Twenty-six years after placing my son for adoption, we found each other. That’s when I started learning—the hard way—how to be a mom.
Ask AF: Limited Information About Birth Family
My 5-year-old has been asking a lot about her birth father recently, but I only have information about her birth mother.
Addressing Learning and Language Delays
Early assessment can make all the difference when a child has learning or language developmental delays.
“The Blank Spaces” – Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Effects
I am angry at the price my son has to pay for his birth mother's decision to drink while pregnant — but I can't be angry at her.
“The Stages of Waiting”
Are all the bewildering ups and downs I've experienced during our wait typical of the international adoption process?
6 Questions Every Adopted Teen Wants Answered
In this excerpt from Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens, we take a look at what goes on in the minds of teens, and offer advice for talking with them.
The Reluctant Spouse
Don't be surprised if your mate resists adoption even as you are embracing it.
Do We Stop at Just One?
Wondering whether to raise an only child? Half of all adoptive families do. How they thrive, despite occasional (or frequent!) second thoughts.
Helping Your Preschooler Feel Good About Race
Preschoolers are starting to notice racial differences. Adoptive parents have a responsibility to talk about them.
“Getting Rid of ‘Gotcha Day'”
What do you call the day your adoptive child came home? In this personal essay, one mother explains why "Gotcha Day" can be offensive for some adoptees.
Breastfeeding Without Birthing
A lactation consultant and breastfeeding adoptive mom explains how to achieve a nursing relationship with your baby.
Q&A: Bryan and Angela Tucker of Closure
After a lifetime of wondering who? and why?, an adoptee set out to find some answers. The award-winning documentary that follows her birth family search has already sparked thousands of dialogues.
Wanting to Be Like Everyone Else
Your preteen just wants to be cool. But how can he, when he's "different"?
The Other Side of Privilege
If we're white, we experience many benefits of unearned status because we're "the norm." But adoptive families are not considered the norm. Now what?
“Real-World Lessons”: Adopting a Teenager from Foster Care
We adopted a teenager from foster care as veteran parents and thought we were prepared for what lay ahead—but our new son still taught us a thing or two.
The Evolving Conversation
Should parents initiate talk about adoption or wait for their child's questions? Sometimes you lead, say the authors, and sometimes you follow.
Showered with Love
Whether you feel most comfortable holding it after completing your dossier, or when you receive your referral — an adoption shower is a wonderful way to celebrate your growing family.
When Your Child is of a Different Race
If you build a positive self-image for your child, he'll be able to thrive in a world that is not always fair.
The Dance of Attachment
Bonding with your baby is a process, so go with the flow.
When the New Brother or Sister Is Not a Baby
When a sibling arrives at an older age or with emotional challenges, everyone will benefit from realistic expectations — and patience.