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An Alternative (Please!) to the Adoption of the Month Club

In my last blog, referring to various obituaries written about Patrick Swayze, I talked about how calling attention to a person’s adoption without reason can seem to make a false distinction between permanently adopted family members and other permanent family members. Respect for the concept of permanence is also why I was a bit sad to receive a catalog in the mail yesterday. The National Wildlife Foundation suggests giving your child an “adoption kit” for Christmas. This will include a stuffed animal (size dependent on the price level you choose). In a more “deluxe adoption”, you will receive a book … Continue reading →

Will Your Child Be Adopting this Month?

Maybe I’m just a Scrooge about Black Friday. Usually I don’t even read the ads because I know I don’t want to deal with crowds. I’m firmly sold on online shopping. Last night I saw some ads, though, and was tempted—I didn’t know some things would be over sixty percent off! Maybe this gripe comes from my general dislike for shopping, but I’m a bit skeptical of dolls that come with adoption certificates. The idea of taking yhour child to a toy store, wandering the aisles, specifying the exact eye color you want and handing over your money in exchange … Continue reading →

Book Review: Adoption is a Family Affair–What Family and Friends Must Know

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Prolific adoption writer Patricia Irwin Johnston is herself an adoptive parent of three. Her husband and sister-in-law were also adopted. Pat has been a writer, speaker, educator and advocate on adoption topics for nearly 20 years. While moderating an internet support group for waiting parents, she found many prospective adoptive parents reporting insensitive comments and myths about adoption that they were hearing from family members. Many waiting parents also noted that people didn’t seem to know what to say when they announced that they were adopting, and that before and after the baby arrived they didn’t have the traditional supportive … Continue reading →

Adoption Blog Month in Review, April 2007: Part One

I’d like to start this April Month-in-Review with a word about March. Most of you know that my co-blogger Ed Paul left. However he was a prolific writer here so there are many blogs in our archives to enjoy—check some out! When Ed left, Rachel Whitmire (who wrote for the adoption blog before either Ed or I did) was ready to come back from her leave of absence–during which she picked up her toddler son Jayden from Guatemala! She has about ten blogs in the adoption blog in late March describing aspects of her journey and new motherhood. Check them … Continue reading →

Adopt a Child–or a Whale?

I’ve always thought that adoptive parent groups protesting the use of “adopt-a-highway/whale/endangered gorilla/etc.” campaigns were overreacting. People can realize that a word is used differently in different settings, surely. But I’ve changed my mind. Think it through with me for a minute: we try so hard to reassure our adopted children that adoption is permanent and forever. Then we tell them we are adopting an animal, say a gorilla, at the local zoo. We send the zoo some money and go visit “our” animal, then go home. Perhaps we visit once or twice more that year. The next year our … Continue reading →

Tis the Season to Give Green

Yes, it is almost Christmas but some are still thinking about Christmas gifts. Have you ever considered avoiding the malls and online stores and giving a green gift? Name a Star Yes, you can have a star named after your sweetheart, parent, child, or friend. The Star Foundation Network allows your loved one to look up in the sky and see your gift every night…provided it isn’t cloudy. Each star costs $39.95 and the recipient gets a certificate, a signature medallion, a map of the constellations, a map and mythological explanation of the star, an astronomical term sheet, a fact … Continue reading →

Baby Making–Hollywood Style

While the rest of the world is counting down the days until Sex and the City hits the big screen the film’s star Sarah Jessica Parker is counting down the days until she can hit the sack with husband Matthew Broderick and work on adding to their family of three. The New York Daily News is reporting that Parker and Broderick have plans to take the summer off and dedicate some serious time to make a new brother or sister for their 5-year-old son James Wilkie. Broderick told the paper, “In the summer, we’ll leave town and we’ll unwind and … Continue reading →

Celebrity Moms Celebrating Their First Mother’s Day

Hollywood’s baby boom really exploded during the first few months of 2007, which means tomorrow will be an extra special day for many first time celebrity moms. In honor of Mother’s Day I’ve compiled a list of some of Hollywood’s brightest female stars who are now new moms—some were just inducted into this wonderful sorority less than 48 hours ago: Jaime Pressly of “My Name is Earl” fame and her deejay fiancé, Eric Cubiche, welcomed a baby boy, Dezi James, just yesterday. The infant weighed in at 6 lbs. 4 oz. The actress told PEOPLE magazine her son’s name was … Continue reading →

Wisconsin’s Wild Kingdom

I once read a book entitled: “There’s no place like home: Happiness can be found in your own backyard.” I thought about it the other day when I discovered a little piece of the wild kingdom not far from my home. Allow me to explain. My 2-year-old daughter LOVES animals… if she could she would transport herself to Diego’s rainforest and ask his family to adopt her. Unfortunately for her she is “forced” to call Wisconsin home (no humpback whales or red-eyed tree frogs here). To compensate for her “exile” to the frozen tundra I have spent countless hours on … Continue reading →