At its most basic definition, respite care is temporary care of a child or an adult, in place of that child or adult’s normal caregiver. In the f
Adoption is comprised of many emotional acts and events. Though it can be common to think of the negatives, there are too many positives to count!
I was raised to believe that only my looks and genetic factors came from my biological family. I was brought up knowing all I am and will be is bas
I enjoy an unusual pastime with my oldest daughter, Kaylin (who’s currently six), in that we love to watch scary films together. We started with
Getting ready for an open adoption can feel a lot like preparing for a job interview. Everything about you seems like it’s under the microscope;
Home study. For some, the term may conjure up worries about being scrutinized and judged. However, a home study is not as scary or intimidating as
When we first started the process to adopt 13 years ago, adoption training regarding how past trauma affected adopted children didn’t really exis
When I was in the homestudy process, my social worker asked me to describe how I thought my foster and adoptive journey might go. When I finished d
Last Saturday the Dunker family and their newly adopted sons, Kevin and Jordith, arrived at the Des Moines airport and got quite the surprise. A la
Michael Reagan is the son of one of the most iconic couples in Hollywood: former President Ronald Reagan and Academy Award-winning actress Jane Wym
Throughout the ages, non-biological families have existed in numerous forms. However, it has only been a little over a hundred years since the lega
It is amazing how one powerful quote can change our entire perspective on life. Peggy O’Mara once said, “The way we talk to our children become
From the outside, one could look at my children and see three charming, cute, and spirited kiddos. However, one could not see the behavioral issues
1. Avoid resentment. Don’t stand in the way of what your children want once they become adults. You have spent their whole lives loving and
Any time I hear a story about a late discovery adoptee it absolutely breaks my heart. I used to think that it was just horrendously deceptive and c
For those starting out in the adoption community, it can feel like learning a whole new language. We tend to “speak” in adoption acronyms, form