“We found that using massage techniques helped our child relax and eased the transition from an orphanage setting to that of a loving family.”
Into the Safety of Our Hearts from Hard Places
Years of working with at-risk adopted children have taught us powerful truths about how to forge a strong parent-child connection. When children have experienced maltreatment or neglect prior to adoption, the idea of family may be confusing to them.
Learning to Be Mother and Son
“A lot of people didn’t believe,” Ms. Horton said. “But I believe in my child. And his therapist believed.”
Positive Parenting for Behavior Problems
When parents expect the worst from their children, they often get it.
“The Dog Who Came to Stay”
“Moments after bringing our new puppy home, I understood that raising this dog would begin to create a history for our new daughter, would lodge her firmly within our family. A family pet conjures notions of family ties, of belonging.”
“Sleeping Together as a Family”
At night, each of this mother’s three children wanted to be with mom.
“Winning Our Son’s Trust”
Could our loving home help this hurt, angry boy, or was it already too late?
Keeping Our Children Connected
“We visit and communicate directly with their foster family. These efforts help our sons build and sustain important relationships. They have already experienced too much loss and grief in their young lives.”
Do Adoptees Struggle with Change and Transition?
“My daughter has greater difficulties with transitions than her friends who were born into their families. If we know a transition is coming, we prepare.”
“Becoming Mom to My Brother-in-Law’s Kids”
A noble view of adoption, with me as rescuer, had little to do with the reality of creating a family.
“And Now We Are Three”
Mix one American couple, one preteen Russian boy, and one summer program…and what do you get? Family.
Ask the Doctor: How Do I Feed My Newborn?
Everything you need to know about bonding with and nourishing your child during feeding times, from an adoption medicine expert.
Baby Safety Tips
Take steps to babyproof your home now—before your baby is able to get into trouble.
Ask AF: A New Sister
We’ve been reading a Big Brother book to our three-year-old son (adopted at birth) to prepare him for the arrival of a six-week-old sister.
Ask AF: Years of Sleep Struggles
My seven-year-old daughter, adopted at age three, can’t fall sleep without skin-to-skin contact (stroking her arm or back).
Ask AF: Attachment to One Parent
The two-year-old we’ve adopted lived with her birth mother, and had never been around men before. She wants nothing to do with my husband, which hurts him greatly.
Nourishing Beyond Growth Charts
How to assess a newly adopted child’s nutritional status and get a malnourished child’s growth on track.
Deborah Gray on Attachment
Adoptive Families sat down for a Q&A with attachment guru Deborah Gray. When will a parent know a bond is in place? How can working parents solidify their connection with a newly adopted child? We asked these questions and more.
“Re-Celebrating My Daughter’s First Nine Birthdays”
My daughter’s tenth birthday was the first birthday party she’d ever had. Here’s how and why we decided to redo all the others.
Feed Me! Formula Facts
Formulas, nutrition, and feeding — everything you need to know about filling your child’s tummy.