Gotcha Day is the day our two adopted kids became our kids. It’s not the “official adoption day” because that gets a little bit muddy. We could celebrate the day that China recognized our kids’ adoption or we could celebrate the day that the United States Consulate recognized our kids’ adoptions or we could celebrate…
Oh, adoption questions. When your family stands out or is put together a little differently, people are going to ask questions. Maybe they’re curious. Maybe they’re nosy. Maybe they’re just trying to make polite conversation. Maybe they’re genuinely interested in you. The questions can still be annoying. Here are the top six. Since we adopted…
My children are adopted from China. Sometimes people stare at us. I like to think this is because we’re a nice-looking family but it’s probably because people notice my husband and I are…well, not Chinese. I usually don’t like the attention, but I kind of understand it. We look a little different and we stand…
If you are in the process of trying to build your family, the holidays can add an extra layer of stress. And, despite the joy they can bring, the holidays are sometimes just stressful all by themselves. There’s a lot of uncertainty attached to the holidays this year. All plans seems to have that “up…
My blog’s tagline is “Navigating motherhood, adoption, and the world with heart and humor.” This blog started out as an adoption journal and has, over the years, evolved into a parenting and lifestyle resource. Most people who see pictures of our family get that our family was built through adoption but through the growth of…
When we mention in passing that two of our kids are adopted, a common reaction is “Oh, I know someone who has adopted.” People often share stories about their adopted grandchild, neighbor, classmate…hairdresser’s nephew. When people learn they have something in common with you, they like to share…sometimes overshare. Much of what people know about…
Maybe it sounds petty but I’m bummed that I never had a baby shower or an adoption shower. Part of me knows I should get over it but another part of me knows I’ll never let it go completely. We’ve had a lot of adoption hurdles: finances, depression, relationship struggles, difficulty in attaching. And I’m…
Yes, my kids are real brothers. Two out of three kids are adopted. At least that’s how it works in our family. We didn’t plan it that way… that’s just how it worked out. Yes my kids are real brothers. Really they are. People are curious when it comes to adoption, I get that. We’re naturally…
Most people regard adoption as a happy thing. Just look at the Internet: We see memes and status updates and blog posts peppered with “chosen” and #blessed. And while (for the most part) adoption is a happy thing, it can also be a very difficult thing, in a way bringing a child into your family the “usual”…
If you’re looking to put a little bit of your family’s history on your Christmas tree, I’ve got some great recommendations for adoption Christmas ornaments. Why adoption Christmas ornaments? It’s part of our family’s story and we have the kind of tree that reflects where we’ve been and the things we enjoy. From personalized adoption…
