My co-blogger Coley, who also writes for the crisis pregnancy blog, recently did a great post concerning a birthparent view of things a expectant mother should consider before making an adoption plan. Some really great advice! I agree with her wisdom and perspective. While reading this post though, I began thinking how many of those same things could be slightly adjusted and addressed to potential adoptive... more

For every man out there who has touched the life of a child, and changed it in some positive way forever, today is definitely your day. There is so much more to the meaning of the word Father than most of us consider, and more than a few fellows who qualify for the honored title, but who may not even realize it.

For myself, if I were far better at sending cards and sentiments (ok I am a poor mailer of paper goods), there would be no shortage of guys to get my congrats on this hallowed occasion. Sadly... more

Today is my husband’s 47th birthday! We did not plan a party, it has been busy around here with five children (two visiting teens) and poor dad even had to work on his day. Just because we were not able to do anything special, like a party, or invite guests, does not mean that we do not appreciate our daddy though. I am reminded everyday of how lucky we are to have him as ours!

When we first found out that we could not conceive a child, after seven long years of trying, my dear husband was my only support. Jim was the only one... more

“A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.” -Eda J. Le Shan

There is and always will be nothing more wonderful and pure as a new, fresh little person entering the world. Yesterday my son’s little half brother, who lives with his mom in another state, was two weeks old! While we have yet to met the little fellow in person, but my son is so excited to look in on the many pictures we have been getting in emails about him. It is really sweet to see how excited Carson gets! I... more

"One of the tragicomic scenes in nature is a pair of small foster parents working like Sisyphus to keep up with the voracious appetite of an outsized young cowbird.” - The Birder's Handbook

Attachment is fresh on my mind. After a therapy session with my middle daughter yesterday, followed by her very frustrating poor behavior today, I am feeling more than a little bit whooped. In the midst of my daughter’s screaming tirade, and while attempting to look for interesting blog matter,... more

Many hopeful adoptive parents rule out the option of open adoption before they begin. Often the fear of emotional challenges that could present themselves in an open adoption can appear overwhelming to them. While openness in an adoption might not ideally be possible for every situation, are there ways for more adoptive parents to truly consider it?

It is clear that there can be certain obvious benefits to a family of adoption when they have a positive, open relationship with birthparents. As with any new relationship, it can be a frightening... more

In the past few days, I’ve written a lot about how I do choose to acknowledge my birthmotherhood by joining with other birthmother’s for a Birthmother’s Day event. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t hurt on Mother’s Day or grieve the loss of my motherhood to Charlie; because I do. Unlike birthmothers who are first time Mothers are I have celebrated Mother’s Days in the past, but even though I am with Noah on Mother’s Day, there is still a piece of my heart that misses mothering Charlie more... more

Recently an adoptive mother asked if she should do anything for her child’s birthmother for the upcoming Mother’s Day weekend and if so, which day, Birthmother’s Day or Mother’s Day?

I definitely think any adoptive mother partaking in an open adoption should try and acknowledge her child’s birthmother for Mother’s Day. Why? Because she is important to your child! She is your child’s first mother and she (in most cases) lovingly made a decision to place her child for adoption because for whatever reason she could not care for the child at that... more

Recently I received an email from an adoptive mom in a semi open adoption. She was asking for advice on what kind of things to include in the update letters she sends to her child’s birthmother as well as what type of photos to send.

Letters The update letters an adoptive parent sends to a birthmom mean a lot to her so please take your time writing us a letter. Don’t scribble a quick note as you run out the door to the post office. Take a bit of time and sit down and write that letter.

Below are a few things that we love to... more

Most all the world understands the wish to have a child, to begin a family, it seems to be a basic human desire. Why then is it so difficult for society to understand when couples who want to become parents would then wish to adopt a child? How can it become so hard to understand when a child needs permanency that adoption can be an option? Why adoption? Well aren’t there many positive reasons why people would choose adoption?

When you consider all the many waiting children the world round who are desperately in need of the love and... more