When parents expect the worst from their children, they often get it.
“The Dog Who Came to Stay”
“Moments after bringing our new puppy home, I understood that raising this dog would begin to create a history for our new daughter, would lodge her firmly within our family. A family pet conjures notions of family ties, of belonging.”
Teaching Your Child the ABC’s of Reading
When it comes to reading skills, parents are their children’s first—and best—teachers. Here’s how to give your child a head start on mastering the written word.
“Sleeping Together as a Family”
At night, each of this mother’s three children wanted to be with mom.
“Winning Our Son’s Trust”
Could our loving home help this hurt, angry boy, or was it already too late?
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.”
“I Forgot to Be Scared”
A 13-year-old shares his adoption story.
How to Get Your Child Help at School
When a child has learning problems, often the first step is an Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Here’s what you need to know.
“Becoming Mom to My Brother-in-Law’s Kids”
A noble view of adoption, with me as rescuer, had little to do with the reality of creating a family.
“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: Years of Sleep Struggles
My seven-year-old daughter, adopted at age three, can’t fall sleep without skin-to-skin contact (stroking her arm or back).
“Re-Celebrating My Daughter’s First Nine Birthdays”
My daughter’s tenth birthday was the first birthday party she’d ever had. Here’s how and why we decided to redo all the others.
“Adopting a White Child Across Racial Lines”
When the social worker brought my new daughter to my house, she wasn’t the African-American girl I was expecting. And so we became a transracial family.
“Will I Ever Be Able to Love This Child?”
When the first few weeks of parenthood were rocky, I found myself worrying: Did we adopt a child I’ll never be able to love?
“Do I Love Him Yet?”
Before adopting an older child, I had never heard of post adoption depression. That’s why it never crossed my mind when I had trouble attaching to my son.
“Four Unforgettable Introductions”
One adoptive dad describes four introductions he’ll never forget— those first moments when he met each of his four children but wasn’t yet their father.
“A Past Without Pictures”
My daughter was eight years old in the referral photo we received during the international adoption process. That’s the oldest photo she will ever have of herself.
“Instant Mom”
Nia Vardalos describes her first meeting with the preschooler she adopted from U.S. foster care.
25 Ways to Nurture Hurt Children
How do you nurture a child who repels nurturing? Start with these practical ideas.
Explaining a Birth Parent’s Drug or Alcohol Abuse
“How can we explain birth family’s drinking or drug use?” Older child adoption expert Gregory Keck, Ph.D. answers a reader’s question.