A few years after marrying the man of my dreams, I was surprised to once again feel like an insecure single woman, willing the phone to ring.
Older Child Adoption — Becoming a Family
In this collection, adoptive parents share their experiences of parenting older children they've adopted and offer wisdom on that initial adjustment period.
Tips for Creating Your Profile from Birth Mothers
When creating your family profile, be authentic.
Adopting from the United States
Basic facts about domestic adoption.
“Through the Glass”
When people learned I was pregnant, they were surprised that I was still planning to adopt.
“I Needed This All Along”
Five years on: We have been “trying” for three years, and now are deep into the medical crapshoot of infertility treatment. Soon it becomes clear that we will never have our own biological children.
Deciding to Adopt After Infertility
There is only one good reason to adopt, just as there is only one good reason to bear a child: Your desire to be a parent is greater than your fear.
Deciding to Adopt with Reluctant Relatives
Many, many couples are deeply divided about adoption. Marriage counselors and social workers say the reluctant partner is usually the male, whose concerns may range from simple ambivalence about parenthood in general to specific concerns about loving a child who’s not related by blood.
View the Adoption Costs Webinar Replay
View the replay of the webinar "Adoption Costs," with Denise M. Bierly, Esq., and Sue Orban to learn about domestic, foster, and international adoption costs and funding strategies.
The Basics: Which Type of Adoption Is Right for You?
Different agencies and attorneys specialize in different kinds of adoption, so you need to think about what kind of child—what age, what race—is right for you before you make any kind of commitment to an agency or attorney. You may also end up using a combination of partners, or you may choose to work independently.
7 Common Questions When You’re Deciding to Adopt
When you bear or raise children, you step into the unknown. If you adopt, you take a step further. You can’t predict what baby would come from your own genetic mix, but you might recognize traits as the child grows up: “He’s got grandpa’s ears.” With an adopted child, there’s an element of mystery: “Where did that nose come from?”
The Top Ten Myths (and Facts) About Adoption
If you're considering adoption and hearing falsehoods for family and friends, read on to get real adoption facts to debunk the fiction.
“Talking About Adoption at Bedtime”
My daughter brings stuff up at bedtime. Most five-year-olds do; they don’t want to be left alone to sleep. She likes when I tell her stories in the dark and rub her back. Who wouldn’t like all that? Aside: bedtime can—if I let it—take forever.
Becoming a Mom or a Dad In Our Hearts
When did you know you were truly your child’s mother or father?
Ask AF: Writing to an Unknown Birth Mother
Answers to your parenting questions.
News Brief: International Adoption Law Update
Learn about the most recent updates to international adoption laws that impact prospective adoptive parents adopting from countries around the world.
Ask AF: Talking About and Getting to Know Birth Siblings
My 11-year-old has two younger birth siblings who were adopted by another family. That family recently moved into our community. My son often asks if he has siblings. I have not told him yes or no yet, and now it’s so late.
News Brief: Survey Says, Americans Support Same-Sex Adoption
The majority of Americans support the rights of same-sex couples to adopt children.
News Brief: Marriage Equality Victory Is Also a Victory for Children
The United States Supreme Court decision on June 26, recognizing marriage as a constitutional right for same-sex couples, will also have a positive impact on adoption.
News Brief: Challenge to U.S. Indian Child Welfare Act
A lawsuit alleges that the 1978 law discriminates based on race.