parenting.adoption.com

Parenting and adoption can be complicated topics by themselves, however, place the two together and you might have all kinds of new and different complications you never expected. For example, the never-ending debate about the differences in parenting biological children versus parenting adopted children. Or perhaps the struggles one faces in open adoption as a birth parent. As you can see, the issues are far and wide and differ from parenting role to parenting role.

As an adoptive parent, you will likely be faced with questions that parents of biological children will not face. Questions such as, "who is my birth mother?" or "why did you choose to adopt?" You may also have to deal with a lot of different emotions that other parents may never face, such as the sting of normal childhood angst that biological parents are often able to dismiss very easily. The role of adoptive parent can be a joyous and rewarding experience, just like being a biological parent, but it can also be very emotional. [more...]

Sponsors

Article Topics

Pre-finalization & Just Adopted
Activities & Fun
Ages & Stages
Issues For Children
Issues For Parents
Support
Tools & Resources
Family Type

There are a number of potential issues that are unique to adoptive parenting, some of which you will need to prepare for as your child gets older. You may want to prepare to address issues surrounding grief and loss. There are studies that show that even infants can experience loss in adoption, so preparing to support your child as he or she identifies and copes with potential grief will be important.

Other issues that adoptive parents can face are issues surrounding the differences between parent and child. This can be especially complicated if there are racial differences or if you're parenting as a single parent. Often, the public at large will feel totally at ease with asking you personal questions about your family that may be insulting or offensive. Remembering that adoption is an educational process and that often, those asking have very little exposure can be an important tool in navigating difficult discussions.

In the end, your day to day parenting will likely be the same as anyone else's and while it's true you may face more scrutiny in public if you look different or you may face more questions from your child as they grow, the journey and joys of parenthood are equal, regardless of the method in which your family is created.

Adoptive Parenting Discussions

Would a Break in Parenting Help a Prospective Birth Parent?
May 4, 2008, 11:41 am
Here is the scenario. My mother is a foster parent to teenage girls. I talked her into fostering when my father died about 10 years ago to ...
Dilemma of the Week - Name Changes
April 30, 2008, 11:54 pm
As with any type of parenting, you often get blindsided by oddball issues that you just don’t know how to handle. One such issue ...
Celebrity Adoption News
April 30, 2008, 11:39 pm
The actress, Edie Falco, who is most closely associated with her role as Carmella Soprano on The Sopranos , recently adopted a daughter, ...
Cap on First Year Well Baby Appointments
May 9, 2008, 8:07 am
Jenna that really does made a person extremely angry! This happened to us a few years ago and many people were caught off guard like us. ...
Potty Regression Help
May 9, 2008, 6:37 am
Oh, we're nowhere near night training. That doesn't come until they are biologically ready and my heavy, heavy wetter is nowhere NEAR ...
Any Expat Parents of Toddlers here?
May 8, 2008, 12:25 pm
I'm an expat living in Canada. And my kids are Canadian, arriving in my family after moving here. It is very similar to the US so I ...

Advertisement

Adoptive Parenting News

Two Moms are the Bomb
May 9, 2008, 8:07 am
On Saturday, Seagoville residents Nique and LaShun Davis-Hall are getting kicked out of their ...
Prospective Adoptive Parents Visit Heart Gallery
May 8, 2008, 8:22 am
The Adoption Exchange is holding an exhibit that tugs at your heartstrings and that is exactly the ...
Man Charged With Beating Adopted Children
May 8, 2008, 8:16 am
A Central Florida man was arrested and charged with child abuse on Tuesday after the family nanny ...

Adoption Blogs

Adoptive Parenting | Hoping to Adopt | Older Child Adoption | Parenting Children with Special Needs

Advertisement

Community Photos