In part four of our family's adoption odyssey, our daughter grapples with her learning disability.
Combating Bullying with Books
Children's literature can be particularly helpful in opening up conversations on difficult topics. An adoptive mom reviews four books about bullying.
[Book Review] The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander
An adoptive mom and teacher reviews The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander, a book about how parents and teachers can recognize and help break the cycle of bullying.
Not Open Adoption, Just Adoption
Practices once confined to open adoption are quickly becoming the norm. When will the language catch up?
“Learning How to Settle In” — Part 3 of Foster Adoption Series
In the third part of our family's adoption odyssey, our new daughters help us rediscover the joy in everyday moments.
When You Adopt a Baby: An Overview of Developmental Stages
A look at what to expect at different developmental stages of babyhood—and what each stage means for adoptive parents.
“A New Family Dynamic” — Part 2 of Foster Adoption Series
In the second part of our family's adoption odyssey, we meet our new daughters and confront their past — and look to our future together.
“In the Beginning” — Part 1 of Foster Adoption Series
In part one of our family's adoption odyssey, we make our way through our state's Fost/Adopt program and find that things don't always go according to plan. But sometimes, that's for the best.
[Book Review] When Race Becomes Real
Sarah Marxer, an adoptive mom, reviews a collection of essays written by white and African American authors about how they experience race in society.
[Movie Review] Aging Out
A documentary on foster care depicts life without a safety net.
[Book Review] Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens
Originally conceived and written as a guide for therapists working with adopted adolescents, Beneath the Mask is a valuable resource for parents.
[Book Review] The English American
Alison Larkin's semi-autobiographical novel centers on an adoptee — raised in England, but born in America. Read the review, here.
[Book Review] Born in Our Hearts
Together, two anthologies offer a complex, realistic account of adoption.
“Would I Be Allowed to Adopt After the Diagnosis?”
I was terrified that telling our social worker I'd been diagnosed with bipolar disorder would end our dream of having a child.
“To All the Moms I Know”
My daughter is considering becoming a mother. As I think of the ways her life will change, my main resounding advice is, "You will never regret it."
Celebrating Diversity: Great Reads Featuring Multiracial Families
Children's books featuring kids and adults of diverse backgrounds and ethnicity serve two purposes: They show kids that families "come in all sizes and colors," and they are self-affirming for children of multiracial families. Here are some of our favorites, age by age.
[Book Review] Wanting a Daughter, Needing a Son
The questions that linger in the mind of most any adopted child are "Why?" "Why couldn't they keep me?" "Why did I have to leave the place where I was born?"
[Book Review] A Family from Ethiopia
Rita Radostitz reviews A Family from Ethiopia, by Julia Waterlow, and explains how it helped her understand her child's life there before adoption.
[Book Review] Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
A review of a noteworthy book about the changing landscape of race relations in the United States, an important read for anyone parenting a child of Asian descent.
Adoption in the Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
With this jocular yet telling treatise on adoption in the movies, journalist Susan Avery offers some reviews of popular films to help you decide what's right for your family.