Carley and Matilda were meant to be my daughters. During the waiting process, it seemed that everything happening was random, that there was no order to the events taking place. An expectant mother might randomly find our adoption agency and then look at the approximately 40 families waiting to adopt and based on a feeling or a detail about a specific family might inquire to the agency about them, then she might meet with that family and if the meeting went well she might choose to match with them and then after delivering the baby she might choose to go through with the adoption or she might not. Becoming a mother to my children involved way too many ‘mights’ to give madoe a sense of peace or order. If any one of those ‘mights’ didn’t happen, then I wouldn’t be a mother to that child. It just seemed like such a huge thing to not be more certain. Now I am the mother of two beautiful girls who came to me through the miracle of adoption and looking back, I can see how much order really was taking place the entire time. My girls were spirits that lived in my heart and waited until they found the perfect way to get to me and there was no way I ‘might not,’ become their mother. They are my children and they were always surely going to be mine.

When my husband and I first went on our agency’s waiting page, we were filled with optimism that we would be chosen quickly. What an experience it was to wake up every morning and think, “Today is the day I could become a mother.” Days turned into weeks which turned into months. After eight months of waiting, we received that long-anticipated call from our adoption counselor. There is an expectant mother, Victoria, who has just entered her third trimester. She is raising three children already and would like to meet you. We were thrilled and were matched with her officially two weeks later. Over the next three months, we would meet in person with Victoria twice, we would send dozens of texts (many would go unanswered), we would manifest, meditate, pray, wish on stars and talk of nothing else but her.

One day, about a month into our match, she called off the adoption. We were devastated but were quickly reassured by our adoption counselor that there was another expectant mother who wanted to meet us. We couldn’t believe the timing and felt so positive until two days later when Victoria reached out apologizing and asking us to match again with her.  We had to make a choice, and we chose Victoria. I had people ask me why I wouldn’t try someone new when it was clear Victoria was not fully set on her decision, I didn’t know how to answer that, it was just a strong feeling I had that we were meant to stay with Victoria. 

Imagine our pain 6 weeks later when our adoption counselor called us to say Victoria had given birth and chose to parent the child. We weren’t mad at her, of course not, she was trying to make an impossible decision and did what she felt was best. We understood, but my goodness, did it hurt. I was laying in bed in the morning I got the news. I was felt shocked as I got up, got dressed, looked in the mirror feeling nothing and then suddenly felt everything. I collapsed on the floor heaving sobs and hysterically crying out, “It’s never going to happen for us. Why did we stay with her? We messed everything up. It’s never going to happen. I’m never going to be a mom. I. Am. Never. Going. To. Be. A. Mom.” The next few days felt like a numbing blur. We had friends drop off a care package at our door filled with funny movies, comfy socks and a bottle of wine, we had coworkers give us sympathy cards and gift cards for meals, my family all loaded up in their cars and came out the next day to just sit with us; we really were met with such love and kindness that helped us move on.  

It was nine days later we received our first email from Natalie, an expectant mother in Iowa and thirteen days after that our Carley was born. I became a mother to the most beautiful, vivacious little girl who I instantly recognized as my own. I often thought back to Victoria and realized that if she hadn’t kept us on hold for those three months we would have been chosen by someone else and wouldn’t have our Carley. I always felt grateful to Victoria for that and I thought of her often that the first year, wondering how she was doing raising four children and I hoped she knew that we only wished her love.

I felt the draw to adoption again when Carley was 10 months old; I could feel another child out there looking for me. So my husband and I began the paperwork and training for the second time. We were finishing up right as Carley turned one but before we could be listed on our agency’s webpage we got a call from our counselor. Victoria was pregnant, she knew for certain she could not afford to raise another child and hoped we would give her another chance. Much to the surprise of our friends and family, we didn’t hesitate. Yes, of course, we would match again. This time I texted daily with Victoria, and she and I developed a true friendship.  After two and a half months of support, laughs and honest conversations about parenting, she gave birth to Matilda. I stayed in the hospital room with them, just us three girls. Victoria never wavered and confidently signed the papers alongside her husband. As I drove home with my sweet, perfect Matilda sleeping in the back seat it dawned on me how Victoria was the most instrumental person in me finding my daughters. I needed her to make sure I was ready for Carley’s birth mother and she made sure I ended up with Matilda, not her biological sister.  

Looking back at my adoption journey I realize that there was always an order, there were always my children that I was going to end up with, I just needed to trust in others, forgive freely, and love openly. I am so glad I did.

The post My Adoption Story appeared first on Adoption Blogs | Birth Mother, US & International, China.

These ten artists represent many different kinds of adoption–domestic, closed, familial– and here is a brief snapshot of their stories.

