Our open adoption allows us to share the love we have for our daughter with her birth parents.
Ask AF: After a Birth Family Reunion
Open adoption expert Kathleen Silber answers a question from a mother who feels like her son prefers his birth mother since their reunion.
Ask AF: Ending the Comparison
An adoptive parent asks about a birth mother continuously pointing out physical resemblances, and wonders how to smooth out an open adoption arrangement. Read Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D.'s response.
The Grammar of Untold Stories: An Interview with Lois Melina
Lois Melina has been a voice of wisdom and authority in the world of adoption for decades. We connected with Melina upon the publication of her latest book, The Grammar of Untold Stories,a collection of personal essays, to discuss immigration and international adoption, transracial adoption and the Black Lives Matter movement, and the many ways adoption and infertility continue to surface in her writing.
Ask AF: Letting a Preteen Take the Lead in a Birth Parent Relationship
"At what age should we start letting our daughter take the lead in birth parent contact? I know that my daughter will be able to call her birth mom freely when she gets her own cellphone, so how do we step back responsibly?"
“The Advice I Wish I’d Gotten While Waiting to Adopt”
Most prospective adoptive parents don’t get cards or baby showers, or even much excitement. It’s time to change that. Buying something for your hoped-for baby won’t ‘jinx’ your plan to adopt, and 11 more things I wish someone had told me during the wait.
Capturing Your Child’s Journey Through Life
Four families share how they fit making scrapbooks and lifebooks into their busy lives after adopting.
Ask AF: Doesn’t Our Child Have a Right to Know About Her Birth Mother?
We have a closed adoption, per our child’s birth mother’s request. How can I ever tell my child that I know who her birth mother is, but can’t share that information?
Ask AF: Responding to Insensitive and Discouraging Comments During the Wait
"I'm so excited to be moving forward in the adoption process, but, when I share that news, I've been surprised and frankly dismayed at some of the reactions I've gotten. These range from dismissive to fearful and discouraging."
Ask AF: How to Share Sad News About a Birth Parent?
"When my daughter was in her teens, we sent a letter to her birth mother via our adoption agency, but never heard back. Yesterday, I got a social media message from her birth mother's sister, which shared sad news. How do I break this news to my daughter?"
Ask AF: Will Our Son See His Birth Mother with Her New Baby and Wonder, Why Not Him?
"Our son's birth mother is now married and parenting a newborn. How should I answer if he asks why they couldn't raise him?"
The Paternity Test, Part 1: “I Hope It’s Them”
When our daughter was born, her birth mom listed the birth father as “unknown.” Ten years later, he found us on social media and reached out.
“A Delicate Balance”
Years after reconnecting with her son, a birth mother explores her place in his life.
“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.
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: 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.
“Letting Go After Months of Struggling to Parent”
After struggling to parent my twin daughters for ten months, I sadly realized I couldn’t provide them with the stable life I’d envisioned.
A New Home, New Fears
A family move can be hard for any child.
Adopt Again?
Adopting a second child is a big step. Here's some been-there, done-that wisdom from parents to help you decide.
Bringing Birth Siblings Into Our Children’s Stories—and Lives
The vast majority of our children have birth siblings, yet parents may wonder how to approach the topic. Adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees share how they talk about biological siblings, and build brother-sister bonds.