As she anticipates the release of her documentary Hayden & Her Family, the filmmaker reconnects with the mother of 12 she profiled to discuss special needs adoption, parenting outside “normal” boundaries, and how loving a child changes you.
“I Needed a Different Parenting Handbook…” – Parenting Children with FASD
Belated diagnoses of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) changed the way this mom parented her children, and the way she savored their successes. Join with her as she recounts some of their small victories and hard-won life lessons from their 20-year journey.
How to Raise a Bounce-Back Kid
Most kids are born to rebound whatever their start in life. Research shows that parents can help.
How Parents Can Encourage Language Skills
About 10% of children have speech and language difficulties. Help your child develop these skills with these five tips.
Ask AF: How to Help Our Teen Through Depression?
“Our 17-year-old is experiencing depression and has been smoking pot. She told us she sees her depression as connected to adoption, which surprised us, because we’ve always talked openly about adoption. How can we help her?”
Ask AF: How to Tell My Son That I Can’t Adopt His Biological Sister?
An adoptive mother explores adopting her son’s biological sister, but realizes she wouldn’t be able to meet the child’s medical needs. She seeks advice on how to tell her son.
Ask AF: How to Explain to My Child That His Birth Mother Was Addicted to Drugs?
My child’s birth mother has a drug addiction. How should I explain this to him? How can I do so without sounding judgmental about his birth mother?
Ask AF: When and How to Find a Pediatrician During the Adoption Process
“We would like to find a pediatrician during the adoption process, so we have someone to help guide our decisions. How to do this?”
“Keeping Up Appearances” – Our Skin and 4C Hair Care Routine
As the parents of four black children, we drop a small fortune on lotion and products and build time into our schedule to style their hair, all the while questioning whether we know what we’re doing. A recent conversation offered some much-needed reassurance.
Post-Arrival Medical Evaluations
Your guide to identifying medical problems common to internationally adopted children.
Book Review: The Safe Baby
The Safe Baby is an easy-to-follow resource that will give busy parents — adoptive or otherwise — peace of mind.
Ten Questions to Ask Pediatricians
When you’re in the process of adopting an infant, there are things you should know about your potential pediatrician. Start with these top queries.
First Aid Kit Essentials
One thing about parenthood is practically guaranteed. If your new baby gets sick, it will be in the middle of the night…in a snowstorm. Be prepared with these must-have items.
The Thumb Versus the Pacifier
There’s no reason to introduce pacifiers to older children who’ve been doing just fine without them.
Why Girls with ADHD Go Undiagnosed
ADHD is not a male disorder, and yet “most people have the misperception that it’s a disorder of hyperactive elementary school-aged boys,” says Patricia Quinn, M.D., a developmental pediatrician and director of the National Center for Gender Issues and ADHD in Washington, D.C. So why are girls diagnosed so much later than boys, if at all?
What’s the Deal with DNA Testing?
As genetic testing continues to make headlines, more parents are wondering whether a simple cheek swab can teach them something about their child. We help you sort the facts from the hype.
The Diaper Wars
There’s no one best diaper for baby. Just choose the one that suits your style.
Learning to Listen with Auditory Integration Training
A child who has trouble with speech and language may actually be overwhelmed by sound. Auditory training, though controversial, may help.
Early Intervention: Spotting Problems in Your Child’s Development
If your baby or toddler isnt hitting developmental milestones, help is here—at little or no cost—thanks to Early Intervention services nationwide.
Family Activities (That Don’t Involve Screens)
It can be a challenge to tear tweens away from their screens for some good old fashioned family bonding—until you try one of these activities!