Faith Hill

Hill is a country superstar with seven hit albums. She was placed for adoption at birth and adopted by Ted and Edna Perry. She has talked in interviews about how, even though she had a great childhood and loving parents, she always wanted to find her birth family. She located them in the mid-1990’s, and shares a close relationship with both her adoptive and birth families.

Tim McGraw

McGraw, who is married to Faith Hill, is a country superstar in his own right. He was adopted by his stepfather Horace Smith when Smith married McGraw’s mother. McGraw, who was seven months old at the time of the marriage, grew up thinking that his stepfather was his biological father. He discovered the truth when he found his birth certificate after his parents’ divorce. McGraw’s mother confessed that he was the biological son of the famous baseball pitcher Tug McGraw. The two met when Tim was 11, but didn’t develop a relationship until he was 18. They remained close until Tug died in 2004.

Sarah McLachlan

McLachlan has recorded nine studio albums in her career. She was placed for adoption by her 19-year-old birth mother, and adopted into a loving family. McLachlan was told she was adopted around the age of nine, but says it never made that much of a difference. She was grateful for the family that she was raised in, although McLachlan did eventually meet her birth mother, who is an artist. She has said she has a great respect for her birth mother for placing her for adoption.

Eric Clapton

Clapton is a popular singer and guitar player who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. He was born to a 16-year-old mother. She struggled to raise him, so his grandparents became Clapton’s surrogate parents. He grew up believing that his grandparents were his parents and his mother was his sister. His grandparents never legally adopted him, but did serve as his legal guardians until Clapton turned 18. 

Debbie Harry

Harry is the lead singer of the band Blondie, known for its number one hits, “Rapture” and “Call Me,” among others. She was born in Florida in 1945, adopted three months later by Richard and Catherine Harry, and raised in New Jersey. She was told she was adopted when she was around four years old. When she was an adult, she tried to track down her birth parents but was unsuccessful.

JC Chasez

Chasez was one-fifth of the boy band NSYNC, which was hugely popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Chasez was born in Maryland in 1976. When he was five years old, his mother decided she couldn’t raise him, and gave him to the foster parents who had raised her. They took JC in, legally adopted him, and raised him.

Kristin Chenoweth

Chenoweth is a Broadway star best known for playing the role of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked. She was adopted in Oklahoma when she was five days old. She always knew that she was adopted. She has expressed feeling a deep sense of contentment with her adoptive family, and hasn’t spoken much about any efforts to find her birth family. Instead, she speaks of how her parents would tell her when she was little that they chose her for their family, and how satisfied that made her feel.

Jamie Foxx

Foxx is a singer and actor with four albums to his name and an Academy Award for playing legendary singer Ray Charles. Foxx was born to young parents who struggled to raise him. He was adopted at seven months by his maternal grandparents and had little contact with his birth parents after that. He has made efforts to reconnect to his birth family in recent years, and has been more successful in forging a relationship with his birth mother than his birth father.

John Lennon

Lennon is an iconic singer and one-fourth of the Beatles, one of the most popular bands in history. When Lennon was three years old, his parents separated and he rarely saw his father after the split. His mother struggled to raise Lennon for two more years before she gave him to her sister and brother-in-law to raise, which they did for the rest of his childhood. He saw his mother throughout his childhood, but didn’t see his father between the ages of 5 and 20.

Liz Phair

Phair is a rock musician who has put out six records. She was born in Connecticut and adopted as an infant by Nancy and John Phair, and raised in Illinois. She has always known that she was adopted, but never sought to find her birth family.

The post 10 Musicians That Were Adopted appeared first on Adoption Blogs | Birth Mother, US & International, China.

Why would someone want to heal from such a wonderful situation? One would think the child should be grateful and happy for being given a second chance at life. Right? Not always. There are many different reasons why a child or a parent might not be happy with the adoption they are involved in. Just as there are as many different variables that go into the dynamic of every family. That is why finding a counselor that understands adoption will be important for a family wanting to heal from adoption.

To begin the process of healing from adoption, the following list can help on the journey.

1. Identify the issue.

The first step to any journey is to identify the direction you want to go. Ask the question: “What is the real problem here?” If your adopted child is experiencing unexplained behaviors, a drop in academic performance, increased anger or other emotions, it might be time to seek support and figure out what is causing the change.

As an adult adoptee, you might have difficulty in your work, personal relationships or unexplained emotions. Even birth and adoptive parents struggle to understand their own feelings after adoption. If any of this sounds true to you, seek an adoption informed counselor who can help you organize your thoughts and figure out the core issue.

