If you are making an adoption plan, you have probably been thinking a little on what type of family you would like for your baby. When choosing an adoptive family, there are many things to consider. Unlike the birthmothers of earlier years who had no say so in the family that would be raising their child, in this era, YOU get to decide the type of family you want to raise your child and YOU get to select them.

Before beginning the selection process, you should think long and hard about what type of family you are looking for. What characteristics... more

Post Adoption Contact Agreements (try saying that three times fast) are written communication agreements between expectant mothers and/or fathers and prospective adoptive parents that detail contact between them after the finalization of the adoption. They are not legally binding or legally enforceable but yet I view them as a step in the right direction. Ultimately they can’t withstand without legal action, but at least they are become more common, viewed, used, etc. which in my opinion is at least taking one step forward.

Post Adoption Contact... more

Continued from yesterday's post.....

Below are a few aspects of the importance of open adoption.

Provides a link to the child’s biological family - At some point in his or her life, your child will probably want to know about their biological family, why they were placed for adoption, who they look like, etc.. In open adoptions, the birth parents are there ready to answer questions when the child is ready to ask them. Adoption shouldn’t... more

Recently, I have posted about open adoption and tried to define what an open adoption typically consists of. I believe that open adoptions are beneficial to the children, in most cases. As I’ve said before, there are varying levels of open adoption and open adoptions are not legally binding.

Adoption is a life altering experience for all those involved. It is thought that open adoption makes the pain, grief, and loss issues less severe for each... more

So you have decided to make an adoption plan and have been matched with potential adoptive parents. You may only have a few weeks left in your pregnancy or you may have a few more months. Should you continue to communicate pre-birth with the potential parents of your child?

This is something that is totally up to you and what you feel comfortable with. It may make you feel more secure in your decision to spend time getting to know the adoptive parents during the last few months of your pregnancy. You can communicate with them on the phone, exchange... more

As an expectant mother makaing an adoption plan, you have rights. Below are some of the rights you have.

Please note: You do not become a birthparent until you sign relinquishment papers signing over the rights of your child. Until then, you are still your child’s parent… And if you do choose to make an adoption plan and relinquish your rights, you will forever play a role in your child’s life because YOU gave him or her life!

You have the right to:

Be treated with respect and dignity. Choose the adoptive... more

Recently someone making an adoption plan asked me, “What questions am I allowed to ask the prospective adoptive parents?”

And the answer to that is pretty much anything! You are choosing the people that will raise your baby for the rest of his or her life. That is an extremely huge, important decision and one that can not be taken lightly. Interviewing prospective adoptive parents should give you a better look at who this family is.

Perhaps until this point, you have only seen a website with their family information on it or... more

Interfamily adoptions, which are more commonly known as relative adoptions, are defined as an adoption which results in the placement of a child for adoption with a relative. It could be your sister or maybe your parents or an aunt or an uncle. Like any other adoption relationship, your relative would become the legal parents of your child but you might see your child at family reunions, Christmas gatherings, get togethers, etc.

Just as with any other adoption, it’s a huge decision and perhaps one that you may already thinking of, so I... more

So you are pregnant and making an adoption plan. You’ve chosen a prospective family and you are about to meet them face to face for the first time. Your heart is beating, your palms are sweaty, and your mouth is dry. You are a bundle of nerves! You feel like a schoolgirl on your first date. You are about to meet the people who may raise your baby.

I remember nervously getting ready to meet my son’s adoptive parents. I had met them previously as I was a waitress at the restaurant they frequently ate lunch at,... more

Recently, Maja over at the birthparents blog, wrote about failed matches. I thought this was an interesting topic that we should bring to light in this blog for those of you who are making adoption plans.

Before we go much further, let me define what I mean by the term “match.” In this case, I am referring to the prospective adoptive parents and expectant mother who have been paired up together and are planning to work together in an adoption agreement.

Typically,... more