A single mom’s decision to adopt a second time.
“Awake at Last”
Sometimes love comes easy. Other times, it must be earned. This is the story of how I let go of my preconceived ideas about bonding and motherhood and became brave enough to trust my heart.
“What If?”
What if I don’t love this child the same as I love the others? This question is probably every pre-adoptive parent’s most secret worry. Here are the words that reassured me.
“Another Generation”
The author of this story anticipates sharing his life with a child after a long wait.
“A Sense of Belonging”
As I wait to adopt, having friends I identify with has made all the difference.
“On Choosing, or Changing, Schools”
As I weighed diversity, academics, and other factors when choosing schools for my transracially adopted children, I perpetually second-guessed myself. But now that my kids are teens, I’m ready to trust their decisions.
“Anniversary”
One year after my daughter came to live with me from foster care, the memory was still too bittersweet for her. But today, two years after becoming mother and daughter, we are ready to celebrate.
“Sometime in the Night”
In this personal essay, a single dad shares the story of the night he met his daughter in China.
“Which Ones Are Yours?”
There’s this poem I’m supposed to love. I first read it when we adopted our oldest son: Not flesh of my flesh nor bone of my bone/But still miraculously my own./Never forget, for a single minute,/You didn’t grow under my heart, but in it.
“Adopting From Russia…Again?”
One thing led to another, and we became—unexpectedly—twice blessed.
Sharing Our Children
“Adoptive families get to know their children for who they are, something that biological families usually don’t do,” says the author.
“Where We All Belong”
When I was a teen, my parents decided to grow our family by adopting from foster care. How did it feel to suddenly gain four new brothers and sisters through adoption?
“The One Place I Thought I’d Fit In”
I’d expected to fit in at the adoptive parents’ support group. At the first meeting, however, I found I was the only mom who’d adopted domestically, who looked like her child.
Parent-to-Parent: My Favorite Adoption Memory
Adoptive parents and adoptees share their favorite adoption memories from the past year, including first Mother’s Days, finalizing adoptions, and gaining access to open records.
“The Red Thread of Fate”
More than a decade ago, I was hopefully working my way toward an adoption from China. After a tragedy derailed my plans, I wound my way to family in an entirely different way.
“Our Daughter is Growing Up”
Our only child is away this week. It’s a first for us, 11 busy years after we triumphantly carried our daughter home from the adoption agency.
“Ode to Joy”
A simple radio broadcast can bring up my worries for my daughter’s future, and my fears as an older parent.
“More Love Is More Love”
In many families, relationships come without exact names. While adoption highlighted this truth, it was already a given in my family—and maybe in yours, too?
“American-Indian, Indian-American”
American by birth, Indian by virtue of being raised by us, the hyphen may define my twins more than either of the terms throughout their lives.
“My Christmas Dream Come True”
When I bought the ornament, I imagined hanging it on the tree with the child I was carrying. But after I miscarried, I packed it away for years.