Adoption / Foster Care: New Articles for August 2012

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New Articles for August 2012 Aug 30th 2012, 01:30 This month I wrote about a different aspect of foster parenting - the maintaining of important connections between birth parents and their children, even if the birth parents are incarcerated. I also reviewed two different adoption themed children's books - both beautiful in their content and artwork. Bringing Asha Home is about adopting a child from India, while Motherbridge of Love is about a Chinese adoption. Both are excellent works. Suggested Reading/New Articles and Features: Creative Ways to Communicate Using a Journal for Children Create a Journal and Backpack to Help Keep Visit Days Organized Maintaining and Growing Connections Between Birth Parents and Foster Children How to Maintain Birth Family Connections While Parents Are Incarcerated Using Skype in Foster Care and Adoption How Foster Parents Impact the Life of a Foster Child Bringing Asha Home - A Children's Adoption Book Review Motherbridge of Love - A Children's Adoption Book Review

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Adoption / Foster Care: Happy Adoption Reunion Anniversary to Us!

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Happy Adoption Reunion Anniversary to Us! Aug 28th 2012, 08:00 Another year has gone by and it's amazing to me that it has now been 17 years since the adoption reunion with our sister, Pam. I think I remember things because I document almost every major event in my journal. "Yesterday, August 28, 1995, I met my sister Pam for the first time. My first thought as she stood outside the door is that she is beautiful." As time has gone by my sisters and I, as well as other members of the family, have pondered many things about Mom's decision to choose adoption. We may never know the answers to all of our questions, and to be honest, many of our questions are probably none of our business. But I do know one thing - I'm very grateful to have met our sister Pam and to have a relationship with her. I wish we lived a bit closer, but we get together when we can and just like our first meeting, it's like we were never separated. We don't seem to miss a beat. Note: Odd senses of humor must be genetic. Please share your happy adoption reunion stories. I'm sure we would all love to hear them. If your adoption reunion was not as happy we can benefit from those experiences as well. Share how an adoption reunion or even the lack of has had an impact on your life and family. Our first meeting that August evening in 1995, Chrissy, Charla, Pam, & Carrie. Photo © Carrie Craft ________________________________ Suggested Reading: Adoption Reunion and the Adoptive Family Before You Enter Into an Adoption Reunion for Birth Parents Before You Enter Into an Adoption Reunion for the Adoptee Before You Help Your Child Enter Into an Adoption Reunion for Adoptive Parents

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Adoption / Foster Care: Top Hurtful or Rude Questions and Comments About Your Foster or Adopted Children

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Top Hurtful or Rude Questions and Comments About Your Foster or Adopted Children Aug 21st 2012, 08:00 I've decided that I'm tired of rude people. I'm especially tired of rude people who think a simple, "just kidding" fixes all. I'm also tired of people who seem to believe that since a child is adopted that it's OK to ask questions about the child's "real family" or to say that they don't like a foster or adopted child in my home. Do they honestly believe that since the children do not share the DNA of the parents that it just will hurt or offend less? We expect this behavior from children, but shouldn't adults just know better? (or am I expecting too much?) Since school is starting soon, and that seems to be when children have the most issues with nosy classmates and parents may be asked the same tired and rude questions, that we should explore this issue again. I've met many adoptive parents who have experienced this same behavior. I thought we'd take a bit of time and just vent and share some the rude comments we've received about the children we love. ___________________________________ Suggested Reading: Top Hurtful or Rude Questions and Comments About Your Foster or Adopted Children W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook for Adopted Children W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook For Children in Foster Care Teaching Foster or Adopted Children How to Answer Questions from School Children Adoption Book Review: Cross-Cultural Adoption - How to Answer Questions from Family, Friends, and Community What Is a Cover Story and How Can It Help Foster Children?

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Adoption / Foster Care: Finding Adoption Announcements for Older Child Adoptions

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Finding Adoption Announcements for Older Child Adoptions Aug 19th 2012, 15:57 When I was trying to find some ideas for making my son's adoption announcements I had a very difficult time finding anything that wasn't covered with teddy bears or hearts. So I decided that I needed to make my own. Here are the simple step-by-step instructions for making the announcement I created for our last adoption. Several Design Ideas for Making Adoption Announcements When Buying Your Adoption Announcements Is a Better Option How Did You Tell Family and Friends that You Were Going to Adopt a Child?

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Adoption / Foster Care: Back to School in a New School

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Back to School in a New School Aug 13th 2012, 00:43 If you would have told me last August that in one year my family would be living in a new city and my daughter would be starting a new high school - I would have called you crazy. We just finished remodeling our home - yet, here we are. So, this Wednesday, my daughter will be starting a new high school. I've had to enroll numerous foster children into new schools, but this was a first for my daughter. She's the new kid on the block now and has to make all new friends and find her way around a much bigger school. So, as you're preparing to send the kids off to school this month or early next, take a moment to remember all the new adventures your foster child will be embarking on this time of year. Is this a new school for your foster child? How do you help a child transition into a new school? Click "comments" below and share. ___________________________ So, are you ready to send them back to school? Let Guides Help! 10 Things to Do Before Sending a Foster/Adopted Child Back-to-School Foster Parenting Advice for a Child's First Day of School 7 Things to Do in the Summer to Get Ready to Go Back to School How to Prepare Your Child for Middle School 6 Ways to Speed Up Morning Routines Back-to-School Paperwork Checklist

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Adoption / Foster Care: Breastfeeding an Adopted Baby - Is it Right or Wrong?

