Cooper, his mother Anne, and his grandmother Mary represent three generation of adoption in a single family. Author and adoption expert Adam Pertman says their story represents what he calls the "adoption revolution".

"Cultural changes, such as the availability of birth control, legalization of abortion and decline in stigma associated with unwed motherhood, have caused a dramatic drop in the number of U.S. infants available for adoption. At the same time, government regulations encouraging permanent placement of children 'languishing' in foster care, the fall of the Berlin Wall and China's one-child policy have opened up adoptions for foreign children and older children in the United States."

One of the most dramatic cultural shifts where adoption is concerned is the openness with which it's now talked about. When Mary was growing up in the 40s and 50s, she knew she was adopted but also knew she shouldn't say anything - to anyone. Today, young Cooper will not only have the freedom to tell people, but can also tell them the name of his birth mother. Read more at DelmarvaNow.com.

Is your child a brat? Send them to Brat Camp before their actions and behaviors get worse.

Labels: communication, cultures