Now that Halloween is just around the corner, you’re probably getting into the spooky spirit with family and friends. But whatever your plans are this year, it’s important to keep some basic safety tips in mind.
26
Oct
2016
How to Answer Your Child’s Toughest Adoption Questions
“Why is the sky blue?” “Why do giraffes have long necks?” “Why do I have to brush my teeth?” “Why do I have blue eyes?” If you are a parent, you’ve heard these and a million other “why” questions before. Children ask questions to figure out the world they live in. Some questions are easier to answer than others.
For children whose families were created by adoption, their questions may be tricky to answer. Their understanding of adoption is an ongoing process. Here is a list of common questions that adopted children ask, ranging from the basic preschooler inquiries to the more complex adolescent interrogations.
20
Oct
2016
5 Things Not to Say to a Couple Grieving Infertility
Many people in the adoption world understand the emotional impact infertility can have on a hopeful family. But everybody who faces infertility copes and manages their emotions in a different way, so it may be difficult to know how to talk about it.
18
Oct
2016
Halloween Costume Ideas for Every Age
I love Halloween. I think it is amazing to see how big it’s gotten over the years, and my family has bought into the hype. We currently have orange lights decorating a tree in front of our house. There’s a light-up ghost on our porch, and orange bulbs have been put into our exterior lights. The kitchen towels are embroidered with witches, our candy has been purchased, and our pumpkins are waiting to be carved.
But my one Achilles’ heel is the costumes. I have not a one creative bone when it comes to coming up with a Halloween costume. When my kids voice their final costume choice, I silently pray it is something that can be bought at a store. DIY is not my strength. I proudly admit this.
However, I do love scrolling through Pinterest for costume ideas, be it homemade or store-bought. There is no end to people’s creativity! Here are some of my favorites for this Halloween season.
14
Oct
2016
We Want to See Your Finalization Photos!
D
o you have an adoption finalization photo you’d like to share? We want to see it and share it with our followers!
Our staff here at American Adoptions loves to see how our families are doing after placement. And we …
13
Oct
2016
The Importance of Being Involved in Your Child’s Education
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.
6
Oct
2016
Great Resources for Adoption Information
When it comes to researching adoption and trying to find out how everything works, it’s hard to distinguish between the good sources and the not so good sources. There are plenty of websites out there ready to dump loads of information on you…but not all …
5
Oct
2016
It’s World Teacher Day
Today is World Teacher’s Day! This day was created in 1994 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and is devoted to making time to address issues pertaining to teachers.
Teachers in some countries face problems that, us, as Americans, can’t fathom. But the United States has shown deep ambivalence toward the profession – we value teachers’ work, but sometimes don’t give them their due in salary or respect. So, while you may not be able to affect global change in one day, there are things you can do on October 5 (or every day) to help support teachers: