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Ahhhhhh, I am finally in Branson for the week! The view from our condo overlooking Table Rock Lake is nothing short of spectacular! After a late evening, dinner with friends, and a internet hookup downed due to a storm, I was unable to work on a post for today. I do have a post that I wrote some time ago, and it seemed worthy of sharing again, so I hope you will enjoy. I promise to be back with something new and refreshing, after I am awake and refreshed myself. ;) Of the many interesting adoption related resources online I recently came across an article written by Michael Colberg who works as an educator and therapist in the New York area. At his website… [more]

The Adoption Club House is a special project of the National Adoption Center for adopted children ages 8-13 (although I saw older and younger members) to gather and share thoughts, feelings, and find information. This interesting resource has articles, a library, links for kids and parents, as well as a message board and forum for it’s young members. There was also a section with games, word finds, jokes, and other fun things to keep kids busy. I was also very interested to see the reader’s section, where kids can submit original adoption related writing and even art work. Wow, I thought while looking over the great submissions, these may be the adoption bloggers of… [more]

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” Photographs are priceless memories that can not be replaced. Photos describe memories that we may not be able to find the words to describe them accurately. Photos give us a tangible way to remember a fleeting moment, event, or memory. I have many treasured photographs of the time Charlie and I spent together in the hospital following his birth as well as oodles of photos of him alone, of us together at visit, of him and his adoptive family, and of him and Noah. Each photo represents a different stage of his life. Each photo is irreplaceable. The month of May is National Photography Month, a month to remind us all how priceless photographs truly are… [more]

Last night I had a wonderful phone conversation with my friend and co-blogger Coley about her BirthMom Buds event this weekend. By all accounts it was an emotional, healing, supportive event, enjoyed by all the moms who attended. I send Kudos to my dear friend for being such a great person, a super friend to so many, and a mom both her children, placed and parented, can truly be proud of! If you have never heard of BirthMom Buds I encourage a visit to the website and a look around. There is really something for all moms who have a connection to adoption, but most especially the group is there as a friend to friend support network for women who have placed… [more]

Of the many interesting adoption related resources online I recently came across an article written by Michael Colberg who works as an educator and therapist in the New York area. At his website, Related By Choice, Colberg has shared a very thoughtful article “Copin’ With Open- Open Adoption: Is It Worth It?” which details his perspective on whether or not openness in adoption truly benefits the child. A very interesting read, one I would recommend. In the first paragraph I would swear he was speaking about my own family and recent troubles we have been dealing with concerning one of our open adoption relationships. The adoptive parents felt as though communications with their child’s birthmother were causing some stress and acting… [more]

Soon it will be spring and Mother’s day is right around the corner! When many of us who have adopted celebrate Mother’s day we also set aside the day just before Mother’s day (this year Saturday May 12th) to celebrate those most special of women who have placed their child lovingly into our family through adoption, our child’s birthmother. While I realize that becoming a birthmother is not the dream of motherhood these women may have had, it makes them no less a mother and that fact of motherhood should certainly be celebrated. So what do you send to these terrific moms for Birthmother’s day? To begin with a card is in order, problem is if you walk through the card isle at… [more]

I’ve had major bloggers block. My days have been filled with half-baked ideas and false starts. There are about ten started blog posts, five more I researched and zero actually written and posted. For many days my husband has asked, “Did you blog today?” My big-eyed-wild-haired answer was a resounding and agonizing, “No!” Depending on Jimmy’s level of braveness for the day, he’d either fold his arms and stare me down or scamper quickly into another room. Either way my vision orbs would roll around my head like thrown dice and I’d snarl. It wasn’t pretty. It still isn’t. I’m still not sure what to write about on open adoption. However, I might have found the solution to break the blog block barrier. Now this might help me, but also inspire… [more]

It feels like the national conversation, or buzz, seems to focus on adoption more often now than in previous years. While it could be I notice it more now because I’m an adoptive mom, I feel it’s also because of the celebrity baby boom. Photos and stories of celebrity parents and their kids are plastered in magazines, web sites and TV shows. Heck, I’ve even caught the fever and busted myself checking out Rebel Dad and Celebrity Baby Blog to see who was pushing what brand of stroller. (I haven’t seen a star pushing a Graco in Blueberry yet – but I’m holding out.) I’ve mentally noted how cute Gwen Stephani, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner and Brooke… [more]

It's that time again, cold and flu season. Just this morning I was up to my elbows in puke and diarrhea diapers. Sometime during the night Craig woke up and vomited all over his bed, Elmo doll, carpet and toys. Jay's been under the weather himself as well. The washer, dryer and carpet cleaner are getting a workout this morning. If you're a first time parent, knowing how to take care of your little ones when sick might be new territory. If you're an adoptive parent in an open adoption relationship - it would be good to talk to your child's birth family to see if there are any patterns to be aware of. For example in my genetic family, ear infections are… [more]

On Sunday, September 17th at three PM pacific time, fellow birthmom Melanie Mosberg will be featured on the Let’s Talk Adoption Radio Show hosted by Mardie Caldwell. Let’s Talk Adoption is a half hour, weekly radio show hosted by adoptive Mom and founder of the Lifetime Foundation, Mardie Caldwell. The show features guests from all members of the triad. Through her interviews with guests, listeners are educated and supported no matter what their role in the triad may be. Topics covered on the show range from providing support to birthmothers, tips on beginning the adoption process, and the feelings of adoptees and birthmothers who have been reunited. You can sign up for a free newsletter on the Let’s Talk Adoption Website… [more]