Around age six or seven, children start to wonder, “Who am I?” This is when our children can truly understand that joining your family through adoption means they left another.
Setting Appropriate Behavioral Expectations
When younger children misbehave, they may not really know that they are misbehaving, and can be easily distracted or physically moved. But by age three to five, a child should be more aware of inappropriate behavior.
Adoption and Divorce
My husband and I are contemplating a divorce. Will our daughter’s adoption status figure into the legal proceedings?
Ask the Doctor: Anemia
Our medical expert explains symptoms, causes, and treatments that parents need to know when adopting a child with anemia.
Parent-To-Parent: Happy Adoption Day
Did you celebrate the day you met your child or his adoption finalization? Do you continue to mark that day every year? What do you call it? Members of our Facebook page shared their stories.
Parent-To-Parent: Like Parent, Like Child
On our Facebook page, we asked readers: How are you and your child surprisingly alike?
Parent-To-Parent: My Child, My Role Model
On our Facebook page, we asked readers: What qualities do you most admire in your child that are most different from your own? Here’s what they had to say.
Parent-To-Parent: Time for Cake!
On our Facebook page, a reader asked for help: “Does anyone have suggestions for what to write on a cake to celebrate finalization?” Here are some of your ideas for topping off the icing on the cake.
Our Family Snapshots
We asked AF readers to send in their most memorable family portraits, and the response we got was overwhelming. Each photo represented a story that was inspiring, fascinating, and unique. Here are a few of our favorites.
Sibling Snapshots
From the first meeting to a grown-up wedding, readers shared candid photos of adopted siblings. Here are some of our favorites.
Ask AF: Smoothing the Transition to College
We’re worried that our daughter, who had trouble with attachment, might struggle as she goes off to college. How can we support her during this time?
Ask AF: Upset About Mom’s Pregnancy
Q: We adopted our daughter from foster care at age 11. Two months ago, I found out I was pregnant. At first she was very excited, but now she huffs or changes the subject whenever it comes up. I’m sure she’s upset that she’ll have to share her room and her parents, but how can I prove that our love for her will remain the same?
“The Baby Sister Effect”
An amazing transformation occurred in our family when we brought our newly adopted baby girl home to our two biological sons, then seven and nine. Like other boys their ages, my sons thought mostly about sports, food, Star Wars, playing with their friends, and, occasionally, about school.
“A Test of Character”
In June of 2004, while flying with my family to China, I wondered what our new family would be like. Would our two boys, our biological sons, treat their new sister differently? Our oldest, Dakota, was four at the time of our trip, and Cole was almost three.
“Taking Moms for Granted”
We try to teach our daughter Mariah gratitude. But I know we’re doing something right when she takes us for granted.
“Why My Daughter Wants Me to Marry”
In Eleni’s mind, my future husband would have two daughters, preferably between the ages of six and 14. And perhaps a dog or two, so the pets could keep each other company. (My husband would be my buddy, so we’d all have someone to play with.) We’d live in a big house, with a wraparound porch and flat-screen TVs. And if anything bad happened in the world–like if people started kidnapping lots of children, “Mommy — we’d all be there to protect each other.”
Expanding a Picky Eater’s Palate
“Our daughter was underweight when she came home and very picky. Two years later, mealtimes are still constant battles to get her to eat enough and to try new foods.”
“Come Play with Me!”
Projective play can help kids work out complex feelings about adoption. So, the next time your child says, “Come play with me!” Make sure you say, “Yes!”
“Adoption 101 in Room 26”
When presenting adoption to 10-year-olds, the teacher’s cooperation and your child’s involvement are key.
Why Babies Need Books
Babies respond not only to the visual stimuli of books, but to the intimate act of storytelling.