We frequently blame the media for portraying adoption in a poor light. Sometimes, however, it's not their sole fault. Occasionally, we are lucky enough to have an adoption professional spout off at from the mouth without thinking how words can affect others.

In this article, which discusses the current state of a county's (Florida) foster care situations, an adoption attorney who didn't want to be named brought us this beautiful gem which was only coupled... more

With so many children’s shows available these days, I do not know how many of today’s youngsters watch Sesame Street. However, the son that I raised is 32 and he used to be a huge fan when he was small. It was entertaining enough too that I could stand to watch it occasionally with my son.

I do not recall my granddaughter watching it much in my presence. Instead, she loves to torture me with reruns of her favorite show. It features these weird shaped, and extremely odd, brightly colored creatures that dance around and sing a repetitious really... more

I told myself I wasn't going to post about Madonna's recent adoption. After an intelligent conversation with some various triad members, we fell back on this thought process: We blame the media at every other venture for portraying adoption in a poor light and, often times, getting the story completely wrong. So, suddenly, why was every believing the media this time around? Is it because we wanted to believe the worst? I chalked it up to a media-feeding-frenzy and stayed out of discussion.

Then this... more

And no, it's not about Madonna. That said, I'll be resuming my series about the attitudes surrounding unplanned pregnancy in the morning. However, this subject just popped itself into my inbox and it needs discussed. Now.

This article on KYW's website, CBS 3 out of Trenton, New Jersey, makes me scratch my head. New Jersey is pushing for a law that would allow adoptees to have access to their "long" birth... more

Adoption here in the United States does need reformed. We hear, too often, of scams, the problems with closed records and a myriad of crappy problems on all three sides of the triad. However, quite a few of our laws have helped protect birthparents and adoptive parents. For example, using Pennsylvania as that is the state I lived in during Munchkin's placement, law states:

Statute: 18 Pa. § 4305 It is unlawful to trade, barter, buy, sell, or deal in infant children.

Pennsylvania... more

We all want the best for our children. No matter the title that you have to wear, we strive to do what we can for our children. If you've ever seen your child smile because of something that you have done, you know what I'm talking about here. If you've ever rocked your child to sleep while staring at his beautiful face, you understand. If you've ever handed your child to another Mother, in hopes that it was the right decision for her to live a great life, you "get it." If you've prayed or hoped for the child that you never saw, with a heavy but... more

This seems to fit right in with my current theme of learning things, online, from people who were adopted at some point in their life. I was just reading my morning news blurbs.

We don't often hear from (or listen to?) teenagers. You have to be eighteen to post on the forums due to legal considerations. It's great to learn from adults who have been through those tumultuous teenage years and come out on the other side, hopefully, wiser. I personally don't frequent any sites specifically... more

Have we, as a human race, lost all possibility of human empathy? Are we now a culture of people who would rather throw Mamma from the train than extend a little compassion to those who are hurting or in need? While reading through news stories and blogs today, I came across this interesting factoid. The actress who will be portraying the Virgin Mary in the upcoming movie The Nativity Story is pregnant.... more

Scammers. We heard all about the problem thanks to Dateline this past summer. (Update with more victims here.)Even though I normally dislike the negative coverage the media usually gives adoption, even I saw the value in letting folks know that adoption scammers do exist. (Though really: can we get a good, positive story about adoption on the air! Goodness!) People need to know that women (and men) like... more

Despite rumors that Madonna is adopting, the latest word is that instead of adopting a child, she is helping a whole village of children. According to the latest scoop on the infamous singer, she is building a school and home for children in an African village. I would love to see that trend catch on!

I know that some adoptive parents already support programs in the countries where they have adopted, and I think that is a wonderful thing to do. Many of the adoptive parents who blog here at adoption.com are still involved with and support the orphanages... more