When Noah was adopted out of a Chinese orphanage, he left his best friend behind - but he was persistent in telling his parents about Du Tan. They eventually got the hint, and began the process of adopting their son's best friend.

"Making that happen was a long shot. David's [Du Tan's] paperwork had been lost and the Chinese government was in no hurry to help the McClymonts finalize his adoption. For more than a year, the family sent care packages and photos of Noah to David. Then, in December, they got word the adoption would likely happen."

Both boys have spina bifida, and they are slowly learning how to get around without the use of wheelchairs. David will have his first American birthday party in a couple of weeks, complete with the best gift of all - a forever family. Source:York Daily Record

Labels: relationships, friends

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Pat Locke and Ian Miller have been married for about ten years. During that time, their decisions have largely revolved around themselves. But now, on the eve of their adoption of two girls from Kyrgyzstan, they realize the focus of their decisions will have to change.

"In the new year, the couple, who live in Hudson [Massachusetts], must decide whether to relocate, where to send their new daughters to school, and how to juggle work and child care, to name just a few items on their to-decide list."

Though the decisions will be difficult, Locke and Miller are eager to start this new chapter of their lives. Miller has admitted that he's also eager to get past the first few months, which he knows will be the hardest for the girls.

Deciding to send your child to a boarding school is also a difficult decision. Learn how to choose a boarding school and then deal with feelings of guilt at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: families, parenting, relationships

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Melissa and Shawn Bowers didn't have a good first adoption experience. For six months, they paid rent, doctors' visits and other expenses for a young pregnant girl who said she was going to let them adopt her baby. But she eventually decided to keep the baby, and Melissa was devastated.

"But they connected with... a 25-year-old woman in Texas, when she was about four months along and kept in touch with frequent phone calls, Melissa said. Mason was born in August, and the couple brought him home about a week later."

Mason bonded quickly with Melissa, Shawn, and their biological son Maxwell who seems to enjoy his new role as big brother.

Labels: adoption_process, relationships

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When Kara and Jordan Crockett went on a mission trip to Nigeria, they didn't expect to meet a little boy who would steal their hearts; but they did. Now, a year later, 5-year-old Job will trade his Nigerian orphanage for the Crockett's home in Virginia Beach.

"The first time the adoptive father-to-be saw little Job, he said 'He stood out because [the other kids] always want to be in pictures but he would always stand in the corner. I told Kara it was my goal to make that little boy laugh.'"

Laugh he did. And he felt such a connection with the Crocketts that he got up, by himself, to walk from his orphanage and say good-bye on the morning they left for the States. Kara returned eight months later and was greeted so warmly by Job that she knew she and her husband would be adopting him.

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Labels: relationships, connections, Africa

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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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Most adoption research is about the relationships between parents and children. But a new study was recently conducted by the Haifa School of Social School on the relationship between children and grandparents. Fifteen grandparents participated in the research, which was conducted by the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies at the University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel.

"The research identified five stages in the development of emotional relationships between grandparents and their adopted grandchildren."

In the final stage, grandparents demonstrated emotions which showed that their viewed their adopted grandchildren as an "inseparable member of the family." Read more at Adoption.com.

Labels: adoptive_families, relationships, grandparents

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