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

A new year! How exciting! Do I have anything new planned for the birth-first parent blog? Yes and no. What's that mean?

I am stealing from my own ideas. Well, not stealing. I'm just continuing on with some things that I did this year. For example, I will be continuing to review one adoption-related book per month. Hopefully I will get all twelve months in and not get caught off guard at the end of the year. (Like this year!) I will also, in short order, be finishing up the Post-Adoption... more

I like New Year resolutions. I do. Not everyone does. And I'm not saying I always keep mine. But I really, really like that "fresh start, clean slate" that a new year offers people. I like the ability to say, "So, I may not have been perfect this past year, but I'm going to do something awesome this year."

Do I feel like a failure when I don't succeed? It depends. As an example, one of my resolutions in 2007 was to read 50 books throughout the year. (Children's books didn't count or I'd have met the goal three or four-fold!) They had to be books for me! Do you know... more

Like any subject, adoption is full of controversy. With adoption being so personal, people are often prone to fight to the virtual death when someone suggests that something that has happened in the past isn't "right." We saw some of that virtual fighting here on the birth-first parent blog.

Because the good and the bad have to happen in a year and so does the drama! Let's review!

1. I got everyone... more

While there were some great things going on in adoption both personally and in the outside world, 2007 also brought about some not-so-good things. I hesitated in making a list of the stuff that stuck out in my mind that didn't fall under the category of "good," but then went ahead and made it anyway. While I know that there will always be bad things in any subject of discussion, I'm hoping that the following list of things doesn't make it on next year's "not-so-good" list. Hopefully this is... more

In October, I wrote about an expectant mother in the UK who was fighting with Social Services to keep her unborn child. Due to a past history of self-harm and an eating disorder, they were planning to take her child from her shortly after birth. As we learned in the comments, the mental health issues were a result of physical and sexual abuse and, according to her... more

I continue to be shocked that we are just days away from the end of this year. For our family, it has gone by in a blur. At the same time, there has been a blur of activity here on the birth/first parent blog. Some things have been good. Some things have been "not-so-good," depending on your viewpoint. Some things have been controversial. Responses have varied to the many subjects and issues that we, as birth parents, face and thus talk about on this blog.

Today we're going to highlight five of the "good" topics.

1. In October, whilst hugely pregnant,... more

2007 is about to be history. 2008 is eagerly waiting to pounce upon us, forcing us to face another year of our lives whether we're ready or not! With the big holidays behind us, I'm sure there are many of us who would like to take a rest. In fact, a long nap sounds heavenly to me! For those that maybe missed a visit during the holidays due to the fact that we all have increasingly busy schedules, maybe you could consider making a tradition out of New Year's Eve festivities!

Here are some ideas.

1. Plan a party. Nothing is more fun for young... more

Oooooo-klahoma. I know you're singing it with me. Any time the name of the state is mentioned, someone in the room is bound to burst out with that song. Laughter is sure to follow. It's a feel-good kind of song! But are the laws regarding Post-Adoption Contact Agreements in the state of Oklahoma as "feel-good"?

Let's see.

What may be included in postadoption contact agreements? Citation: Ann. Stat. Tit. 10, § 7505-1.5 If a child has resided with a birth relative before being adopted, the adoptive parents... more

As Juno has now been released to all theaters (it was previously in limited release), the commercials have been all over my television for the past few days. In fact, as I was watching twenty-four hours of our favorite holiday movie, I saw the commercial no less than ten different times that I am able to recall. My Husband, who was watching television with me as well, perked up when he saw that the skinny kid from the movie Superbad (Michael... more