In the New Zealand town of Tshwane, an adoption agency has noticed responded to the needs of teen mothers in the area, regardless of whether they're considering adoption plans for their babies. Sazi Ledwaba, a social worker with Abba Adoptions, says teen mothers who often feel isolated and overwhelmed need help learning to cope with parenthood.

"She said although her organization specializes in adoption, they soon realized that there were a lot of teenage mothers who did not want to give up their babies but struggled to cope with their pregnancy because of pressure from society and parents."

In response to this need, Abba Adoptions opened House Elizabeth - a residential home for single mothers in the greater Tshwane area. The home gives new teen mothers time to adjust to parenthood and possibly reconcile with their own parents, who may be angry about the teen's unexpected pregnancy. Source: Pretoria (AUS) News

Labels: mothers, assistance, teenage_pregnancy

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Pregnancy, and giving birth to a child, is filled with moments; telling friends and family, hearing the heartbeat, feeling the baby kick. A woman who's adopting may feel a sense of loss over not experiencing those moments, but she can be encouraged by the special moments that are unique to adoption.

"I suppose a woman who hopes to become pregnant might start by researching various fertility methods, charting, and so on. We started by researching types of adoption... We heard about a local couple who had adopted through an agency for which we had received rave reviews... With one phone call to the director, we made our decision, and experienced one of our first 'moments'."

Other moments for adoptive couples include choosing the country from which to adopt, preparing the house for a home study, and getting the call that a child has been selected. Not every mom becomes a mom the same way, but they all have a journey that ends with an amazing gift. Source: Adoptive Families

Labels: preparations, mothers, fertility

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This coming Sunday, May 11, the Renaissance Austin Hotel is hosting and funding a special "Salute to Foster/Adoptive Moms." The event will include brunch and a special program that honors moms who make unique contributions through adoptive and foster parenthood.

"This year's event brings a new perspective with a focus on the mother's personal needs for self rejuvenation and relaxation. The 12 moms who have been invited with their families will receive a gift bag of cosmetics, donated by Saks Fifth Avenue."

The hotel is also providing a masseuse for neck and shoulder massages, and a photographer to take family portraits. Source: PR Web

Labels: support, mothers, holidays

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The Times West Virginian newspaper had a Mother's Day contest in which it asked people to submit letters about their mothers. One of the entries came from Melanie Carpenter, who wrote about her mother Rosemary.

"My mother is a very special lady. She has been a mentor and inspiration and a blessing to me for the past 50 years. Although she is up in years, she is the one I can still go to for guidance, comfort and love. Let me explain why she is so special, see I was chosen by her. I am an adopted child."

Rosemary is also mother to two other adopted children, and has housed more than 20 foster children. Melanie recalls all the times her mother has been there, and is still there for her and her children, guiding them on the "right road through life." Read more at TimesWV.com.

Labels: foster_care, parenting, mothers

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Technically, this coming Sunday will be Kristin’s second as a mother. But this time last year, though she had a child, she hadn’t seen him yet. Binyam, her soon-to-be-adopted son, was still in Ethiopia.

“On March 2, 2009, a full year after we’d submitted our paperwork to the adoption agency, I got ‘the call.’ When I hung up the phone, I looked at my mother in wonderment and said, ‘I’m a mom.’ I will never, as long as I live, forget that feeling.” [Source: MSNBC]

It took several months to complete the process and get Binyam home with his new forever family. It took several more months for parents and child to adjust to each other. Kristin says that, while she tried to teach her son a lot in the few months they’ve been together, she’s learned a lot from him, too.

 

Labels: international, mothers

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New legislation in India would give equal rights to adoptive mothers. Until now, when a married couple adopted a child, only the father was listed as the child’s guardian.

The proposed amendment to the 120 year-old Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, includes the mother along with the father to be appointed as guardian, making the process gender neutral.

The parliamentary standing committee on law and justice, which is examining the bill to amend the existing laws, is unanimous in its acceptance of the Personal Laws (Amendment Bill, 2010, introduced in the Rajya Sabha in April. [Source: The Hindustan Times]

Prior to the amendment, a mother had no rights over an adopted child if, for some unfortunate reason, her husband passed away.

 

Labels: international, adoption rights, mothers

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

Several decades ago, Terilee Wunderman adopted two children. She now has 30 years experience as both an adoptive parent and psychotherapist, and she’s always willing to share words of wisdom with new or soon-to-be parents.

The first tool in your arsenal should be a sense of humor and a little advance preparation, Wunderman said. "Use humor, and have a canned reply ready for insensitive comments. … Most people don’t know anything about adoption except for what they’ve seen on TV. A lot of times, it’s an adoptive parent’s job to educate others about it," she said. [Source: Deseret News]

Support groups are important for adoptive parents, too, so they can talk with others who understand the unique challenges they face. Ultimately, the relationships within the family, between parents, children and siblings, are the highest priority. Educating the informed is good, but should not be a parent’s main focus.

 

Labels: mothers, advice

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment