The mementos we gathered during our long adoption stay have meant a great deal to our daughter as she grows up.
10 Steps to Adoption
Step 1: “Forget everything you’ve heard about how impossible or hard it is to adopt.” Read this, and other pearls of wisdom from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Adoption.
“Where Were You When You Got The Call?”
It’s the moment you’ll never forget. Here adoptive parents share the story of the most desired of all adoption situations, that all-important phone call…
How Do You Respond to “How Long Did It Take You to Adopt?”
We asked our readers: How do you respond when someone asks you how long it takes to adopt? Read the answers from adoptive parents.
“Uncharted Territory”
Sometimes, you go somewhere expecting it to be totally different, and it ends up seeming familiar. I had that feeling as I led a group of students on a trip to China—and then again, back home, as we met an expectant mother.
“My Journey Through the Stages of Adoption”
Much like the trimesters of pregnancy, I moved through phases of worry, disbelief, and pure joy while I waited to adopt.
Share Your Story: Choosing a Gender
We asked our readers: should adopting parents be allowed to choose gender? This is what real parents shared about their decisions.
Share Your Story: Announcing Your Adoption
We asked our Reader Panel: Outside of your immediate family, who was the first person you told about your decision to adopt, and how did you tell them?
“Waiting on a Dream”
Matched out of the blue with an expectant mother, we were told the next call might come within days. But as the wait stretched to weeks and then months, I despaired—would our dreams ever come true?
“You Have to Be Perfect.” And Other Adoption Myths
Sometimes it’s not just those unfamiliar with adoption who are misinformed.
Online Adoption Resources for Prospective Parents
Our recommendations for online adoption resources — from government sites to attorney directories — selected by the editors of Adoptive Families magazine.
“Caught on Camera: Our Surprise Adoption Match”
Have you ever been at a baby shower where they play a home video of the mother-to-be surprising her partner with news of her pregnancy? As we grappled with infertility, my wife and I hated those videos, even as we desperately hoped for one of our own.
“Memory Givers”
As parents, we shape the memories our children will carry through their lives. What a delightful, and intimidating, prospect!
Parent-to-Parent: My Best Domestic Adoption Travel Advice
If you traveled domestically to adopt, what’s one piece of advice you can give others as they prepare to do the same? See parents’ answers.
Your Guide to Adoption Travel
The big day is finally here. Referral or hospital address in hand, you’re ready to meet your child. But before you board that plane, learn from our experts (read: adoptive parents) how to make your adoption trip the journey of a lifetime.
“When the Heart Won’t Wait”
Desperate to be with her newborn son, one mother packs up her family and heads to Guatemala to foster him.
“The Fine Print”
When the mundane tasks required for our dossier get complicated, each one we complete feels like a mini-victory—and reminds me of how much I want to be a dad.
Your First Meeting with an Expectant Mother
For prospective adoptive parents hoping to meet an expectant mother, few situations are more anxiety-inducing than their first encounter. Whether you plan to meet in person or over the phone, knowing ahead of time what questions to ask-and not ask-can reduce your anxiety and help you make the most of this opportunity to obtain information.
“Which Baby Gift Registry is Best?”
Readers share their registry experiences—and tell us which companies have adoption-friendly options.
Writing Your “Dear Expectant Mother” Letter
Keep in mind that your goal is to connect with the right expectant mother for you. Successful adoptions occur when prospective adoptive parents and birth parents make a strong pre-birth connection. So, resist making yourself into something you’re not.