As the ability to either stop or fast-forward time has not yet been created, Sunday continues to loom closer and closer. Mother's Day will arrive, just like every year prior. While I provided a list of ideas to get through the day, I said it wasn't an exhaustive list. With that, another idea came to mind today.

For me, knowing that I am not alone is paramount in getting through those tough moments. While readers can visit our blog or others on the net, I was trying to... more

In my previous post, I discussed my personal experiences with the holiday over the years. Today I am offering up a small list of ideas, in no way comprehensive of all ideas, to survive Mother's Day as a birth mother. These ideas have been given to me over the years, talked about on the forums and written about in blogs and on websites. As always, as every birth mother differs in how she handles certain issues,... more

Over the years, my Mother's Day experiences have been different, in good ways and bad. The emotions have ebbed and flowed as my journey has changed over the years. Over the years, I've had an up and down love affair with the holiday. I know new birth mothers often wonder what to expect so I will walk you through the past four years of "celebration" that I went through in hopes of showing you one birth mother's experience. With that, realize that all birth mothers are different and your experience will be uniquely... more

Coley wrote a good post on the two days that birth mothers can choose to celebrate. Both Coley and Heather said they celebrate both days. Of course, I would have to be different, right? I do not like the idea of celebrating on Birthmothers' Day. It is a personal choice. Although I understand the theory behind "Birthmothers' Day," it just does not work for me to celebrate that day.

As already mentioned in various posts, Birthmothers' Day was created by a group... more

Although Mothers' Day and birthdays are the toughest days for birthparents, no holidays are easy for birth parents, including Easter. Jenna wrote a terrific post about how to celebrate Easter, and included some great suggestions for parents of closed adoptions as well. I loved her ideas to celebrate our children, if not with them, making gestures in their honor.

I dissected my feelings and thoughts to try to figure out why holidays are often difficult for... more

Easter is almost here. For birth families who celebrate the holiday, there might be a sense that something is missing as Easter baskets are lined up and eggs are decorated. How can birth parents include their placed child in their Easter celebrations? Is it possible? Even in closed adoptions, birth parents can do certain things to "include" their child in their holiday events. Some are little, some are big but hopefully you will find something that fits with your own personality. I've separated the list into ideas for birth parents in... more

Last month I spoke a lot about how birth parents in open adoption can deal with visiting their placed child. I gave ideas on how to ensure proper communication during a visit as well as highlighting some great ideas of things to do together. This month, wanting to spend another month talking about... more

One of my dear husband’s most cherished comments is when he tells me that I make his heart happy. He tells me that often and I know that he means it. In honor of Valentine’s Day, I will share what makes my heart happy in the world of adoption. 1. It makes me happy when someone tells me that something I have written touches them. When I hear from others that my words have written opened their heart or mind, taught them something, comforted them or made them feel understood, my heart is happy.

2. When the son I did not raise... more

What does Martin Luther King, Jr. Day mean to me? As a white woman do I take time out of my busy Monday to stop and think about the implications of race in my life? You betcha. Not only today, of course, but today conjures up emotions and, you guessed it, dreams. Goals. Aspirations.

Are you aware of the monument being built to honor Dr. King? If not, take some time to view the website, read some of the information and descriptions and try to envision it.

At the entry portal, two... more

Last year, as in the eve of the year 2006, the New Year's Eve celebration at our home was tense at best. It involved J, D, the Munchkin and the newborn JD sitting in the living room with me, Josh and the newborn Nicholas. Eventually, Nick was coerced to sleep. The Munchkin didn't quite make it until midnight, falling asleep on one of us. The adults were awake but caught off guard by Dick Clark.

And emotions.

Nicholas was a month and a half old and JD was sixteen days older than that, turning two months... more