Christmas ornaments/gifts

A friend of mine sent me a wonderful book recently, "In On It: What adoptive parents would like you to know about adoption" by Elisabeth O'Toole. There's been so much written for members of the triad, what a great idea to have a resource for all the friends and family that support the triad members! A point I try hard to make in all of my books and speaking is that my choice to place my son for adoption was not just my own - it was a choice that had a profound effect on my entire family. I also know that my son's adoptive parents choice to create a family through adoption had a profound effect on their family… [more]

I love crafts that incorporate a child’s handprints and think that these type of crafts making awesome keepsakes for birthmothers. So, today I will share a great and easy Christmas ornament craft that adoptive parents can make or help their child make for their child’s birthmom or anyone in their birth family really! Materials needed: White foam Red Felt Flesh colored Felt White fake fur or felt Wiggly eyes (optional) Glue Ribbon Instructions: 1. Trace your child’s handprint onto the white foam. If your child is old enough to do so, he or she could trace their own handprint onto the white foam. Cut out the handprint. 2. Cut another piece of white foam into an elongated “B” shape. This will become Santa’s mustache. Use your child’s handprint as a guide as to how… [more]

I promised in my October Review, November Preview post that I would begin sharing ideas to create your own Christmas ornaments. I know, it seems early, doesn’t it? But Christmas is really not that far away and if you want to make ornaments for those people in your life with an adoption connection, you need to get started early so you have time to do it. Giving an ornament to the people in your life related to adoption is a great tradition to do each year. Birthmoms can give their child an ornament each year, I do this and now that is getting old enough to know what it is all about, he looks forward to see what kind of ornament I’ve… [more]