Archive | Featured in Adoptive Families

As children reach school-age, they may start feeling different from their peers. Here are some strategies parents can use to help them find common ground. Between the ages of six and eight, children want to fit in with and measure up to their peers. At school they observe their friends’ families, and realize that their […]

Explaining pregnancy and birth to your adopted child can be a tad complicated sometimes.AF‘s experts guide you through the tough questions. by Deborah Pope, Mary Ann Curran, Ronny Diamond, Marybeth Lambe, M.D. and

Considering adopting a second child? New questions may spring up — including how to break the good news to your first child. by Lisa Milbrand A few months after I officially became a mom, I knew I wanted to ride that roller coaster again — the mountains of paperwork, the lull of the wait, and […]

As infertility treatment technology advances, more Americans are turning to assisted reproduction. Here, we look at some of the choices families are making.  After trying for years to have children, Mark and Lucy Johnson* acknowledged a hard fact: Even if they could determine the cause of Lucy’s infertility, her eggs were probably too old to […]

Our children’s adoption stories aren’t always easy. Here, tips for telling the tough stuff to your kids. by Rebecca Klein One of the toughest problems adoptive parents face is that of talking to our children about the reasons they were placed for adoption. Our families are so happy and loving that we hate to bring […]

The recession is a grown-up problem, but adoptees may worry that money-related concerns might jeopardize their forever family. Here’s how to calm their fears. With news about the recession and unemployment rates, even young kids are likely to hear some scary things. Little ears pick up cues from the TV, from older siblings, and from […]

Five experts answer your questions in this how-to guide for creating what will likely become your child’s favorite read-to-me book. by Editorial Team Your child’s story begins before you met. It may contain a large cast of characters, perhaps a touch of mystery, and more drama in a month than many people experience in years. […]

Parents wonder if preteens will experience separation anxiety at sleep away camp. Learn how to tell if yours is ready, and then ease the transition. For many tweens, sleep away camp is an exciting adventure. Spending a few weeks away from home can give a child more confidence and reinforce his feelings of love and […]

After an adoption is finalized, birth parents may experience intense depression or grief. If it happens in your open adoption, here’s what you can do to help. Even birth mothers who feel certain about their adoption plans are sometimes surprised by the intensity — and complexity — of their feelings after their baby is born. […]

When the “adoption option” comes to the table, there may be spouses — or several family members — who are reluctant to move forward. by Lisa Milbrand It’s often played for laughs in TV shows and movies — the nervous husband who jokingly asks if there is a money-back guarantee if he is unhappy with […]

Your child’s adoption story is a tale you’ll tell over and over. Put words (and pictures) to paper with these pointers to create an adoption story book that’s guaranteed to be your child’s favorite bedtime read. by Lisa Milbrand   When my husband and I decided to adopt, we filled our bookshelves with every adoption-related […]

Even if you’ve made a scrapbook for your child, kids age 6-8 like to be in charge of their own stories. Here’s how to help them create an adoption lifebook. Many parents chronicle their child’s story in a scrapbook or adoption lifebook. As a toddler and preschooler, your child probably enjoyed looking at the pictures […]