Some international adoption regulations require pre-adoption education for prospective adopters. Do you think this is a good idea? What kind of preparation did you have? Would you do anything differently?
Share Your Story: Choosing a Route
We asked our reader panel: “How, and why, did you choose between the different types of adoption?” This is what they shared.
Did Your Family Include a Reluctant Spouse?
Four years ago, my husband and I were happily raising our two daughters by birth when I decided that I was ready to adopt a son of a different race. My husband was content with our family as it was, and I struggled to give him the time he needed to think about adopting.
News Brief: Study Finds Counseling for Expectant Mothers Lacking
Expectant mothers considering adoption don’t receive adequate options counseling, finds a new Donaldson Adoption Institute study that surveyed 223 birth mothers.
Ask AF: Feeling Emotional Around the Holidays As We Wait
A prospective adoptive parent shares her feelings of sadness as the holidays approach while waiting to adopt. Parents who have been there offer advice.
Parent-to-Parent: Home Study Anxiety
The homestudy is a stressful experience for any prospective adoptive parent, but it can be especially nerve-wracking for those with health concerns or youthful indiscretions. Our readers offer advice on getting through this stage of the adoption process.
“Breaking New Ground”
In the days leading up to a second adoption, a mother worries: Are we about to turn our lives upside down? How will our daughter handle losing her position at the center of our attention? Will I be able to make room in my heart for another child?
“The Longest Mile”
“It’s been almost five months and my husband and I are still in labor. The pregnancy was even longer—twelve months. When will this baby come, we ask ourselves.”
Parent-to-Parent: Celebrating the Holidays While Waiting for Your Child
Parents share their experiences of celebrating the holidays while still waiting for their adoptions to be finalized.
Parent-to-Parent: Preparing for the Adoption Home Study Visit
Real parents share how they prepared for the adoption home study visit with a social worker, offering helpful tips and some funny stories.
“Logging On for Love”
Many of us wonder if the Internet is the adoption wave of the future. Here’s one family’s story.
Parent-to-Parent: What Does a Family Want to Hear While Waiting to Adopt?
Waiting to adopt is hard, especially when the wait stretches on for years. Real parents share the words that comforted them and got them through their waits.
Ask AF: What Adoptive Parents Need to Know About Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a contagious virus that can be passed from a mother to a baby at or around the time of birth. It can also be passed from one child to another in an orphanage, through blood or body fluids.
List of Recommended Post-Arrival Medical Evaluations
Adapted from an article by Deborah Borchers, M.D.
Ask AF: Feeling Excited and Scared as We Begin the Process
“We’re just beginning the adoption process, and are waffling between excitement—and terror. Is this normal?”
Questioning Medical Myths About Adoption
Make sure your infant or toddler is getting the care he needs.
Baby Safety Tips
Take steps to babyproof your home now—before your baby is able to get into trouble.
Ask the Doctor: Pre-Adoption Medical Assessment
What kind of referral information will I receive about a child available for adoption, and how do I assess it?
Ask AF: Revealing Health Problems During a Home Study
My wife has ongoing health problems, but they are not debilitating. Will this be a factor in the home study?
Ask AF: Disclosing Criminal History in a Home Study
When I was a teenager, I was convicted of driving under the influence. It was a long time ago and I am long past those drinking days. Do I need to tell the social worker about it?