Being involved in your child’s education doesn’t have to be extensive or time-consuming, and the benefits are amazing! A student who has an involved parent is more likely to have higher grades, attend class regularly, have fewer behavior problems, and exhibit more positive self-esteem. And really, isn’t that what we all want for our kids?
11
Oct
2016
What Makes My Open Adoption Work – Thoughts from a Birth Mother
From the start, I was open with my son’s parents about wanting the adoption to be open, and while the openness agreement is not legally binding, I knew it needed to be respected for the sake of my son. I was also transparent about wanting to slowly transition from a custodial parent to more of a birth parent role. Therefore, I had frequent contact with my son that lessened over the first two years of placement. I saw him every couple of months until I was comfortable not seeing my son as frequently. My son’s parents also communicated a need with me around the same time that they really needed more space.
10
Oct
2016
Fun Fall Activities for the Family
Now that fall is officially here, the time for swimming and other summer activities is behind us. But parents don’t need to worry about their kids getting bored – there are plenty of fun things to do in the fall, as well.
Here, you can find our suggestions for fall activities the whole family will love.
29
Sep
2016
4 Topics to Address as a Transracial Family
Over the years, transracial adoption has become increasingly common, largely because people are much more open about their adoption stories today. Still, transracial adoption has its own unique challenges – but so does every type of family. The key is understanding, preparing for, and talking about those challenges.
If you are thinking about transracial adoption, here are some subjects you will need to think about as your child grows.
28
Sep
2016
Why Open Adoption is Important to Birth Mothers
The question is: why is having an open adoption important to me? Having an open adoption means I stay connected with my child. Just because I made a decision not to parent every day doesn’t mean I don’t want to have a relationship with my child. I also believe that us having a relationship is better for him as well in the long run.
11
Sep
2016
Happy Grandparents Day!
Every year, on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we celebrate the officially-recognized national holiday known as Grandparents Day. Yes! We take just one day to celebrate and recognize the people in our lives who are the roots of our family tree! We spend time with the only people who will ever love us more than our parents. One whole day! Make it count!
8
Sep
2016
4 Secrets to a Successful Adoption
Be Honest
This is a good rule to live by in any aspect of life, but especially so in an adoption. For a successful adoption you should be honest with yourselves, honest with your home study provider, honest with your adoption professional, honest with expectant mothers and honest with your child.
2
Sep
2016
Labor Day: More than Just Another Day Out of School
Well, we’ve been in school for about 3 weeks now. We’re getting into a routine, both in my classroom and at home. Extra-curricular activities are in full swing after school. In a few days, it …
2
Sep
2016
Tips for Fostering a Deep Bond with Your Baby
You know that your love for your adopted child is immense and unconditional – even if you haven’t met him or her yet. But how do you show your baby that love when you bring him or her home? Will there be any challenges with bonding as an adoptive family?
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can bond with your baby. All babies need certain forms of contact and communication from their parents to develop a strong relationship. With these tips, you and your baby can have a happy, healthy bond from the beginning.
31
Aug
2016
Tips for Bonding with Your Child’s Birth Parents
Bonding with my son’s mother has come more naturally to me at certain times, and felt more difficult at other times. There were times that I felt insecure about bonding with her because I was afraid of what she might think of me. I think I realized that she was fearful of the same thing. You see, people are people, no matter what role they play in life. Whether you are a birth mother or an adoptive parent, you are still human. Human beings get fearful and insecure about what others might think of them. We may second guess actions that we take or words that we speak. Confidence doesn’t come easy for the fallible human being. Therefore, bonding with a birth parent may feel like a challenge.