We asked our readers: should adopting parents be allowed to choose gender? This is what real parents shared about their decisions.
“How I Parent My Transracial Family”
Like all mixed race families in America, we face stereotyping as a matter of course. These six lessions have helped enrich my family.
“Amanda’s Journey Home to Her Birth Country”
"You belong to two heritages-Jewish and Latin American-and at this special time in your life, when many Jewish families travel to the Mideast, we're heading south." More than a few heads turned when I announced this in my speech to my thirteen-year-old daughter, Amanda, on the occasion of her bat mitzvah.
“Waiting on a Dream”
Matched out of the blue with an expectant mother, we were told the next call might come within days. But as the wait stretched to weeks and then months, I despaired—would our dreams ever come true?
Letters to the Editor, RE: September 2017
Readers share feedback about articles published in the September 2017 issue of Adoptive Families magazine.
Ask AF: Explaining to Our Child That We Can’t Adopt Her Foster Sister
"We just found out that we won't be able to adopt the child we've been fostering. How do we tell the child, and explain to our older daughter?"
Answering Kids’ Big Questions About Birth Parents
Between the ages of six and eight, children begin to ask more sophisticated questions about adoption. Here are some ways to respond.
Post-Arrival Medical Evaluations
Your guide to identifying medical problems common to internationally adopted children.
Preparing Our Children to Talk About Race
When you form a transracial family, you must build in a system to combat racism.
Raising a Racially Ambiguous Child
We asked our reader panel: Have you ever been asked to explain your child's ethnic identity? How do you respond?
“Looking for Answers in Guatemala”
When it came to locating our daughter's birth mother in Guatemala, we didn't know where to begin. But we knew that we had to try.
Deciding on a Second Child
More might be merrier, but the family dynamic is sure to change.
Race Matters at Pact Camp
A summer heritage camp that's all about helping transracial families.
News Brief: ACLU Sues Michigan for Allowing Discrimination Against LGBT Prospective Parents
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the state of Michigan for allowing state-funded adoption agencies to turn away qualified LGBT prospective parents.
Ask AF: Just Found Out That My Child Is Friends with His Birth Mother on Facebook
"I recently found out that my teen is friends with his birth mother on Facebook. I feel badly that I found this out by 'snooping,' but I am also shocked and upset that she didn’t try to contact us or the adoption agency first. What should we do?"
Helping Teens with Transitions
Avoid sit down lectures and look for teachable moments to get your teen to open up.
How to Talk About “Dad” in Single Mother Families
Single-parent homes are more common now, but kids still grapple with the daddy question.
When Teens Want to Search for Birth Parents
Part of how teens form identity is by finding ways they are alike and different from their family. They may want to search for their genetic relatives to figuring out who they are and how to emotionally put pieces in place.
“5 Things I Wish My White Parents Knew”
Transracial adoptees often grow up knowing that their families love them, but not truly feeling included or close to them. Here’s what would have helped in raising a black child in a white family and a racist world.
Navigating the Teen Years, Part 2: Maintaining Your Emotional Connection
Teens don't tend to talk with their friends about their feelings about being adopted, being teased, or other tough topics. But if you have a healthy, trusting relationship, they'll open up to you. An adoption therapist advises on maintaining an empathic connection with your teen.