2. Ask questions.

Create a list of questions that seem to bounce around inside your mind on a daily basis. Writing them down tends to help you organize and focus on the real problem. Look at how your daily life is being impacted and if you are remaining successful in all life areas. If not, it might be something related to your birth history and life as an adopted child.

3. Try to understand, both your birth parents and your adoptive parents had your best interest at heart when you were placed.

People don’t always make the right choices but sometimes they do. Because you were a child, unfortunately you didn’t have the ability to let the adults know how you felt. If you need closure, you might want to seek information from your adoptive parents or work on the issue with an adoption counselor. 

4. Forgive them.

Forgiveness might be the most difficult thing anyone can do for people who have hurt us. However, until you are able to let go of the hurt and forgive the choices made, it will haunt you the rest of your life.

5. Don’t ignore the signs.

People often ignore their mental health until their life becomes completely unbearable. These issues do not go away on their own, and if ignored, will continue to wreak havoc on your daily functioning.

If you find you are struggling to maintain success in the following life areas, it is a good idea to seek assistance: Academic (grades falling, not meeting deadlines, lack of motivation), Family Interactions, Social Interactions, Emotional Health & Stability, Physical Health(unexplained headaches, stomach aches) and Financial Stability (lack of motivation, getting written up for mistakes, increased absences, loss of job).

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1. Bad first impression

First impressions really do matter. Birth parents scrolling hundreds of profiles will look at the profiles that catch their eyes with that first family picture before reading a single word you write. Your cover picture should show your personality. Don’t use a picture that is too far away or too close in some cases (selfies are out). This may sound crazy but make sure the DAD looks good! Birth mothers are looking for a wonderful father figure and may possibly choose you based on who the male figure in their child’s life will be. Keep a look out for crazy eyes, red eyes, and or bug eyes. The picture can be spontaneous or professional, but keep it simple where the focus is on you!

 2. Failing to say why you are adopting

Always start with a Dear Potential Birth Mother/Father letter. Adoption is a very personal decision, so get personal from the start. Be upfront about why you are adopting. If you have suffered from infertility, say so; if you feel led by God to adopt after having bio kids, say so; if you have a house full of boys and long for a little girl, say so! This isn’t the time to sugar coat why you are the perfect family for adoption. 

3. Not being honest

Complete honesty is needed in adoption from the very start. Starting with why you are adopting but also the type of adoption you are expecting. Saying you want an open adoption and not following through is devastating to a birth mother. Include on your profile the type of adoption you seek; open, semi-open, or closed. This saves everyone involved time, energy, and emotions.

4. Writing too much

Writing from your heart is always a good idea. Keep your paragraphs informative without being too wordy, sappy, or boring your audience. We know you love your Great Aunt Betty, but really, now would not be the time to list all the great extended family support you will have! The profile is a snippet of your life, not a book. The first meeting with whoever chooses you should be guided by your profile. That first meeting is awkward enough without the potential birth mother knowing every detail of you before you meet. What will you talk about if she knows everything in depth!

5. Leaving out pictures

Pictures paint a thousand words. Not having enough pictures on your profile can hurt. Writing a paragraph about your hobbies without including pictures a potential birth mom may skip over that paragraph completely! Let your pictures guide your profile, and refer back to mistake #1 when choosing the right pics!

Samantha Morgan is a two-time adoptive mom and infertility survivor. Experienced in international and domestic adoption, Samantha loves sharing her motherhood story and experiences to help others find hope in their journey. Founder of Rush to Hope Ministries, she strives to build connections between people with similar paths so no one has to walk alone. You can read more from Samantha or get connected at RushtoHopeMinistries.com.

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Before the trains got to a city, an advertisement was sent out and families waited for the children to arrive. Some children were even “matched” with families before the trains arrived, very similar to the customs of adoption today. At some of the nicer stops when the trains arrived the children were ushered into theaters, schools, or some sort of stage to perform for the adoptive families. At other stops when the trains arrived the children were simply “placed” on a block or platform.

Obviously, this is no longer how adoptions are processed. Instead, now there are several resources a birth mom can explore. Deciding if adoption is the right plan for your child is probably one of the hardest decisions you have faced. In order to decide if adoption is right for you, first, you should know this is a decision the birth parents should make, not a family member, not a friend, not a co-worker. Make sure you are educated on your decision but don’t base it on what everyone else tells you. As with most things in life, everyone has an opinion. Find a local adoption agency (adoption.com can help you find one in your community) and get in contact with a social worker to discuss your options. If you can’t find an adoption agency, most churches will be able to help you find an agency. 

Every adoption is different… Every mother is different…

Once you have educated yourself on adoption, you should decide on an adoption “plan.” Things to think about in your adoption plan are: the ideal family for your children to have, what type of contact, if any, do you want with the family/child, what the hospital stay will look like, etc. You will discuss all of these things with your social worker and decisions do not need to be made right away, but you should definitely be thinking about these things.

