can the adoption process better serve these women?
Growing Up and Growing Older
“What do teens, who are moving toward college or career, need from their parents?” I asked my 17-year-old high school senior, as I sat hunkered over my laptop.
Best Apps for Adoptive Parents
We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 expert- and reader-recommended apps for prospective parents and new families.
News Briefs: Intercountry Adoption Updates, Spring 2016
Intercountry adoption laws are always changing. Learn about the changes from the first quarter of 2016 here.
News Briefs: State Adoption Law Updates, Spring 2016
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Florida, and Iowa all made or are considering changes to their state adoption laws in the beginning of 2016. Read on to learn more.
News Brief: For Some Parents, International Adoption Decision Reflects Racial Bias
A new study by the University of Vermont concluded that race plays a role for some parents who adopt internationally rather than domestically. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 41 mostly white parents who had, collectively, adopted 33 children of various ethnic and racial backgrounds from 10 different countries, as well as the United States.
News Brief: Bill Proposes More Leave for Adoptive Parents in the Military
Representative Tammy Duckworth introduced the Military Leave Modernization Act, which would guarantee 12 weeks of leave for all military parents.
News Brief: U.S. Supreme Court Reverses Alabama’s Refusal to Recognize Same-Sex Adoption
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that denied the parental rights of a partner in a former same-sex couple.
News Brief: Further Decline in International Adoption in 2015
In 2015, parents in the United States adopted 5,648 children from 89 different countries. The number of intercountry adoptions completed by parents in the U.S. has steadily dropped since 22,884 children were adopted in 2004.
Parent-to-Parent: Embracing “Older” Parenthood
Readers who adopted as older parents share some of the drawbacks and benefits, their best advice—and the joy that comes with parenting, not matter what your age.
Ask AF: What to Talk About with the Expectant Mom?
I am curious as to what prospective adoptive families and expectant moms talk about during the match.
Ask AF: When a Child Calls Every Woman “Mommy”
Our three-year-old has been through several foster placements and calls nearly every woman she comes in contact with “Mommy."