As I dove into research about in vitro fertilization, I kept waiting to be excited about this wondrous technology. But the excitement never came. When our talk turned to adoption, however, I felt the rebirth of hope.
“I’m an Adoptee and Adoptive Parent”
My daughters and I have something important in common. We share the experience of joining a family through adoption.
Parent-to-Parent: My Best Advice to Myself
Adoptive parents share the best adoption advice they would give themselves if they could go back five years, whether that would take them back to the adoption process or the early days of parenting.
“The Perfect Season of the Heart”
A father and son find that, in the face of catastrophe, despair, and death, the antidote is life.
“How I Met My Daughters”
I may not remember when I first knew I wanted to be a mother, but the moments leading up to and the first time I saw my daughters are indelibly etched in my memory.
“And Baby Makes Three”
A single mom’s decision to adopt a second time.
Making the Decision to Grow Your Family Through Adoption
Have you been wondering whether to bring a second (or third) child into your home? An adoption social worker helps parents contemplating adoption to unpack their motivations and make the decision with eyes wide open.
Adopt Again?
Adopting a second child is a big step. Here’s some been-there, done-that wisdom from parents to help you decide.
Ask AF: Should We Adopt Our Child’s Birth Siblings?
A mother of three seeks advice on adopting her child’s birth siblings. She worries that her child will feel hurt if they don’t, but also that they won’t have the energy or resources to parent more children.
“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.
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.
How Did You Word Your Adoption Announcement?
Did you create a custom announcement, or adapt a pre-printed template? There are so many questions when sharing the news of your new family member. Our readers explain what they included.
From Infertility to Adoption
“After four years of fertility treatments, a friend recommended that we attend an adoption seminar. My husband and I weren’t open to adoption, but we decided to go. The hour-and-a-half seminar changed our lives forever.”
“And Now We Are Three”
Mix one American couple, one preteen Russian boy, and one summer program…and what do you get? Family.
Ask AF: How Does Stepparent Adoption Work?
I recently remarried, and my husband would like to adopt my son. Is this possible?
When Love Has a Price
“Good-hearted, ethical people find themselves turning a blind eye to red flags, not because they are desperate for a baby, but because they know they will provide a good home to a child who needs one.”
“My Decision to Adopt Transracially”
I thought. I researched. I talked. But in the end, it took a leap of faith to adopt across racial lines.
“Dear Infertility Patient”
From a woman who finally became an adoptive mother after a decade of trying, here are a few things I wish someone had told me years ago.
Is Special Needs Adoption Right for Your Family?
Why adopt a child with medical special needs? The answers will surprise you and touch your soul.