I've been talking about visits in open adoption all month and so it makes sense to follow along in suit with our Fresh Outlook Friday. Our visit doesn't start until tomorrow, which I will chronicle both here and (in more depth) at The Chronicles blog. However, FOF isn't about what I'm doing, it's about what others in adoptionland are doing. And so, there's another family set to visit starting... today.

Erin from Seriously? is on... more

Part 1. Other adoptive moms include Diane Keaton, Rosie McDonnell and Sharon Stone. Sharon Stone....well, you know I imagine about her foray into bad mom history. I like Diane Keaton, but I have not heard any of her views or quotes about adoption. Rosie, on the other hand, has made some remarks about adoption that indicate her lack of enlightment.

Finally, I came up with a celebrity mom that I really like - Nicole Kidman. Again, I have not heard her speak much about... more

Since my son grew up in an era in which adoption was not commonly discussed, I doubt that there was much, if any, discussion about me or his birth family. However,I am grateful that there probably were at least no negative comments made about me. Having met his adoptive mother, I cannot imagine that she would not done that.

Truthfully, in those days there was little exchange of information. I received no information about my son’s adoptive parents – that was how adoptions happened in those days. As for what his adoptive parents knew about me, they... more

Continued from Part One.

At what point did you involve your son in this knowledge?

I waited to tell my son that we had found his first mother until after we had received all the information, pictures, address and video. I didn't want to get his hopes up that we might find her until we knew if she could be found and if she would want him to know about her. That's not to say that we never talked about his first... more

This week I decided to take a slightly different approach to our Fresh Outlook Friday. Instead of quoting a blog, I interviewed a friend of mine who conducted a search for her child's birth mother. He was adopted from the Ukraine. Her story constantly inspires me and reminds me that, in this millenium, international adoption doesn't have to mean closed adoption. She gives me hope for the future. I think that many (as in all) people could learn a little something from this interview, which is honest and truthful about the issues surrounding international openness.

Without... more

Live your life and enjoy the time you have with your children no matter how much time you have with them. If you keep track and are constantly worried getting your "fair" share of holiday time or attention, you can make yourself miserable. Be positive, cheerful and pleasant to be around, and your children will want to spend time with you. This advice works for all parents!

Expect that in the beginning of a reunion, your child may spend what seems like a great deal of time with birth family. Do not take it personally, it is no reflection on you. They may talk... more

After writing a recent post about adoptive and birth parents meeting at reunion, I received some comments from John about some potential worries of adoptive parents. I would like to address some of his concerns because I believe that he brought up some good points. He mentioned some thoughts that are probably fairly common for adoptive parents.

Although some adoptive parents might be reluctant to admit or say so, I do think some resent birth parents appearing on the scene. They may believe that since they did the hard parts of raising their child, they deserve... more

Friday? And our tax refund is in? I'm getting a hair cut and possibly a color today! That's fresh! But for today's Fresh Outlook Friday post, I bring to you a blog that makes me feel a whole slew of emotions all at once.

Letters to a Birthmother is written by an adoptive mother to her child's birth mother, with whom she doesn't have much contact. The lack of contact is not her decision or her wish. In her own words:

I’ve been the Mama to the Woobie for about a year now, but haven’t... more

This week for Fresh Outlook Friday I'm featuring my friend Judy. Why? Because I can! And because the sentiment in her entry needs to be heard by more people. That said, this is your Tissue Warning.

Judy just recently started blogging in public. Just Enjoy Him features the life of Judy (a self-professed "snarky" librarian), Husband Frank and Nate, their super-cute son adopted from Vietnam. As Judy and I have gotten closer over the past year (or two?), I've watched her own feelings evolve... more

While searching for something new and fresh on Thursday nights and Friday mornings, I must admit that I tend to look at domestic adoption news stories, group/forum discussions and blogs more often than the international set. My experience lies with domestic adoption and I feel most comfortable talking about issues within my realm of experience. However, today's Fresh Outlook comes from an international adoption blog.

251Michigan is adopting... more