Adoption and Foster Children
Adoption and foster parenting can be a rewarding and challenging process, from deciding to adopt or foster to applying and helping your new adoptive child or children adjust to life with your family. Find tips on every step of the process of adoption and foster parenting.
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Read more: What's Happening to International Adoptions from Guatemala
November is National Adoption Month. YAY!! (If you could see me and if I was coordinated, you'd see me clicking my heels and dancing a jig right now.) We are trying to raise awareness of all forms of adoption, but especially the 130,000 kids that are currently waiting in US Foster Care for a real forever family of their own.
There's another woman in my life. I don't know her name. I don't know what she looks like. I don't know if she has a job or if she is married. I don't know anything about her. But I share something with her that is more precious than gold... a daughter.
Adoption is more than the legal joining of a minor child and an adoptive parent. Adoption is the creation of a family. As open adoptions become more commonplace in both domestic and international adoption situations, the definition of "family" has expanded, to include all three sides of the adoption triad. But what is the adoption triad and why should all three sides of the triad be respected?
After months or years waiting for your internationally adopted child to come home, it can be easy to slip into the normal routines of everyday life. Work, daycare, and other family commitments can keep the schedule busy enough, without adding cultural activities. However, it is important to honor your adopted child's country - perhaps not on a daily basis, but definitely as a natural part of family celebrations.
As the mother of three girls, I've seen more than my share of fit throwing, crying jags, and pouting parties. Toddler drama comes with the territory, and over the years we've learned to deal with it, adjusting our strategy to meet the personality needs of each kid. Our youngest daughter is adopted, however, and we often find ourselves questioning her behavior issues. Are they adoption attachment issues or just normal toddler behavior?
Read more: Adoption Attachment Issue or Normal Toddler Behavior?
Waiting to be matched with a child, or waiting to bring that child home, can drive you crazy. In fact, sometimes it seems like international adoption is all about the waiting, and very little about the baby! Here are a few more strategies to help you survive the wait until your child is home.
Read more: More Strategies for the International Adoption Wait
Waiting for the ‘next step’ in the adoption process is hard, whether that next step is application approval, the infamous I-171H, referral, or travel approval. Many waiting moms (and dads!) have resorted to huge amounts of chocolate, but I’ll try to provide a few more productive suggestions.
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