Before we adopted her, Grace had never called anyone Mom or Dad. But she understood the concept of family with a wisdom beyond her years.
“Coming Into Focus”
Online images opened my heart, then my home.
“A Fearless Love”
I expected that my new daughter would need some time to get used to me, but I never thought she’d be frightened by me.
Ask AF: Creating a Lifebook for a Teen
One adoptive mother wonders if she should make a lifebook, even though she doesn’t have many photos of his life before he came to her. AF readers respond.
Parenting an Older Child Through the Testing Phase
Our readers asked how to parent their adoptive children through the testing phase. Our expert has answers for dealing with lying, carelessness, and anger.
In Memory of Fisseha “Sol” Samuel, 1994-2014
The full text of the moving eulogies given by Melissa Fay Greene and Lee Samuel for her 20-year-old son, Fisseha “Sol” Samuel.
The Truth About Older Child Adoption
The first year after bringing home an older child is complicated, isolating, utterly frustrating…and amazing.
Minimizing Placement Trauma
Pre-adolescents have special needs in a foster care placement. Our expert provides tips on how to make the transition to an adoptive home a little easier.
Ask AF: Explaining Foster Care
Answers to your parenting questions.
Safe Haven: Finding Homes for Children Through Foster Care
One mom opens her home — and heart — to foster children, and finds her passion.
Helping Your Child Say Goodbye
Strong connections to the past will allow your child to embrace the future.
Fostering Positive Perceptions
The number of children adopted from foster care has dropped in recent years — and a new survey finds that Americans believe many myths about the process. Here are the facts, and real-life stories, that could help find more kids permanent homes.
Ask AF: Transition to Daycare
Answers to your parenting questions.
“The Day I Joined a Forever Family”
A 10-year-old recalls the day a foster family became a forever family for him and his sister.
“Pushing Past an Older Child’s Barriers”
What we learned about talking about a child’s past and attaching in the present after adopting a 10-year-old from foster care.
Recapturing the Heart of Your Child
When a foster child who has been in your care goes back to live with his birth family, and then comes back to your home, a different child returns.
“Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hatches a Talk About Adoption”
A beloved children’s book sparked a discussion with my three-year-old daughter about adoption and her birth mother.
Ask AF: No Longer the Only Boy
Answers to your parenting questions.
“Teaching Our Daughter That Her Needs Matter”
My little girl didn’t fuss, never cried, and was utterly compliant. It was up to us to teach her to shove, yell, and demand — and find her voice.
Claiming Your Role as a Parent
Daring to parent an older child who has experienced hurt or neglect in the past will help him learn to trust and love.