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It is hard to believe that October is already winding down, and soon November will be upon us. Along with one of my favorite holidays (Thanksgiving), November is also the month to think about and celebrate the benefits of adoption.
National Adoption Awareness Month takes place all November, as well as National Adoption Awareness Day, which is November 17th, 2007. From what I understand this is the 8th annual event, but 2006 was the first time that National Adoption Day was celebrated in all 50 states, and over 3,300 children’s adoptions were made final on that day.
There are quite a few interesting resources available online to families who will be honoring National Adoption Awareness Month. Our family has never really done anything fancy, outside of placing some free posters we obtained from Adoptive Families Magazine around our town last year. Part of my problem is always waiting till the very last, and then missing some of the really great things going on! With so many things being prepared this year, so many ideas and online options to consider, we are beginning to plan what we will do this year with a bit more interest though. Here are just a few links to some of the great information and resources that I came across…
Adoption.com November celebration idea calendar
AdoptUsKids PSA campaign (order free materials and posters to help you local event!)
2007 Adoption Month toolkit (pdf of 64 pages, but a ton of great info and forms for those planning a larger celebration or community event)
One of the things that I personally plan to be doing is a GIVEAWAY of an adoption related item sometime during the month of November.
PLEASE stay tuned for information about what this will be, and how YOU can WIN!
In the last few years, more and more celebrations have been springing up all over. There are the Almost every major city in the U.S. is also having a special adoption day ceremony on November 17th, when they will finalize a large number of adoptions as part of the excitement. Not all of those adoptions to be finalized that day will be foster care placements, but I have noticed that more focus is being placed on the children waiting in foster care for adoptive homes. That is a good thing, and the rates of foster adoptions completed appears to be going up.
Take a look at the many ideas and resources, and get ready to plan what you and your family will do to celebrate!
Photo- AdoptUsKids.org/Ad council
I believe it should be called National Adoption Bewareness Month because of the simple fact that the majority of agencies and attorneys, not all, are working for the adopters, protecting their rights, getting them what they truly want; and not at all considering the rights of birthparents. I was coerced into signing relinquishment papers with the promise that I would always have contact with my son. This is not the case!I was lied to by not only the agency, but the adoptive parents as well.
I have begun the fight to reform adoption law here in my home state and I will not stop until the rights of birhtparents are protected. I’m not totally against adoption I believe it should be done ethically and with regards to all parties involved; especially the children. As a friend of mine would say, Ethics In Adoption Are A Must!!!
Bobbie Jo, I am sorry that the promises made to you were not kept. You are right, that is very unethical, and wrong for the adoption agency and adoptive family to treat you that way.
I also agree that adoption laws should be reformed, and adoptions done ethically.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Bobby Jo,
I am so sorry. I am also a first mother who was lied to by the adoptive family in regards to open adoption.
In my case, the adoptive mother was having an affair the entire adoption process. She left the adoptive father for the handyman who redid her kitchen just 6 months after she adopted my son.
She lied to her family and never explained to them all the promises made and now I am treated like the villain for wanting what was promised, to be a part of my son’s life, pictures, phone calls and everything that was promised to me.
I know what you are going through. I truly believe that open adoption is just a carrot that is dangled in front of our faces to lure us to give our babies to these more affluent and connected people. If I was not promised to be a part of his live, I would have NEVER considered adoption. I have never stopped missing my baby or grieving over this. But take heart, God sees all and knows all and He will help you.
All the lies that the adopters told will come back on them. The sad part is our children are going to suffer for this horrendous selfishness, but truly these people don’t care as long as they feel warm and fuzzy and they are living their little happy fantasy.
I hope and pray that both of our children will find our loving arms one day. You and I are their mothers.
Those are our children.
No paper can take away what God has ordained.
I pray you can make it through this, I need those prayers, too. So does his brothers and sisters, it is hurting so many people for the benefit of a selfish few.
Take care,
Kate Absher