After seven years, we decided to bring our daughter’s birth father back into her life. But was she ready for him?
“Why Don’t We Ever Visit My Birth Parents?”
After three domestic adoptions, we have three very different levels of openness with each of our children’s birth families.
Birth Parent Relationship Changes in the Teen Years
“We have a semi-open relationship with our 14-year-old son’s birth mother. Recently, he asked if we could invite her for a weekend. I trust his birth mom, but I’m worried.”
“How Our Family Approached Our Birth Parent Search”
Three families describe their relationships with their children’s birth parents — deciding to keep in touch, searching for birth parents, and managing an already open adoption.
Birth Parent Search in International Adoption
Adoptive parents around the globe are seeking their children’s first families — even before these children voice an opinion on the matter. But do we know what we’re doing?
Open Adoption Over the Years
Parents involved in open adoptions speak honestly about working through challenges and keeping the relationship going through life changes.
“I Have a Birth Mom, Too” – How Children Can Explain Open Adoption to Friends
Answers to your parenting questions.
Ask AF: Bringing Birth Fathers Into the Adoption Conversation
Answers to your parenting questions.
“Finding Her Birth Mother, A World Apart”
Opening our daughter’s international adoption has allowed her to ask questions and receive answers, brought her birth mother a sense of peace from knowing that her child is alive, well, and happy, and given us the unforgettable privilege of personally thanking our child’s birth mother.
Ask AF: Considering Open Adoption
Answers to your parenting questions.
When Your Child Has Birth Siblings
Parents who know that one child was placed for adoption while a sibling was not may wonder how to explain it in a way their child can understand.
Ask AF: Birth Family Request for a Closed Adoption
Our child’s birth family does not want any contact with our family. How can we explain this to our son?
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: 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.
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.
Proceeding with Caution in Birth Family Search
Adoptive parents sometimes initiate birth parent searches before their children are emotionally prepared to deal with the results.
A Death in the Family
As children get older, they come to understand that everyone experiences loss.
Ask AF: Contacting a Birth Mother
A parent asks whether contacting her child’s birth mother while the child is still a preteen is a good idea. Read Ronny Diamond’s response.