Creating a Family » General Musings

What Happened to the Boy Sent Back to Russia by His Adoptive Mom

Dawn — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:05:20 +0000

I’m sure you all remember Torry Hansen, the American adoptive mother who sent her 7 year old son back to Russia alone on a plane with a note pinned to his shirt that he had problems and she no longer wanted to parent him. Her US adoption agency, WACAP, and the National Council for Adoption have both filed … [visit site to read more]

Herschel Needs Two Clicks From Us

Dawn — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:58:18 +0000

Herschel started out life with the odds stacked against him. He was born with a serious heart defect where his aorta and pulmonary arteries were switched and he was abandoned by his parents. He needs surgery to save his life, and you and I can help without even having to spend one red cent. Check out his picture–it could melt your heart.

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Blessed are the Children: A Prayer for Orphan Sunday

Dawn — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:23:38 +0000

This Sunday, Nov. 6, is Orphan Sunday. Why dedicate a Sunday to orphans? There is so much need in our world, so many valuable and good causes which claim our attention, it’s easy for even the best of causes to fall through the cracks. Hard to believe something as large and urgent as the orphan crisis could be overlooked, but it happens and is happening. This Sunday is our chance to focus the attention of our churches. Why not call your church or place of worship and ask if you can share a … [visit site to read more]

Life as a Mixed Race Family

Dawn — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:24:23 +0000

There was a great article in the New York Times yesterday about being a mixed race family in America whether by marriage or adoption– In Strangers’ Glances at Family, Tensions Linger. Times they are definitely changing, but folks, we’ve got a long way to go.

Multiracial families are no longer uncommon. (How’s that for a double negative?!?) One in seven new … [visit site to read more]

Supporting Single Moms in Korea

Dawn — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:10:56 +0000

A few weeks ago I posted a blog on what is happening to international adoption in South Korea, to the children who are not being adopted, and what it means to international adoptions in general. We had a lively and informative discussion in the comment section, which included some comments from adult Korean adoptees. (Aside: you really really should check out this blog and comments.) In the course of the discussion we all seemed to agree that unwed mothers in Korea needed our support. … [visit site to read more]

South Korean Adoptions: Canary in the International Adoption Mine?

Dawn — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:36:55 +0000

“South Korea Ending Child Export Shame” read headlines this summer when South Korea passed new adoption legislation further limiting international adoption. Other headlines were more subtle, but the gist was the same—proud capable countries should not send children abroad for international adoption. Kim Dong-won, head of adoptions at the Korean Ministry of Health, visit site to read more]

Is it Selfish to Want a Second, Third, or Fourth (etc.) Child?

Dawn — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:12:56 +0000

If you’ve been blessed to have had a child either through infertility treatment, the “old fashioned way”, or through adoption, is it selfish to want another one or two or three? Are you tempting fate? No one questions your desire when you’re trying for your first. In fact, most folks assume you’re somewhat suspect if you don’t want one. The decision to go to two is also usually beyond reproach. After all, our society frowns on only children. But, speaking for myself, … [visit site to read more]

Threads of Feeling

Dawn — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:01:51 +0000

While I welcome the discussion of adoption and adoption ethics taking place today, it is a sad fact that for as long as humans have been around, there have been parents who were not able or not willing to care for their children. Usually, someone in the extended family or the community steps forth to parent that child. But when this doesn’t happen, then what? Adoption as we know it today was not always common, and the fate of children whose parents were not able to care for them was … [visit site to read more]

Five Things I Know for Certain about Parenting

Dawn — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:14:10 +0000

Back in my pre kid (PK) days, I knew a lot about parenting. I dreamed of parenting, I studied parenting, I read endless parenting books. By the time my first child arrived, I was certain I’d be close to the perfect parent. I maintained this certainty right up until our daughter was about 6 months old and still waking up a couple of times a night. The books said she should be sleeping through the night; my friends’ babies were sleeping through the night. My kid was definitely not … [visit site to read more]

Forgiving Our Body

Dawn — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:32:06 +0000

I hereby declare, by the power vested in me, that today, March 22, 2011, is Forgive Your Body Day. (FUBD-pronounced ‘fubbed’) (By the same power mentioned above, I hereby declare that I am allowed to take liberties with spelling for acronym purposes, and I hereby twitterize “your” to “ur” so as to obtain a more pleasing acronym.)

It doesn’t so much matter why we are ticked off at our bodies. Maybe we are disappointed that our bodies failed the basic evolutionary task of all … [visit site to read more]