Have you been enjoying our impromptu look at birth parents and adoption issues around the world? Me too! It really wasn't my intention for a series of posts this week but other countries are just putting out a bunch of information and I'm gobbling it up! Today I learned a bit about birth parents in Barbados from a piece in The Nation Newspaper.

What I found most interesting was the age of birth parents in that country. While the Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute study on birthparents taught... more

Australia is a beautiful place, don't you think? Beyond the beauty of the land, I'm always impressed with the way this country handles adoption issues. In an article dated yesterday, I could hardly contain my glee for the members of the triad living down under. Why? Let's jump right to the meat of the proposals being discussed (and the one that makes me most happy).

Under the proposed scheme adoptive parents will automatically receive... more

I loved the novel The English American (which I reviewed here). But I love this article even more. Why? I always prefer real life to novels. And this article is such a feel-good but honest adoption piece that... more

I wish stories like this one didn't exist. But with unethical agencies and attorneys still free to do what they want without fear of consequence, fathers are going to continue to lose their children.

In short, Kareem Williams' daughter was placed for adoption without his consent. He has been fighting for her for four years. She has been living with the "adoptive family" that was chosen for her by the birth mother's family.

Looking at the few details... more

I know I've been harping (yes, I chose that word on purpose) on language as of late. The written word, of course, is even more adept at lingering as is the point of written word. And that's why I have a problem with this article.

The article is talking about the "shortage of infants." (Of note that the article does mention the number of waiting children languishing in our foster care system but says, and I quote, "few can compete with the appeal of a just born... more

I hate stories like these because they are negative in nature. Yet I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this one on the blog. In our state, we had two children die last month as a result of being left in a hot car. While it is now September, it is even hotter than it was last month in our area. So, this story just made me cry.

In short, a nine month old died as a result of being left in a hot car by her foster mother.... more

I'm going to tread into dangerous waters this morning for the sake of thoughtful discussion. To be honest, I don't have specific opinions on the topic of surrogate mothers and the laws that are starting to pop up around the issue.

This article brings many questions to light. It highlights the fight in Minnesota to make the contract between surrogates and intended parents legally binding. Because of my research in all things adoption and fertility, I have known for a year or two that... more

I won't lie. I don't like basketball. It's the squeaking shoes. I'm sensitive to sounds and those squeaking shoes annoy me to no end. But a recent article caught me eye. Can you guess why? That's right. It mentioned adoption.

Now, in case you don't know a lick about basketball, we're in the midst of March Madness. The article I'm referring to hit prior to the Kansas (ranked number 1) and Villanova (ranked number 12) game. Unfortunately, Villanova... more

Remember just yesterday? (Okay, I don't remember what I wore or ate yesterday. Let me clarify.) Remember just yesterday when I talked about holding agencies, attorneys and the like to an ethical standard? And what would happen if our country imparted actual punishments to those who try to get past red tape and act in totally unethical and inappropriate manners? Did you think the sky would fall first, too?

Welcome... more

You think you've seen it all. And then this news story out of Germany makes you scratch your head and wonder.

A man in Germany received a two and a half year sentence after fathering four children with his sister. What's that have to do with adoption? Well, that's where the strange part comes in just in case that tidbit wasn't strange enough for you.

The man was relinquished for adoption when he was four. He met his birth mother (again) when... more