Originally published February 9, 2016, updated May 2, 2019. With the resurgence of measles around the U.S. and worldwide and the release of even more publications that have debunked any link between vaccinations and autism, parents are discussing vaccinations more than ever with friends, family and their medical providers. So what is a parent to
Embracing and Teaching Advocacy as Parents of Children with Down Syndrome
As parents to three amazing kids, we’ve found many things to be constant over the years: going to music festivals, a yearly trip to Duluth, nightly walks (when the weather permits), spending time with family, enjoying the lake, and finding any educational activities that we can do to embrace the many cultures in our family.
Helping Adopted Children Cope With Grief and Loss
This content was originally published by childwelfare.gov Many children in foster care have experienced traumatic separations and losses. The emotions elicited by these traumatic experiences are rooted in underlying grief, which may complicate their adjustment to the newly formed adoptive family unit. Children’s response to grief may vary, depending on their age and stage of
A Millennial’s Guide to Foster Care and Adoption
If someone would have told me 10 years ago that I’d be married to my high school sweetheart and have two kids at 25, I would have said, “You’re nuts.” But, that’s exactly what happened. I met my husband in the summer of 2008. We were 17 and just about to start our senior year
Your Child in Foster Care Could Qualify for Social Security Benefits
If you have a child in foster care, he or she might qualify for benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA oversees different benefits programs. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports that about 24,000 of the 400,000 children in foster care on any given day receive some form of Social Security benefits. That
Five Years
It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since Hope moved in from her last foster home. In some ways it seems like it couldn’t possibly be that long; in other ways it feels like a lifetime ago. I’m about 15 lbs. heavier, and I have a LOT more gray hair than I
14 Years Ago I Got “The Call”
On his birthday last week Tea (Sammy’s birthmom) texted to let me know she’d reached Sam to wish him a happy birthday. She said he told her he was “skating w/ a bunch of white ppl. Lol.” I wrote back, “Wait did he tell you that was his idea?! Going to a movie with a bunch of not
Life Changes When You Adopt from Foster Care
During this season of giving we find ourselves reflecting on all the wonderful gifts we received this year—the greatest of which was the adoption of our bright daughters Sky (8) and Leyna (7). We chose to adopt a sibling group from foster care and have been on an incredible journey in becoming their forever family.
Making Memories to Last a Lifetime on Tour Korea
There are many things to praise about Tour Korea, but I will focus on three: First, extraordinary staff accompanied us. A birthland tour for adoptees is not a typical sightseeing jaunt. There are serious, emotional components for children and parents that may, and probably will, arise. Tour Korea allowed families to meet personnel from Korean
Why Adopt?
Why did we choose to adopt? This was a question we got A LOT when we started telling people we were in the process of adopting a child. The question that usually immediately followed, both said and unsaid, was “Why adopt if you’re able to have biological children?” It’s a valid question. Adoption has always
