When non-traditional families are making the decision to adopt, the first questions they often have are, “How will my identity impact my adoption?”
Deciding to Adopt: What About Birth Families?
“We cannot build healthy relationships with our children on secrecy and lies—and this includes lies of omission.”
Glossary of Adoption Terms
As you work on your adoption, never hesitate to ask your social worker, attorney, or adoption agency, “What exactly do you mean by that?”
Will We Live Happily Ever After? 15 Adoptees on Adoption
My experience is that families are families, period. It doesn’t matter if the people in the family share DNA. It doesn’t matter if kids have come from their mother’s bodies or not. Kids are kids, and parents are parents.
Is This Normal? Speech Delays, Learning Disabilities, and Complications
What do I do if my child has emotional, behavioral, or academic problems?
Who Needs to Know Your Child’s Adoption Story?
Should I tell my child’s doctor she was adopted? What about her school?
Parents Share: Creating Our Child’s Adoption Story
Parents share how they impart and strengthen their child’s adoption story.
What Do I Tell My Child?
Speaking about birth history helps all family members get used to the words and narrative, and lets your child know that he or she can always come forward with questions and emotions about birth parents.
The Basics of Open Adoption
What is “open adoption” — and what might it mean for your family?
Parents Share: Our Bonding Experience
Every family bonds differently. Here, readers share what worked for them.
Overcoming Obstacles to Bonding
Bonding won’t always be automatic. Read up on common problems you and your child might encounter.
Bonding and Attachment Basics for You and Your Child
How can I bond with a child that “isn’t mine”?
An Age-by-Age Guide to Bonding
No matter how old your child is when she comes home, learn how to boost her attachment and connect her to her new family.
How Can you Help Your International Adoption Succeed?
What goes wrong in international adoptions — and how can you help yours go through?
What if My Adoption Fails?
Adoptions fall apart at different stages (with different legal consequences), and there are different reasons for each kind of failure.
10 Steps to Coping with a Failed Adoption
Don’t be afraid to take time to grieve after a failed adoption. Your future family will be better for it.
Our Adoption Referral Story
AF readers share how they reacted when they received their adoption referral.
Responding to an Adoption Referral
Don’t agree to any match or referral on the spot. Before moving forward, ask yourself these questions.
Choosing a Referral or Expectant Mother Match: The Basics
What happens when you get a referral?
Preparing for Your Child During the Wait
The very best way to occupy your time while you wait for your child is to learn everything you can about raising adopted children, and to prepare for any eventuality.