Allergies

Source of Information: Webmd.com

What Is It?

An abnormal reaction by the immune system to a substance that is not harmful

Allergies can be broken down into six categories:

Asthma Drug allergies Food allergies Insect sting allergies Respiratory allergies Skin allergies

What... more

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

Source of Information: Webmd.com

What Is It?

A behavioral disorder causing difficulty with…

Concentrating Constant movement Following directions Getting bored easily and frustrated with tasks Impulsivity Paying attention

What... more

Before you decide to adopt a child with any particular health risk, you need to do your homework and determine what kinds of special needs the child might develop. Not every person is cut out to parent every special need. While there are no guarantees when you add a child to your home, whether through birth or adoption, it only makes sense to do your homework and make an honest assessment of what you can and cannot handle as a parent. Yes, as parents we do rise to the occasion when our children develop health issues. However,... more

When we were filling out our adoption application, I really wrestled with the questions about health issues. Our agency provided a list of 23 health issues for us to evaluate.

Here is what the form looked like:

WE MAY CONSIDER*: IN CHILD / IN BACKGROUND

Prematurity Congenital... more

Over the last three blogs, I have tried to give an honest assessment of the pros and cons of closed, semi-open, and fully open adoptions based upon the numerous stories I have heard from all members of the adoption triad. I have heard stories about very successful fully open adoptions in which the birthmother and adoptive mother have become the best of friends. I have heard disturbing fully open adoption stories in which boundaries were not respected by one or both parties. I have heard stories of adoptions being... more

In a fully open adoption, the birthparents and adoptive parents exchange identifying information. Beyond this, it is up to the parties involved to determine how much interaction there is. In some open adoptions, there is no further contact, only the ability to contact each other if either party chooses to do so. In other open adoptions, there is an ongoing relationship between the parties.

Pros

The adoptive family receives a medical history and information about... more

In a semi-open adoption, the adoptive family and birthfamily learn information about each other, but no identifying information is disclosed. The parties might meet face to face. The birthmother chooses the adoptive parents. The parties might agree to limited contact after the adoption, such as through sending pictures, letter, cards, and/or presents. The contact might be one-way (adoptive parents sending information) or both ways.

Pros

The adoptive family receives... more

As we continue this series on open adoption, we will focus on the varying levels of openness and the pros and cons for each member of the adoption triad. We will start with closed adoption and work our way through the continuum.

In a closed adoption, there is no contact whatsoever between the birthmother and adoptive family. Closed adoptions were the norm for a very long time, so the general public tends to expect adoptions to be closed.

I want to add my disclaimer again – This list is assuming... more

Unfortunately, any discussion about open adoption needs to include a conversation about fulfilling your promises to the members of the adoption triad. I say “unfortunately” because, in a perfect world, people would not need to be told that it is wrong to make promises and then refuse to follow through after the adoption is finalized. Doing this is fraudulent, and yet there are adoptive parents out there who do this.

I have heard stories about adoptive parents failing to send pictures and letters after the... more

10. The birthmother might not respect my boundaries.

Not all open adoptions run smoothly. While I know several adoptive families with very successful open adoptions, I have heard of some situations that did not work out very well. The underlying issue in those situations was a failure to respect boundaries. In some situations, the birthmother overstepped the adoptive parents’ boundaries, such as treating them like the babysitters in front of the child. In other situations, the birthmother committed to doing... more