When my husband and I dreamed of raising bilingual children, we had no idea that one of their languages would be rock and roll.
“Learning to Love in Our New Family”
I had gone to the end of the world to find my baby. So why didn’t we bond, and why didn’t I feel like a mother?
“Knowing Me As Mom”
Before we adopted her, Grace had never called anyone Mom or Dad. But she understood the concept of family with a wisdom beyond her years.
“How was the bonding?”
The woman’s question was the very one I had long ago asked strangers. And it was one I’d had to find the answer to on my own.
“Coming Into Focus”
Online images opened my heart, then my home.
“A Fearless Love”
I expected that my new daughter would need some time to get used to me, but I never thought she’d be frightened by me.
Ask AF: When Rocking Behavior Interferes with a Good Night’s Sleep
Our adoptive son rocks before going to sleep, and it’s started waking him up at night. How can we help him break out of this disruptive bedtime routine?
Parenting an Older Child Through the Testing Phase
Our readers asked how to parent their adoptive children through the testing phase. Our expert has answers for dealing with lying, carelessness, and anger.
Readers Share: Post Adoption Depression
It happened to me… (Share your story below!) When our daughter was about one year old, the euphoria of being a mother began to wear off, and I understood, for the first time, how difficult the loss was for our daughters birthmother. I felt very guilty and sad when I thought about…
“Two Days to Adoption”
We’d had seven days notice for our first adoption. For our second, four. Now, two. It was as if we’d been training for this moment, and we were at peak performance.
The Truth About Older Child Adoption
The first year after bringing home an older child is complicated, isolating, utterly frustrating…and amazing.
Helping Your Child Say Goodbye
Strong connections to the past will allow your child to embrace the future.
“The Most Natural Adoption”
As a newly minted adoptive mom reveling in my bond with my daughter, it just seemed natural to me when a mother goat on our farm took in a baby lamb.
Is Sibling Rivalry Another Name for Love?
In these three blended families, love and conflict are all part of the package.
Ask AF: Transition to Daycare
Answers to your parenting questions.
(Finally!) Feeling Like A Parent
We asked our readers, “When did you know in your heart that you were a mother or a father?” Here’s what they had to say!
Welcoming Your Child Home
We asked our readers: “What did you do to welcome your child into your family?” Here are some of the letters we received!
Adoption Day Celebration
Our readers share how they celebrate the anniversary of their child’s adoption and how to balance the celebrations so biological kids don’t feel left out.
A Bridge of Love: One Family’s Entrustment Ceremony
An entrustment ceremony is an powerful place to embark on our lives as adoptive parents.
New Baby, New Family Traditions
Rituals are the glue that binds a family together.