This year National Adoption Day is Nov 19! The same day my bouncing baby boy entered this world 4 years ago. What a great way to celebrate his birthday and adoption day. The entire month of November is Adoption Month so make plans to celebrate adoption in some way. Read a book, celebrate a birthday or gotcha day, attend a finalization if you are invited, donate your time to an adoption related cause…however it suits you just celebrate adoption!!
From nationaladoptionday.org: National Adoption Day is a national day of celebration of adoptive families and an opportunity for courts to open their doors and finalize the adoptions of children from foster care. Since 2000, more than 35,000 children have had their adoptions finalized on National Adoption Day.
Filed under: General by Tamara
Adoption Haven is offering a summer special- $100 off any adoption homestudy thru September 30, 2011
As always, Adoption Haven offers free one hour consultation appointments to those condering adoption and wanting to learn more.
Filed under: General by Tamara
From The Whole Life Adoption Book pg 238
“The ‘grafted tree’ metaphor of adoption is that the adopted child is like the branch of one tree that is removed and graftd to a different tree and becomes one with the new tree. The new tree nurtures the branch and allows it to grow and become fruitful, but the fruit from the grafted branch is genetically derived from the first tree. Adoptive parents need to allow their children to reach their God-given potential as their children are led, with the genes they inherited from their birthparents. But this, too, is really no different from the apporpriate attitude parents should have toward biological children.
The need to belong and the need to be authentic are two important factors in a healthy family environment. A third need of the adopted child is to be given a sense of dignity.”
Filed under: Parenting an Adopted Child by Tamara
“Adoptive parents need to know that a child can love both his family and his birthfamily. When adopted children have the support of secure adoptive parens, they learn early on that they do not need to choose. They learn there is room in their heart for both those who gave them life and those who gave them a permanent family. By giving a child permission to have thoughts and feelings for his birthfamily, adoptive parents are in reality strengthening thier relationship with their child”.
page 183; The Whole Life Adoption Book; Jayne Schooler & Thomas Atwood
Filed under: Parenting an Adopted Child by Tamara
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Really cool stuff…check it out!!
Filed under: Articles, Books and Resources by Tamara
http://www.inonadoption.com/
In On It: What adoptive parents would like you to know about adoption
Filed under: Articles, Books and Resources by Tamara
Adoption
with anxious hearts
and open arms,
we sought
you everywhere.
You, dear child, are
a gift from God,
the answer to our prayer.
No matter whether
birth or choice,
a home is blessed from above,
when caring parents
claim their child,
a family is formed by love.
~Author Unknown
Filed under: General by Tamara
Adoptive families often retell their unique stories to relatives, friends, even people they have just met. They explain the trials and tribulations; the unexpected surprises and the ultimate happy ending. If you record this story, its precious and will become priceless years later when your child has grown and wnats to know everything about their beginnings.
Be sure to write down the detials while the memories are still fresh. (I completed mine on the computer, then transfered pertainent parts to a scrapbook jounal).
Journaling Tips:
- how did you decide to adopt?
- How did you choose the program you did?
- How long did the process take?
- What did you do during the wait?
- what emotions did you feel at the time?
- When did you find out you would be getting a child?
- what were you doing at the time, where were you? who were you with?
- How did you react? who did you tell? what were their reactions?
- what was it like meeting the birthparent[s]?
- what did you have in common? why were they interested in you?
- what impressed you about them and how they handled their situation?
- did you meet other members of the birth family?
- did you receive your child at the hosptial ot at an adoption agency?
- what mixed emotions were you feeling?
- what did your child look like when you first saw him or her?
- How did he or she react when you held him or her?
- did you exchange gifts or photos with the birthparents?
- did you have an entrustment ceremnoby or anything similar?
- what kind of relationship will you have with the birhtparents?
- what was the weather like?
- how was the trip home?
- what ups and downs did you experience during those first few days and nights?
- What name did you choose for your child and what special meaning does it have?
- what was his or her birth name and the significance of it?
- did you do anything special the day the adoption was finalized?
- do you celebrate ‘gotch day’, an adoptin anniversary?
- who are the social workers, hospital personnel or other people who helped you throug the adoption process? Ask them to write a message to your child for the scrapbook
- your child may not resemble your family physically but how does he or she resemble family members in personality and disposition?
- what was your child like during your first months together?
Page Titles to Consider:
- adoption story (why we wanted you)
- getting started (agency letterhead, etc)
- getting ready (preparing room, packing)
- your new home (room, neighborhood)
- adoption timeline
- meeting your child (hospital, etc)
- welcome home
- first day home
- adoption announcement
- our family (meeting the family)
- religious events
- finalization (forever family)
- memorable moments
Filed under: General, Where to Begin by Tamara
