“Mom, just drop us off at the corner!”
Alleviating Adoptee Stress at School
Every Sunday evening, at the Gordon house, 10-year-old Kelly began complaining about something. Her pains ranged from stomachaches to sore throats. She said she felt too unwell to go to school the next day.
When It Comes to Homework—Are You Doing Too Much?
Battles over homework can disrupt family life any evening of the school week. To lessen the trauma, parents frequently step in to help and occasionally step over the line. We asked Anita Pollic, a fourth grade teacher at Lebanon Christian School in Lebanon, Ohio, about this important topic.
Family Activities (That Don’t Involve Screens)
It can be a challenge to tear tweens away from their screens for some good old fashioned family bonding—until you try one of these activities!
Wanting to Be Like Everyone Else
Your preteen just wants to be cool. But how can he, when he’s “different”?
When Kids Deny Their Adoption
It’s not uncommon for preteens to pretend they weren’t adopted, in an effort to not be different.
Mortifying Moms
You used to be the coolest mom on the block–at least in the mind of your kid. Now she rolls her eyes at everything you do. What’s up?
[Book Review] Telling The Truth To Your Adopted Or Foster Child: Making Sense Of The Past
Betsy Keefer Smalley and Jayne E. Schooler’s book will help parents who are struggling to find the right words to tell an adoption story in a positive and realistic way.
Minimizing Placement Trauma
Pre-adolescents have special needs in a foster care placement. Our expert provides tips on how to make the transition to an adoptive home a little easier.
Recapturing the Heart of Your Child
When a foster child who has been in your care goes back to live with his birth family, and then comes back to your home, a different child returns.
Easing an Older Child’s Adjustment
The transition from foster care to forever family can be difficult on a child. Use these strategies when bringing home an older child.
The Power of Mom
Who can teach an adolescent boy to open up? You guessed it.
Ask AF: Talking About Name Changes
Adoption expert Jayne Schooler discusses name changes after adoption, both for children adopted as infants and older adoptees.
Ask AF: Children Separated by a Fost/Adopt
A mother wonders how much contact is best for her son and his biological siblings. Jayne Schooler weighs in.
When Kids Find Mom Embarrassing
No matter what you do, your preteen is mortified by your presence. What’s going on?
Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child
In this excerpt from her book, Jayne Schooler offers adoptive parents tools for helping their children make sense of the past.
When Your Kid Clams Up
If your preteen is suddenly silent about adoption, look for “reachable” moments.
Keep the Adoption Conversation Going
Let your child know you are open to talking about her birth family.
Peers, Pressure, and Popularity
“Come on, everyone else is doing it.”