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

I'd like to meet Carol Ann Orr and shake her hand. I'd like to give her a big old hug and thank her for being so dang awesome. I'd like to buy her a drink or a rose or whatever she likes best as a token of my thanks. Who is Carol Ann Orr? And why am I a fan?

She is KT Tunstall's birth mother. (KT is a singer in case you live under a rock.) And Carol Ann Orr is not being invited to her birth daughter's wedding. And she's okay with that.

I began reading this... more

As you know, expectant mothers and involved fathers considering adoption have a right to choose parents for their child based on any number of reasons. If they want their child's parents to have pink hair and live next to Sting, they can search for those specific parents. But what about mothers (and, as such, fathers) who have had their children removed? Do they have any similar right?

Gets kind of sticky there, no? (Read on before you jump in with, "OMG NO RIGHTS ALLOWED" kind of comments.)

I bring this up because of a news story... more

An update to my previous post: the ruling came down just this morning. The baby is to be removed from the adoptive parents and returned to the agency. For now, the agency plans to place the baby with the biological mother's own parents as she files her own suit to gain custody. She has filed a petition to overturn the Termination of Parental Rights (TPR). And, quite frankly, it sounds as if the TPR will... more

I have always driven home the fact that 100% honesty, no matter what the cost, is needed in adoption. This goes for pre-placement matching and post-placement relationships. This story out of Nebraska proves the reasons why.

In short, an adoptive family was on a waiting list for two years when they were finally matched with an expectant mother. The expectant mother, like every other expectant mother considering placement, had a list of things that she wanted in a family for her child. One... more

Apparently it's one of those weeks when adoption is high on my radar. My feed reader and inbox seem to be filled with adoption related material. Unfortunately all of this material seems to be rubbing me the wrong way. As if we needed more proof that the general public doesn't understand adoption from any angle, comments from a celebrity and a parenting blogger just drove it home a little... more

This is not the kind of news you like to read over your lunch break. In fact, it's the kind of news that you don't really like to read, hear or acknowledge. Ever. But it's sad and true.

A ten year old girl delivered a healthy baby this past November. The father was just recently found to be her mother's boyfriend. The case has the Ohio Jobs and Family Services chasing their tails to figure out what to do. This quote is interesting:

"Unfortunately,... more

I came across a comic strip concerning adoption. As I've written before, I don't delve much into the comic strip realm so I just mainly come across these things on the web. I don't even know the name of this particular comic strip as the blog on which it was located did not properly credit the artist. It had babies, that's all I know. Let's set up the scene:

Two babies are in their strollers.

Baby #1: I'm adopted. Baby #2: What's that mean? Baby #1: I don't know but I think it means my mom found me on ebay.

(Paraphrased.)... more

Sometimes adoption sneaks into my everyday life and slaps me in the face. I just happened to lean over my Husband's shoulder to get a glimpse at the engagements in yesterday's local newspaper. We don't subscribe to the newspaper, mind you. My Husband purchased it just to have the big fire article on the front as a keepsake. Imagine my surprise when I saw this headline, all big and bold on the page I was just merely glimpsing at:

Honoring two moms: Bride fashions a new gown from those worn by her adoptive, birth mothers

He... more

Everyone has an opinion on Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy. I do. You do. Even if you say you don't, choosing not to have an opinion is actually an opinion. Some people are shocked to the idea that, gasp, sixteen year old girls can get pregnant. Some people are angry that a girl that was (previously) a role model for teens and tweens got herself in this pickle. Some people are praising her for her "pro-life decision." Ironically, people in that same grouping are taking a different view and chastising her for getting pregnant in the first place.

I've talked... more