Anyone who has gone through, or is in the midst of their adoption journey knows that the waiting can be one of the most difficult parts. Whether it is waiting to be selected by birth parents, waiting for your child to be born or waiting for your adoption to finalize, it is just plain hard…
Read Full Article
During the adoption process, sometimes things don’t always go as planned. There are many factors involved, and sometimes the needs, worries, and emotions of others can get in the way of placing a child with their adoptive family. One of the most difficult instances of this is adoption disruption. When this happens, a child can…
Read Full Article
The adoption process can take an incredibly long time, which can cause serious strain and stress for some families. Usually, the time it takes to adopt a baby can be anywhere from several months to a year or more, and the wait time can be even longer to adopt a child through international adoptions.…
Read Full Article
A common question among prospective adoptive parents revolves around a name change. Should the adopted child’s name be changed? Modified? Or should it remain the same with the exception of the last name? Factors to consider when making a name change in adoption: 1. Safety There are many factors to consider when making a naming decision.…
Read Full Article
Adoption is a complex topic, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming if you arm yourself with knowledge about the process and how to adopt, and the right adoption professional. Growing your family with adoption is a big undertaking. This is a chance to experience parenthood in a unique way, and start a family, maybe for the…
Read Full Article
Sometimes I feel like there is this underlying force in the adoption community. I hate that it is there. I do all I can to fight it. I do all I can to stay as far away from it as possible…but sometimes, it’s just there. I don’t know when, why, or how competition snuck it’s ugly…
Read Full Article
Five years ago, I was struggling to find my footing as a new, adoptive mother. My husband and I had just adopted our first child, and I was desperate to find support beyond just the adoption books and blogs I had been reading. I craved face-to-face interaction with women who understood what it is like…
Read Full Article
Reader: Do most people work with multiple agencies at the the same time? Adoption Coach:Dear Reader: Thank you for your question. You asked if “most” people work with multiple agencies at once. And the answer is that there really isn’t much data to verify an answer. First, some agencies do not allow prospective adoptive parents…
Read Full Article
Reader: What would you say are the most important things to look for when deciding on an agency to work with? Do you prefer any over others? Adoption Coach:Dear Reader: Thank you for your question. A common concern for those new to adoption is how to choose an agency. There are so many agencies to…
Read Full Article
Reader: How do you cope with the wait/search/disappointment? Adoption Coach:Dear Reader: Your sentiments are felt by many prospective adoptive parents. Waiting for the news that you have been referred or chosen can be incredibly frustrating, confusing, disheartening, and anxiety-inducing. It’s important that prospective adoptive parents keep three main ideas in mind while waiting. First, do…
Read Full Article
Reader: We have 3 biological children and adopted a girl from Ecuador a year ago. Bonding is going slowly. It’s going slower for me than I anticipated, but even worse for the kids. They argue a lot, keep track of others wrongs and annoying habits. They compare almost everything—who has more of this or that.…
Read Full Article
Reader: I’ve heard that it may be possible for an adoptive mother to have a breastfeeding relationship with her child to foster bonding and attachment. Can you give me some idea of how one would go about this? Is it necessary for you to have given birth or nursed before? If it turns out you…
Read Full Article
Reader: My husband and I adopted our 6 year old son from Ethiopia. He came home at 14 months. At age 3.5 he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). He is bright, but not yet at the point of understanding that all babies grow in tummies, let alone that…
Read Full Article
Reader: I am looking for a good kids book to help my biological child age 9 understand the adoption of his younger sister. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Adoption Coach:Dear Reader: Congrats on adding to your family through adoption! You are wise to carefully consider your son’s feelings and adoption education. First, be prepared to…
Read Full Article
