In ... more

Starting on Monday morning, I'm doing a two-post look at the regret that birth parents experience based on Chapter Eight of James L. Gritter's book ... more

In a not-so-easy-to-swallow post yesterday, I advised birth families that attempting to fix or even overtly questioning the changes in parenting style that their child's parents may employ would be a bad idea. However, when the birth family adds children to their own immediate family, clashes in parenting style can become an issue for the two families. Maneuvering through this still-sticky situation can be complex.

First of all, what am I talking about? Don't all... more

As we jump back into the chapter review of ... more

We frequently hear from adoptive families that are struggling to get their child's birth family to remain in consistent contact. We feel their aggravation. We want better for the child in question. We want easier relationships for all involved. We raise our voices in hopes that these birth parents are listening. And yet, what about the other side of the coin?

A birth mother who has been struggling to keep the communication afloat in her own open adoption asked... more

When an expectant parent is sorting through profiles in hopes of choosing a family for the unborn child, issues surrounding parenting style are often high on the list of things to consider. Some want parents that would parent their child in a different way than how they were raised while others are looking for that similarity. Things such as how the children will be raised concerning issues of religion, education and discipline are questions that many expectant parents ask of potential families during the matching process.

However, once the Termination... more

Fully open adoptions that involve visits bring up the unique situation of having to introduce one another to friends, family and acquaintances. While it is possible to avoid such an occurrence, getting out of the house and engaging in activities is something I suggest during a visit. These outings may cause families to run into different groups of people necessitating... more

As this week begins, we're now in the midst of part two of ... more

While I've hit on biological grandparents, spouses and siblings to the placed child, there are a few other groups of people in the first family circle that might pose a titling issue. Of course, as every family unit is different, some of these might... more

Starting with Chapter Five, the book Lifegivers: Framing the Birthparent Experience in Open Adoption begins to look at some major themes in the birth parent experience. It's no surprise that the author, James L. Gritter, chooses to look at the reasons behind placement in this chapter, entitled "Circumstances of Necessity." The reasons behind... more