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Breastfeeding an Adopted Baby - Is it Right or Wrong? Aug 8th 2012, 08:00 Now that World Breastfeeding Week is over, lets discuss adoptive breastfeeding - a hot topic in the adoption community. Did you know that an adoptive mother can breastfeed her new baby? Is adoptive breastfeeding right or wrong? Is this about bonding with the baby or fulfilling a deep need of the adoptive mother? Are there health and nutrition benefits when the breast milk was not produced by a pregnant mother? What do you think? Share your thoughts on this hot adoption topic. For more information on adoptive breastfeeding see the following resources: Can I Breastfeed My Adopted Baby? What Is Induced Lactation? What Are the Pros to Adoptive Breastfeeding? What Are the Cons to Adoptive Breastfeeding? Breastfeeding Tips to Help the New Adoptive Mother Reader Stories: How I Decided to Breastfeed Adopted Baby - Why it Was Right for Me and My Baby Readers Respond: Why I Don't Like Breastfeeding Adoptive Mothers

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Adoption / Foster Care: What is Adoption? - Helping Non-adopted Children Understand Adoption

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What is Adoption? - Helping Non-adopted Children Understand Adoption Aug 5th 2012, 00:00 My daughter has a good friend named Caleb. He has been around our family for the past several years. A few years ago he started making observations about our family. He told my daughter on several occasions that because the boys are adopted, she doesn't have any "real" brothers. I overheard these comments and asked him if since the boys aren't real brothers, if I was their fake mom. He said, "Well, yeah. Kinda." I didn't know how to address this with him. I then received the book What is Adoption? for review. I asked Caleb to read it and if he wouldn't mind submitting his own quick review. After spending several minutes reading, he brought the book back to my desk. "Caleb," I asked. "Has this book changed your mind and feelings on what a real family is and that Jordan's brothers are her brothers?" His eyes widened, he nodded his head, and simply said, "Yeah." He then handed me a note with his review that read: "A great book to learn about friends who are adopted." How can I give a stronger, more positive review than that? Cover Art for What is Adoption? Helping non-adopted children understand adoption courtesy of Wisdom Press.

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Adoption / Foster Care: Olympian Adoptee Reese Hoffa Competes This Morning in London

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Olympian Adoptee Reese Hoffa Competes This Morning in London Aug 3rd 2012, 01:19 Photo © USOS/ NBC Olympics Reese Hoffa will be working towards his Olympic dreams this morning in London as he competes in the Shot Put event. I was given the opportunity to interview him in 2008, before he competed in the Beijing games. I thought it appropriate to remind readers of this Olympic adoptee and his upcoming event. So, take a moment to send him some good will. Reese Hoffa continues to share a positive message to older children in adoptive homes. Here is one of my favorite quotes from our 2008 interview.  Here Reese is talking to children in adoptive homes that may be struggling. "Learn as much as you can. Hopefully, if your adoption experience is as positive as mine, it'll be OK and turn out positive. Take all opportunities put in front of you. If you're going to do it, do it with the best of your ability." Suggested Reading: Reese Hoffa Is an Olympic Athlete and a Famous Adoptee - A Profile Olympic Athlete Reese Hoffa Shares His Adoption Story - The Interview

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Adoption / Foster Care: World Breastfeeding Week is August 1 - 7

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World Breastfeeding Week is August 1 - 7 Aug 1st 2012, 08:00 Photo © Carrie Craft, licensed to About.com, Inc. World Breastfeeding Week is always August 1 - 7. I never knew this until I became an Guide. The 2011, World Breastfeeding Week's theme is: "Understanding the Past-Planning the Future". Twenty years ago, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) launched its first World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) campaign, according to the World Breastfeeding Week website, now the group plans to look back to see what has happened and then look to the future to see how they can help more women and young children. The World Breastfeeding Week organization focuses on communication in the way breastfeeding is protected, promoted and supported. As an adoptive mother who is interested in breastfeeding your adopted child, communication about your goal to breastfeed is very important. Communicate the goal of breastfeeding your new child to your adoption agency and to the expectant mother as part of an overall ethical adoption with full disclosure. For more information on adoptive breastfeeding see these the following articles: Can I Breastfeed My Adopted Baby? What Is Induced Lactation? What Are the Pros to Adoptive Breastfeeding? What Are the Cons to Adoptive Breastfeeding? Breastfeeding Tips to Help the New Adoptive Mother Reader Stories: How I Decided to Breastfeed My Adopted Baby - Why it Was Right for Me and My Baby Readers Respond: Why I Don't Like Breastfeeding Adoptive Mothers

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