November is National Adoption Month; a great time not only to give thanks for family, but consider opening your home to someone who has no family. Nationwide, there are over 114,000 children in foster care - waiting for a permanent home.

"You could be the refuge of a temporary home, or become their new family through becoming an adoptive parent. Adoption can also be a wonderful answer to infertility or an unwanted pregnancy."

So many children are waiting for permanent, stable homes. Adoption may not be for everyone, but even offering your house as a temporary home would be a tremendous blessing to many of these kids.

Not sure what to get your troubled teen this Christmas? How about sending your troubled teenager to a wilderness program where they can get away from negative influences and work on themselves? Visit 4TroubledTeens for a list of programs.

Labels: foster_care, holidays, gifts

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Birth parents that have stayed in contact with their child's adoptive parents face struggles that are unique to their situation. Even something as simple as buying a gift can be wrought with anxiety. Jenna Hatfield, in a post on AdoptionBlogs, offers some suggestions for reducing the stress, and increasing the joy of buying gifts for a child who's been adopted.

"If you know that the holidays or a birthday are right around the corner, call and ask [the adoptive parents] some key questions like current size, any big gifts they're planning on buying and what is a current no-no in terms of what he/she is allowed to play with or use. Remember to respect any boundaries they set on gifts as it is part of their right as a parent."

Other suggestions include asking the child what he or she is currently in to, getting age-appropriate recommendations from a parenting forum, and window shopping. Adoptive parents should expect these kinds of questions if they've maintained contact with the birth parent(s). Read more at BirthParents.AdoptionBlogs.com.

Looking for a gift for a child with non verbal learning disorder or Asperger's? Find suggestions at YourLittleProfessor.com.

Labels: relationships, gifts, stress

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