International Adoption

If you’re starting the process of international adoption, hearing what people who’ve done it before have to say, can be extremely helpful so we asked our adoption forum members for their ideas and tips. * Best advice I’d give anyone adopting oveseas would be to “keep a cool head and a closed mouth’ when stressed out over international procedures. Some of the ways things were done were very...

Adoption and Breastfeeding

Much to many people’s surprise, breastfeeding a child that was adopted is not only an option, more and more women are choosing adoptive breastfeeding as a way to promote bonding and to have the shared experience with their baby. Here, three members of our adoption forums share their experiences about breastfeeding after adopting their child. Feel free to share your experience in a comment. 1) After breastfeeding our...

45 Things I’ve Learned In 45 Years

*~~ Today is my birthday and I’m 45 years old. ~~*I’ve always enjoyed gaining another year under my belt. Even the supposed hard ones, like turning 30 or 40, were welcomed with open arms. I wore each year proudly, almost like a badge of honor. This is the first year that it’s difficult, but not because of the number 45. Difficult because it’s my first time having a birthday without my mother here with...

Quotes About Adoption

My kids & I love adoption quotes. Here’s some that would be great for an adoption lifebook or maybe stenciled or framed on a child’s wall. If you know any other quotes about adoption, please share them in a comment. I have four children. Two are adopted. I forget which two.” -Bob Constantine Every baby needs a lap.” – Henry Robin “I didn’t give you the gift of life, But in my...

Brittany’s Hope Foundation

Brittany’s Hope is a non-profit foundation dedicated to aiding and facilitating adoptions of special children from around the world. Each year thousands of children wait for adoption in foreign orphanages. One of our adoption forum members is taking part in a fundraiser to benefit their Walk Of Love. Take a moment to look at their fundraising page and please open your hearts and wallets. Brittany’s Hope Foundation, in...

Oh My God: Girl Scouts And Religion

If you read this or my unschooling blog with any frequency, you know that both of my daughters really enjoy Girl Scouts. As a matter of fact, Jacqueline (my youngest, pictured below) is a five year girl scout, starting when she was a daisy, she’s now a junior. One thing I appreciate about the Girl Scouts is they don’t affiliate themselves with any one religion. Although the word god is in their promise, their...

10 Adoption Profile Tips

One of our adoption forums members, Lori from Best Light Adoption Profile Reviews shares these ten useful tips for anyone putting together their adoption profile. So what makes a profile work? I gathered anecdotal research from birthparents and adoption counselors. While each birthparent comes with a viewpoint as unique as a fingerprint, here are some commonalities I found in what attracts and what doesn’t in a...

Adoption Scams

Adopting a child should be a joyful, positive experience. Unfortunately there will always be those who look to cheat and scam. Use your common sense. One of these signs alone doesn’t mean it’s a scam, but a few should be examined and approached with caution. Birthmother Scams: 1. Usually the motivation for birthmother scams are to take your money. She needs money for rent, food, etc. Only give money to a...

I Got Tagged: 7 Random Things

My online buddy Lori, who blogs at Weebles Wobblog tagged me to post seven random things about myself, so here goes…you have ben warned. lol1) I have seen The Ramones in concert eleven times. Mostly at CBGB’s2) When I go out, my dog Mini gets angry so she flips the water bowl over in the kitchen and pushes her food bowl into my room and turns it over on my rug. She’s got issues.3) I have six tattoos…so...

Adoption Life Book Ideas

Your childs lifebook is their story. It’s their past, present and future. It’s a record of their life though words, photographs, memorabilia, artwork and more. There is no wrong way to do a lifebook. It’s really more of a concept. If your child is old enough to participate in helping to put together their lifebook, encourage them to do so. It is great way for open up lines of communication about how they...

Wordless Wednesday

Here is my entry for Wordless Wednesday. My nine year old daughter likes to create things. She’s always making, or remaking something, sometimes with my help, sometimes on her own. She decided she wanted to make a t-shirt using some of the fabric paint we have. I dug out a white t-shirt for her and she asked me to trace, in pencil, what she wanted to write. Here’s the final product. I love my daughter. **If...

A New Beginning

Begin Today is the day to begin. This new year is a blank canvas upon which you have the delightful opportunity to paint. As you do, be authentic. Your greatest accomplishments are the ones that contain the greatest quantity of you. Be innovative and creative. The challenges you face will melt away when you apply fresh, original thinking to them. Remember not to take yourself too seriously. You’ll climb much higher...