Whether you see your child’s birth parents frequently or have never had contact, you can still imbue your adoption and your relationship with your child with openness.
“For the Love of My Child”
When Elizabeth was young, closed adoption was comfortable. But my outlook changed the day my teenage daughter said, “I want to find them.”
“A Birthday Gift for Grace”
It wasn’t until my daughter’s first birthday that it hit me: I was grieving her birth mom’s loss. With that realization, I was able to celebrate as she would have wanted.
Keeping Our Children Connected
“We visit and communicate directly with their foster family. These efforts help our sons build and sustain important relationships. They have already experienced too much loss and grief in their young lives.”
Parent-to-Parent: Photographs of the Birth Family
Parents share whether they have photos of their child’s birth family displayed in their homes—where, why or why not, and how they talk about them.
[BOOK EXCERPT] The Hundred-Year Flood
This poetic novel features a transracial adoptee protagonist as he explores his identity and seeks answers about his past in an unfamiliar city. Accompanying the excerpt is a Q&A with the author, Matthew Salesses.
Talking to Expectant Mothers Before a Match
We just completed our profile for potential birth mothers, and our agency told us to start expecting calls. How do we handle those first conversations?
[Book Review] Megan’s Birthday Tree
When Megan was born, her birth mother, Kendra, planted a tree in her backyard. Every year on Megan’s birthday, Kendra decorates the tree and sends photos of it to Megan, in honor of their special bond.
Ask AF: Books for Understanding the Birth Mothers’ Perspective
Do you know of any books, like I Wish for You a Beautiful Life: Letters from the Korean Birth Mothers of Ae Ran Won to Their Children, written for kids adopted from China?
Questions About Being “Given Up”
Our seven-year-old daughter knows her adoption story, but, lately, she’s been asking a lot of questions about why she was ‘given up.’
“A Mother’s Day Not About Me”
To the birth mother of my three children through adoption, wherever you are, I say thank you for allowing me to be their “other” mommy.
Setting Boundaries in Open Adoption
In an open adoption, your child’s birth parents become part of your extended family. Here are some common questions when it comes to managing those relationships.
When Birth Moms Get the Blues
It may take some time for your child’s birth mother to work through her grief. But there are ways you can help.
Keeping Up Contact with Birth Parents
An open adoption arrangement may be buffeted by passing time and changing circumstances. Here’s how to make your relationship endure.
“Welcomed By Our Daughter’s Birth Family”
I asked my family not to come to the hospital when she was born, then mourned their absence. Enter her birth relatives.
A Mother’s Day Ritual
A simple ceremony with flowers and candles helped my children celebrate their love for two mothers.
When Teens Find Birth Family Online
Got a Web-savvy teen on your hands? Here’s how to set safety guidelines for online birth family contact.
“A Stocking Filled with Memories of our Foster Child”
We knew it was possible for the girl we were fostering to be reunited with her birth mother. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.
“The Day I Gave My Heart Away”
A birth mother shares her feelings and thoughts about making an adoption plan for her child.
Adoption Law: At the Hospital
An adoption attorney explains the legal steps surrounding your child’s birth when you adopt domestically.