For families that carry out visits in each other's homes, a "Special Day Plate" may be a nice tradition to start. Plus, it can be fun to make (or, for the not-so-artistically inclined, search for and purchase). Not familiar with a "special day plate?" Read on!

The idea behind a special day plate is simple: it's a special plate that you use on a special day or for a special person either on special days or at random. The "original" special plate was/is a red plate that says, "You are special today." (In fact, they have a Red Plate Blog with stories of how others have used their special plates. If you need a daily pick me up in a world of gloom and doom, at that blog to your RSS reader and smile every day!)

And so, what's this have to do with open adoption visits? As I said, if you visit in each other's homes, having a special day plate can be a way of sharing a bond with your placed child. Since visits, in most open adoption relationships, don't usually happen on a daily or even weekly basis, it is a special occurrence when your child is sitting down at your table for a meal. Putting their food on a special plate could help remind them that they are important in your life. Making the most out of every meal together is important when those meals together are limited!

If red isn't your color, there are many other ways to incorporate a special day plate into your home. Consider purchasing a plate that is personalized with their own name (like this one). Your child might feel honored to be recognized, in a household where he/she is not being raised on a daily basis, on your dishes!

For the uber-creative set (and children of an older age), you could visit a place like Color Me Mine and create your own plate together. Let your child come up with the main ideas and help choose the colors or design. The bonus with this idea is that you get the extra time spent bonding as you create something together. A lasting memory indeed!

If you're not into personalizing or your child is still young enough where glass/stoneware plates may get broken, consider buying a plate that features your child's favorite characters or something special between the two of you. (KidsPlates features everything from licensed characters to holidays and even has a specific page for do-it-yourself personalized plates that you could do together as a craft!)

The point of this idea is to find a small way to celebrate the time spent together with your child, even if it's just at the dinner table. It's the small things in a relationship that matter in the end. Going out of your way, just a little bit, to remind your placed child that he/she is loved and special in your life (despite what some may believe about placement) can go a long way. Remembering to pull the plate out every time can make for impromptu celebrations over the years!

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For more ideas on Creating Traditions, read:

1. Creating Traditions: Handprint Project.

2. Ideas for Vacationing Without Your Placed Child.

3. Triad Members Chime In On Addressing Loss.

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Photo Credit: The Original Red Plate Store.