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Holy smokes! It’s the end of September? October is in two days? I think I’m caught completely off guard because of the heat that has permeated most of this month. Finally, thank goodness, the temperatures are beginning to resemble something fall-like. In fact, we’re headed to the Pumpkin Patch today! We’re excited!
September was a busy (very, very busy) month on the blog. We covered a lot of ground including two different book reviews. Along with the first book, we had three separate conversations about birth parent regret which stirred the pot both here on the blogs, on various other blogs and on the forums. Furthermore, walking hand in hand with some birth parents’ regret, we talked about dealing with the hard milestones. I even talked a bit about one of my most recent stumbling-block milestones. (As a side note to the book discussions, I also asked readers for book suggestions and got a boat load! Check them out!)
September also brought about a new series for birth parents (and families) in open adoption. “Creating Traditions” is an on-going series, featured on Fridays, that gives readers ideas on how to implement a tradition with their placed child (or from the child to the birth family). It exists with the understanding that it is for families involved in fully open adoptions. I started out with the Handprint Project, moved on to the Special Plate, talked about autumn themed Family Trees and finished off the month with an idea of passing on Favorite Books.
Twice over the course of the month, I asked for readers input (other than the book suggestions). Once I asked for blogging birth mothers to tell me why they started blogging (for a paper I’m working on) and the other time I asked mothers from the closed era (or others who are interested in their plight) to give me ideas of closed adoption topics. With those ideas, I talked about how birth parents from closed adoption might discuss the topic with their parented children. There will be more topics discussed in the future as well!
I spent some time discussing some current and upcoming movies. Which is strange for me as I’m more of a book-worm instead of a movie watcher. That said, I am still intrigued by the Bette Midler movie. Aren’t you?
I also discussed some hard issues for birth parents to deal with on emotional levels. Nightmares, seasonal affective disorder (and some resources), mandatory counseling and a video that exploded on the internet in late September all challenged readers (and myself) to think outside of the normal emotional box. I’m emotionally spent just thinking about those topics.
News wise, I featured one happy reunion article from here in the States and three interesting almost-adoption-articles out of India. It was really quite interesting to write about the two stories (in three articles) out of India. I really enjoy learning about how other cultures treat the topics of adoption, family and unwed mothers even if it isn’t always rainbows and sunshine.
All in all, it was a rather busy month. I’m still kind of shocked that it’s over. Tomorrow? I’ll be thirty-one weeks pregnant, moving ever closer to this New Baby’s due date. (Wonder what I look like? Here ya go!) I’m just thankful that another month has passed and the baby continues to grow, healthy!, in my womb. Thankful indeed! Here’s hoping he stays in for the entire month of October as well!
Have a Happy Last Two Days of September! See you in October!
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Photo Credit: ©2007, Jenna Hatfield.
