There is no way around it: adoption is a complicated life journey. It has brought our family immeasurable love and joy but has also carried corresponding challenges—none more imposing than those we face today. When we adopted our infant daughters from China and Vietnam, respectively, in 1995 and 1997, I did my best to prepare
Practical Tips for Parenting a Child with ADHD
Parenting a child with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can be challenging. Your child’s behavior, lack of focus on tasks, and struggle to follow your family’s daily flow feel overwhelming and draining. What more can you implement in your home to ease the frustration and set your child up for success in his everyday life?
Choosing The Perfect Gift For A Child With Special Needs
The holidays are here, and it’s the time of year when parents are scrambling to find the perfect gift for their little ones. Finding a present that a child will appreciate and enjoy can be quite a struggle, and it’s even more of a challenge if a child has special needs. Fortunately, there are a
10 Tips to Enjoy the Holidays with Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, family togetherness, and celebration. For those who are parenting kids who have experienced trauma or loss, we know that this season can also be quite stressful to navigate. What are the practical things you can do to help your family enjoy the holiday season with
Thankful to Be Together this Holiday Season
When Becky and Nick DeTrempe married four years ago, they became a blended family with Becky’s two children, Joci (14) and Bill (13), and Nick’s son, Austin (18). Their life in Morton, Illinois was busy and rewarding, yet they wondered what it would be like to have more children. That conversation invariably turned to the
Adoptive Siblings: The Invisible Family Members
This content by Melissa Corkum and Lisa Qualls was originally published by the National Council for Adoption in Adoption Advocate No. 147. My life changed completely when adoption became part of my story. Adoption encouraged me to become more empathetic, compassionate, understanding, and mature. Adoption led me to a life lived intimately with trauma and
Tour Korea: A Dad’s Perspective
My wife Susan, and 7-year-old daughter Amanda went to Korea in the year 2000 to pick up our daughter and Amanda’s new baby sister—Marisa. In the Summer of 2019, Marisa and I returned. We have changed some, Korea has changed some, but the bright smile on the face of Mrs. Kim, her foster mother, was
Back To School Resources Round Up
This article was originally published by the National Council for Adoption (NCFA) From preschool to college, this school year is anything but normal for students and their parents. The challenges of virtual learning, disruption to established routines, and reduced services can be especially challenging for adoptive families. We’ve compiled a list of resources to encourage
Interracial Adoptees are Facing an Identity Reckoning
This content was originally published on rewire.org by Rachel Priest. View the original post. Talking about race with family can be especially difficult for interracial adoptees. When she was 9 years old, Roselane Da Silva-Miller was adopted from Brazil into a multiracial family in Corvallis, Oregon. Her parents and three of her siblings are white, while
Blocked Care: How to Help Discouraged Adoptive Parents Regain Compassion
This content by Melissa Corkum and Lisa Qualls was originally published by the National Council for Adoption in Adoption Advocate No. 145. Tricia loved being a mom. When she and Sam married after college graduation, they had dreamed of having a large family. By their tenth anniversary, they had two daughters, ages six and eight,
