Creating a Family

Discrimination Against Asians in College Admissions?-What should we tell our kids to do

Dawn — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:37:28 +0000

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating charges that Harvard and Princeton discriminate against Asian-Americans by requiring that their high school grades and SAT scores be higher than those of other races in order to be admitted. The Department’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating complaints that Harvard and Princeton apply a different admission … [visit site to read more]

Mother’s Day is Not Always a Day of Celebration

Dawn — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:47:52 +0000

A couple of years ago, about this time of year, I was talking with a pastor friend of mine. I mentioned how hard Mother’s Day is for women who are struggling with infertility and for birth mothers who have placed a child for adoption. I suppose I thought I might be helping to educate her on the complexities of this day of celebrating motherhood. She sighed and surprised me by saying that Mother’s Day is a nightmare for the church, and that she was always thankful when it was over. … [visit site to read more]

Essential Topics Every Prospective Adoptive Parent and Birth Mother Should Discuss Prior to the Adoption

Dawn — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:11:09 +0000

I hear from prospective adoptive parents pre-adoption that they feel that the expectant woman holds all the cards. I hear from birth mothers post adoption that they feel that adoptive parents hold all the cards. As uncomfortable as it may be to admit, there is some truth to both of these sides. So how do we cross the divide in a way that facilitates an ongoing relationship where the child can flourish. Because after all, that is what both sides should be focused on—how they can … [visit site to read more]

Internet Roundup: Best of the Net for Infertility and Adoption

Dawn — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:37:40 +0000

Take a look at what has inspired or disgusted me in my travels through cyberspace this week.

Darn, this is one good commercial. As a cloth diaper mommy and a strong proponent of using cloth, I kind of hate to give kudos to disposable diapers, but Pampers deserve recognition for being inclusive of all the ways babies can join a family. This one will tug at your heart … [visit site to read more]

Slippery Slope of International Adoptions: Cultural Misunderstandings Abound

Dawn — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:36:38 +0000

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article, Inside Ethiopia’s Adoption Boom , that did a particularly good job of capturing the grayness of the ethical issues surrounding international adoption. Ethics are a funny … [visit site to read more]

Save the Adoption Tax Credit

Dawn — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:27:05 +0000

As you probably know, the adoption tax credit, as we know it, is due to “sunset” at the end of this year unless Congress and the Administration do something to extend it. The logical thing it would seem is to jump on the bandwagon and start advocating for renewal, write letters, demand action now, right? Ah, is only it were that simple.

The Adoption Tax Credit is confusing–to put it mildly. It is complicated to apply for to be sure, but it is also confusing to know what will … [visit site to read more]

Why Should the Fertile Care About Infertility: I’m Not One of the 1 in 8, but I Won’t Ignore Their Pain

Dawn — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:16:05 +0000

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week and its “Don’t Ignore Infertility” theme, I’ve been encouraging folks to start a discussion with someone they know about infertility—how common it is, how emotionally devastating it is, how expensive treatment can be. By mid-week, I was feeling a bit hypocritical since I had not followed my own advice. Since I run an infertility and adoption education nonprofit, most of the folks in my everyday life have had more than their share of me … [visit site to read more]

Parenting a Child Conceived & Grown in Stress–The Challenge of Adoptive Parenting & Pregnancy After Infertility

Dawn — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:43:56 +0000

Yesterday, in her guest post on this blog, Dr. Marcy Axness laid the foundation of what parents can do to help their children develop their full potential through the science of attachment neurobiology and the power of parents setting an example. In today’s guest post, she applies this information more specifically to … [visit site to read more]

The Power of Parental Example for Adoptive Parenting and Pregancy after Infertility

Dawn — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:26:48 +0000

Awhile back, I posted a couple of blogs on The Primal Wound theory (here, here, and here). This … [visit site to read more]

Preparing for the Worst—The Problem with Adoption Education

Dawn — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:54:23 +0000

My grandmother and most adoption educators live by the “prepare for the worst and hope for the best” philosophy. But does preparing for the worst, then make us see the worst? Does adoption education that focuses on the potential problems make adoptive parents paranoid and prone to overreact?

Tara, a new adoptive mom, posted the following comment on my recent blog Walking the Tightrope in Adoptive … [visit site to read more]