Tag Archives: HappyMomAnna

Real Grandma? Raising children who have an adopted father.

I was married at eighteen years old, to an adopted man. He was adopted during the era where everything was a secret and adoptive parents might never even tell the child. He had some real difficult times dealing with his adoption when we became parents together not once but twice in fourteen months time. Being the mother of children with an adopted father was just about as close as my life would ever get to understanding some of the hard parts about not knowing anything about your past. It started to become something I noticed when I filled in the … Continue reading →

An Adoptive Mother’s New Years Resolutions 2006

1) To remember at all times “adoption” was an event that happened and not a label for my children. I do not introduce my biological children as my C-section babies and I will not introduce my little ones as my adopted children. 2) To take joy in the unique qualities and attributes my children have received from the biological family. And, to occasionally mention, to my children, in a positive way where those qualities and attributes must have come from. 3) To teach all of my children families are made many ways and how our family was put together has … Continue reading →

Establishing a Support System Article #2: Safety and Emergency Planning For Adoptive Families.

Establishing a Support System Article #2 During the adoption home study many families have a home safety inspection completed by a social worker or another certified person. This very basic check covers the minimum safety concerns and issues all families face. Self sufficient families with a firm support system will have a safety and emergency plan and be ready in the event of sudden injury, illness or other emergency. Not every adoptive family is required to take First Aid and C.P.R. however every parent really should know the basics. During training the First Aid guide is typically provided as part … Continue reading →

Establishing a Support System #3: Educating Extended Family

As adoptive parents we spend a good amount of time coming to the decision to adopt and what type of adoption we believe best for our family. We are ready, but have we stopped to consider the fact that our plans to adopt will impact our extended families as well? We may have talked in detail with a few members of our extended families about our adoption plans. In fact everyone we know might be aware of our plans to adopt a baby, child or even a sibling group. But, think back to when you first considered adoption and some … Continue reading →

Adoptive Parents Establishing a Support System: #1 Always be prepared.

In order to establish a strong support system families must first make an effort to always be prepared. The more we are able to take care or our families needs in the event of an emergency the more stable our lives become. Establishing a support system is not unique to adoptive parents every family is better off if they have a firm and clear support system in place. As adoptive families our goal is to establish our support system while riding the roller coaster of the adoption process . The first requirement of forming a support system is to establish … Continue reading →

Estabilshing a Support System: Intro

It makes no difference if you are adopting a domestic newborn, international, or a special needs, older or waiting child. All parents need to establish a strong support system and adoptive parents do not have 9 months of pregnancy or have the same access and support as a biological parent might. During a pregnancy extended family knows what to expect and when. While waiting to become adoptive parents there are few obvious signs that your family is about to grow. When adding children the old fashion way mothers have the chance to interview and pick pediatricians and generally health insurance … Continue reading →

All I want for Christmas is a Forever Family .

Tonight as we tuck our children in and remind them to fall asleep quickly so Santa will visit, our children will sleep in peace knowing the morning will bring gifts they have wished for. Our children will know that Santa won’t be leaving rocks or coal because as loving parents we have done our best to build their self esteem and over all they have been more nice than naughty. As our children are tucked in to their beds and sleep with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads many other children tonight will hope Santa brings them but … Continue reading →

A Very RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) Holiday.

There may not be too many of us who are parents of a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder. But for those of us who are I thought I would share my Survival Guide for the Holidays as the Adoptive mother of a RAD kid. Secrets and Presents: Due to the fact that our children are hyper-vigilant it is advised to keep all gifts at a different location such as a storage room, or family members house as long as it is a family member the RAD kid will not visit at any time before the gift giving moment arrives. Do … Continue reading →

“A Home For The Holidays”

Last night network TV aired the 7th annual Dave Thomas Foundation Adoption Awareness program A Home for the Holidays. Makala and I watched together which I actually think is a healthy activity. I am careful to talk with her a lot about feelings when we watch something on the subject especially if any of the issues hit close to home. I am feeling good about how well Makala is doing and the fact she seems to respond to adoption stories, or the heart wrenching waiting child pleas appropriately. I try to remember when Tori and I may have watched a … Continue reading →

Deciding Which Path to Adoption was right for us.

When we were doing our one attempt at InvetroFertilazation we were also investigating adoption on the side. We knew there were many options and that each one had its pro’s and con’s. We were pushing 40 years old and we also knew we didn’t actually have to adopt a newborn. In some ways we felt that adopting a new born might be a little selfish given our ages. It was also one of the reasons we chose to not pursue IVF or a donor egg. That opened up the option of considering International Adoption. We investigated it and found that … Continue reading →