I started off this two part series last Thursday with a discussion on things I did like about the movie. I needed to start out with the positives for a few reasons. I'm a generally positive person so it's just in my nature to start off with good things. And, on a totally negative note, there were less positives for me to discuss and so I thought they deserved the limelight of first nod.

Truth be told, while I didn't hate the movie, there were many, many... more

Thursday surprised me again. I can't seem to keep up with my weekdays anymore! That said, in honor of another Thursday Thirteen, I thought I'd hit on thirteen things I'd rather see the media cover when it comes to adoption. I'm tired of the constant negative focus on birth parents who are contesting adoption, exercising their right to reclaim their children before finalization or simply changing their mind and parenting prior to birth or signing of the Termination of Parental Rights. I know you're tired of... more

Thursday? My weeks fly by. That said, I can't get away from adoption as of late. I've been trying to keep low key on how much adoption material I willingly subject myself to as of late. I need to do this from time to time to get back to the heart of the matter, which is my daughter. It's easy to get caught up in other things. While some things present a necessity for involvement, like reform, it's easy to get side-tracked by other things.

But man! Adoption seems to follow me everywhere I go. Here are thirteen places I didn't expect to be bombarded with... more

Wow, the weeks are just flying by anymore. It's Thursday again. Time for another list of thirteen things that apply to adoption as I know it. Last week I wrote a list of thirteen things I want for my relinquished daughter. However, like any parent, there are things that I don't want for my daughter, too! Read through these and see how your wishes for things your child to avoid differ from my own. If at all.

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Thursday again? Like any parent, I have hopes and dreams for my daughter. The only difference is that I am not parenting her and someone else is in physical charge of nurturing her through to adulthood. I was once told by a disgruntled, anti-birth parent reader that my dreams for my child were out of place as I was not her parent. That's preposterous!

For example, I have dreams for my younger brother. I want him to be happy in his marriage, successful in whatever career path he finally chooses and to find a vehicle... more

Unlike last week, I'm not surprised that it's Thursday "all ready." It's been a very long week in our household. I would really rather it was Friday so that I could get a break. Alas, one more day! Since it is Thursday, it's time for another installment of thirteen things about adoption.

Last week I talked about some comments that I'm "cool with" when it... more

Thursday again? That means it's time for another list of thirteen things that are related to the birth parent experience in adoption. This week I thought I would hit on thirteen comments that I'm "cool with" hearing when I share my adoption story. (You might be able to guess what I'll share next week!)

Just like every other member of the triad, birth parents have been subjected to comments that make their skin crawl. Over the years, I've found that certain comments are either less offensive or fully... more

It's Thursday? Where did my week go? All the same, it's time to talk about thirteen things in adoption. Before you read the title and get your knickers in a twist, I've already covered thirteen positives in open adoption. And I'm all about covering all sides of a coin.

Why did I choose "not-so-hot" over the word "negative?" Well, I strive to be a positive person most of the time. Sometimes my cynical... more

I've decided to start participating in the Thursday Thirteen meme here on the Birth/First Parent blog. I've been looking for a way to share general tips with my readers about birth parenting, adoption, reunion, reform and adoption in general but struggling to find a format. Enter the Thursday Thirteen meme! Each Thursday I will share thirteen tips with you on a certain subject that pertains to birth parents. While I may try to take a generally positive spin on things, as is my personality, some negative will slip in as well.... more