Your adopted child is starting school. You worry about sharing adoption with teachers and administrators and how parents and other children will respond. For those with children who look like them, you have thoughts of not sharing the adoption at all. For those whose children do not physically resemble them, there are concerns over how […]
Category: Parenting
Parenting is one of the most comprehensive and important roles a person can assume. You become responsible for a child’s physical and emotional needs, academic, religious, social and recreational exposures, and their overall well being and happiness. You will introduce them to the extended family, teach them how to be a friend and a community member, and, over time, how to care for themselves and become independent. You will need to rearrange your schedule to include your child’s needs and interests in everyday planning. You will share your skills, hobbies and interests, and learn new ones as your child pursues those that interest him or her. The joys and challenges of parenting change over time as the relationship builds over a lifetime.
Talking (Too Much or Too Little) About Adoption
Sometimes I wonder if I talk about adoption enough—or too much. I started talking about adoption even before my daughters understood the word. I wanted to be comfortable. I would sometimes just repeat a phrase like “I am so happy I adopted you” or “I can’t believe adoption works.” As my kids got older and […]
Talking to Children About Adoption: 10-13 Years Old
Preteens are struggling with identity. They are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in. As they spend more and more time away from their families, they are influenced by peers and other adults. They are being exposed to new ideas and behaviors. In turn, they are thinking things through and […]
Newborn Baby Care
Congratulations! You made it home with your baby. Now what?! Being a first time parent can be nerve-wracking and very disorienting. All of a sudden you are completely responsible for the life of someone else. It may even strike you as absurd at various times. But once you have your feet under you, you’ll be […]
What Does Adoption Mean to Preteens?
Preteens just want to fit in and be accepted by peers. They are very aware of their adoption status and that not all kids are adopted. All kids of this age, adopted or not, grapple with identity and where they belong. For the adopted child, this is a time to merge their birth and adoptive […]
Talking to Children About Adoption: Newborn – 18 Months
All kids like stories. Make it about themselves and they are captivated. The key here is for the storyteller to be comfortable with the subject matter. They more you practice, the better. By the time your child understands and comprehends how you became a family, you will be an experienced narrator. Infants – 18 months […]