Are Adoptive Families REAL Families?

Dear Mardie,   Recently, I heard an interview with Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles, discussing her adoption. (Simone was legally adopted by her birth grandparents after her birth mother lost custody of she and her sister due to drug use.)  The host seemed to be...

Feeling Left Out and Left Behind

Dear Mardie, Many of my friends are preparing for their children to head off to college or high school, and we are still waiting for our first child.  I keep a smile on my face but I can’t help but feeling left out and left behind.  I realize we should have started...

Be Clear on Racial Preferences

Recently, we have seen a number of families who were contacted by potential birth mothers outside of their racial preferences.  In most cases, the adoptive parents have decided that although the situation is outside of what they were seeking, they are choosing to...

Post Adoption Contact Agreement

More and more birth parents are requesting a written agreement, detailing what is agreed upon in regards to post-adoption contact between themselves (and sometimes their family members) and the adoptive parents.  Often, both parties may try to have it filed as part of...

Home Study Basics

The adoption home study may sound a little invasive and scary for some hopeful parents, when in fact it is more paperwork than white glove inspection of your home. The “home study” is really a “people study”. A combination of a written and oral description of...

3 Adoption Shortcuts to Avoid

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”  Helen Keller Many times, adopting parents think that there may be shortcuts to finding the child for their family. Certainly, some things may happen more quickly or more easily for one family over...

Profile Notes: Sharing Your Traditions

Sharing a special or unique family tradition can be a valuable part of your adoption profile and website.  Many birth mothers crave the stability that something like a tradition can share with their child.   One key to remember is that it should be unique or...

Grieving Your Fertility

The great majority of parents who come to adoption have some degree of infertility.  And, depending on the circumstances, they may go through a real grieving process prior to moving wholly into adoption as a means to become parents.  Does every family do this? No. ...

Race and Adoption

Dear Mardie, We are white, but open to adopting a child of any race. Do mixed race children have a more difficult time in a single race household?   In today’s society, many adopted children are more than one race. Those children are often placed with loving...