Adoption Terms and Lingo Part 1 Part 2: Home Studies

Not too long ago, I wrote about relinquishment but feel it’s necessary to include it again in this series.

The definition of relinquishment is:

In the context of adoption, this term generally refers to a birthparent voluntarily giving up his or her parental rights to... more

Motherhood is the biggest guilt trip ever invented. We feel guilty if our babies cry too much, or if they're not sleeping well, or if our two year olds still take a bottle. We feel guilty if our kids get hurt, or sick, or if we lose our tempers, or if they're slow to read, or if they play X-Box too much, or eat too many Pringles.

I'm used to guilt assailing me at odd moment. Not comfy with it, mind you...but I have come to expect it. In fact, I've come to realize I am especially vulnerable right after I climb into bed for the night. That's when I start mentally whipping myself because I grouched at my 15 year old, or missed playing Uno with my 4 year old, or forgot to check my... more

This wonderful article was posted to one of my email groups this morning. It is titled "The Lifelong Impact of Transracial Adoption: Learning From Adoptees and Their Non-Adopted Siblings" and was written by Dr. John Raible, Asst. Professor, Diversity & Curriculum Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and was originally presented as a keynote address at the 4th Biennial Adoption Conference at St. John's University in New York in October of 2006.

The link can be found here, and although it is long, this is really worth the read. It is really good stuff, and looks at learning about transracial adoption... more

According to the World Alliance for Breasfeeding Action (WABA), we already have evidence of harm to infants when exclusively formula fed. In a 1 December 2006 (World AIDS Day) press release, they relate the following:

A stark reality check from Botswana early this year showed how horribly things can go wrong when bottlefeeding becomes well entrenched in an African country. When the national PMTCT programme was launched in 1999 a UNICEF-funded... more

There are various types of DNA tests and the purpose of this series of posts is to tell you a little bit about each one. Keep in mind that depending on the laboratory what each test is called may vary. Also, depending on the test, the cost will vary. It is best to get references, ask other triad members whom they have utilized for DNA testing, and shop prices.

Paternity Test: This DNA test determines the likelihood that a male is the biological father of a child. This test can range in price depending on what you are exactly looking for.... more

Thanks to Sandra's question on my blog from the other day, I am posting more information on HIV and breastfeeding.

Worldwide, HIV-infection among young women is far outstripping infection in men and the health of tomorrow’s mothers is crucial to child survival.

Most HIV-infected women do not transmit HIV to their infants. A mother... more

Recently I received a copy of a really touching book written by Patricia Dischler about her own experience as a birthmother. Dischler placed her son for adoption in 1984 in what began as a semi-open arrangement (ground breaking at the time) and later on evolved into a fully open adoption.

This engaging story begins before Dischler’s son is even conceived. She is a newly independent young lady with a start on a successful printing business and living on her own when things began to take a turn in her life. An emotional breakup with her long time... more

It's the last day of February? Where did the time go? Another busy month on the blogs, especially here on the birth/first parent blog. I've challenged myself a bit with some of the topics I've tackled. I'm glad that by writing here, I am continuing to push myself towards whatever healing is available to me at that time through those circumstances.

My Faith and Adoption series continues to be one of my favorites even though I only write it once per week. (Minus this past... more

In the last blog, we talked about a reader’s question concerning what to call her relationship with her child’s birthmother in an open adoption. This sparked a question about my own situation, which I would love to hear from you about.

I am not sure what my son should call his birthmother. Whenever I talked about her when he was younger, I would refer to her as “your birthmother.” When Nicholas was around four years old, this terminology confused him. He wondered about his “other mother” and seemed confused about... more

This was in my in-box from the Love & Logic Institute today, and it is certainly worth sharing.

Most little kids reach a certain point at which they want to do many things without our help. They want to feed themselves, they want to open every door without assistance, they want to button their buttons, etc. If we try to help, we often hear, "No! Me!" While frustrating for everyone, this stage is important. Little ones know down deep that they need to experience... more