I learned that the ultimate gift of love comes not from the receiver, but from the giver.
Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child
In this excerpt from her book, Jayne Schooler offers adoptive parents tools for helping their children make sense of the past.
When Your Teen Starts to Date
As adopted teens enter the dating game, unique issues will arise. Are you ready to tackle them?
Imaginary Birth Parents
Your child may never have met his first mom and dad. But that doesn’t mean he’s not spinning stories about them.
Figuring Out Adoption
Preteens need a safe place to explore adoption questions.
Keep the Adoption Conversation Going
Let your child know you are open to talking about her birth family.
The Open Adoption Family Dynamic
As more of us live with open adoption, we’re seeing how it plays out in daily life — and bumping into some unanticipated wrinkles.
Ask AF: Ending the Comparison
An adoptive parent asks about a birth mother continuously pointing out physical resemblances, and wonders how to smooth out an open adoption arrangement. Read Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D.’s response.
Ask AF: Sharing Tough Information
“We have very little information about our five-year-old daughter’s birth parents, but what we do know is disturbing. When should we share this information, and how” Read Mary Ann Curran’s answer.
“A Last-Minute Birth Mother Reunion”
Heritage trips help children discover their past — and influence who they become. Here, one family describes their journey back to their child’s birth country of Korea.
“Someone Who Shares My Joy”
Our open adoption allows us to share the love we have for our daughter with her birth parents.
Ask AF: Talking About Sex & Marriage
Ronny Diamond discusses introducing conservative views on sex and marriage to your adopted child, without appearing to judge their birth family.
In Search of Identity
It’s not unusual for teens to start thinking more about their birth parents. In fact, it’s normal.
Ask AF: After a Birth Family Reunion
Open adoption expert Kathleen Silber answers a question from a mother who feels like her son prefers his birth mother since their reunion.
When a Birth Parent Moves On
It’s not that she doesn’t care, it’s that life takes twists and turns.
Making Peace with Missing Information
We may not have the answers to all of our children’s questions about adoption and their birth families. But we must accept that fact, so we can help our children come to terms with it, too.
Ask AF: Difficult Details
Answers to your parenting questions.
Ask AF: Contacting Birth Siblings
“Our 10-year-old daughter recently asked if she has any brothers or sisters. She does, but we don’t know how to start explaining.” Kathleen Silber offers advice.
Ask AF: Telling Family About a Birth Child
Kathleen Silber answers a question from a woman who placed a birth child for adoption years ago, and wonders how and when to tell her family.
Ask AF: A Fantasy Father
Ronny Diamond discusses fantasy play in adopted children. In this case, a single mother worries about the imaginary “father” her daughter talks about.