Your social worker will probably have a “list” of families for you to choose from. Again, make sure you are making this decision based on what you feel is right for your child. You may want to choose a family that does not already have children or you may want to choose a family that already has children so your child has siblings. You may even choose a family because one of the adoptive parents looks like you.

Once you choose a family, you will want to get to know the family. Decide how much contact you want to have with the family. Will you have contact without your social worker? Will you meet in person, if the location isn’t an issue? Will you have email, text, or phone communication? Make sure you have contact with your social worker to explain how your relationship is developing.

Make sure to have a hospital plan in place. Will the adoptive parents be there? Who will you have there to be with you for support? Will the baby stay in your room at the hospital? Does the hospital give the adoptive parents their own room? What will the day look like when you leave the hospital? Will you want to say “goodbye” to the baby?

Every adoption is different, just as every birth mom and situation is different. But the goodbye does not have to mean forever. If your plan is an open adoption plan, make sure to discuss when you will have contact again. Will the adoptive parents send you pictures, updates, etc.? If so, how often.

Whatever you choose, know that your decision is not easy and is commended by many, including your unborn child.

The post How Do I Place My Baby For Adoption? appeared first on Adoption Blogs | Birth Mother, US & International, China.

Adoption Doesn’t Cure Infertility. Even though you’ve made the exciting and life-changing choice to adopt a child, your emotional pain won’t just disappear. Infertility is a long and tough road with many struggles and disappointments. You will still grieve for the child you couldn’t give birth to. You may feel angry or sad that your body failed you. You may even be upset with yourself. These are all normal reactions. It’s okay to look to the future with hope, but be sure to take steps to heal your past and resolve any issues infertility has caused.

You Won’t Suddenly Become Pregnant. Friends and relatives may announce with certainty: “Now that you’ve decided to adopt, I’ll bet you get pregnant!” Although this does happen on occasion, it’s pretty rare. And, if you’re like me, you may not even want to get pregnant anymore. I remember when we first began the adoption process, I was so excited and hopeful for our new future and couldn’t wait to meet our child. I had come to terms with my past and was certain adoption was the right path. Getting pregnant was no longer a goal or even a desire. If you find yourself still hoping to get pregnant one day, consider holding off on adoption for a while. Be sure you are ready and fully committed before moving forward. 

Adoption Can’t Replace the Child You Once Dreamed Of. Losing a baby at any stage of your pregnancy is like a death. You will grieve for your unborn child, and your loss will stay with you for life. A quote I read after I miscarried comes to mind:

“Each life, no matter how fragile or brief, forever changes the world.” – Author Unknown

After I became pregnant, I was a different person. I felt the changes my body endured while each new life grew inside of me, and I suffered the unimaginable pain of losing those lives. To honor their memory, I planted rose bushes for my unborn babies and wrote poems. I had names picked out both times and never used them. Those names, Kristen Lea and Kara Rose, were meant only for them.

Once we brought our precious daughter home through the miracle of adoption, she had her own special, unique name. She brings so much joy to our lives, and we love her with all our hearts. But she is not a substitute for the babies we lost. I was a mother of three children. Two are angels, and one is our greatest blessing on earth.

If you are considering an adoption photolisting, visit Adoption.com/photolisting to view many adoptable kids ready for a forever home.

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The following year, I decided to do a story for my high school newspaper on adoption. A good friend had been adopted as an infant, so I asked her to participate.

“What does it feel like to be adopted?” I asked.

She smiled and replied without hesitation: “I feel natural.” My friend explained that she always knew she was loved, and her parents didn’t treat her any differently than their biological daughter, her younger sister. Her family was much like any other family. Love was the glue that held them together. I remember thinking what a wonderful option adoption was.

Thirteen years later, I lost my first child to miscarriage. My heart shattered into a million pieces that day, and I fell apart for a while. Tears. Panic attacks. Profound sadness. They became my norm. To make matters worse, I tested positive for a clotting antibody that can cause recurrent miscarriage. I felt like I had been dealt a very unfair hand in life. Why was this happening to me?

That was the moment I chose adoption.

Adoption crept into my thoughts. I knew it was an option, but I didn’t know how my husband would feel. And I had no idea what was involved in the process or how much it would cost. I pushed my thoughts aside. 

Over time, I recovered. The clotting antibody disappeared, and my husband and I decided to attempt another pregnancy. Sadly, I miscarried once again. My doctor drew blood to see if the clotting antibody was back. I waited to hear my fate.

When I got the call a few days later, I knew it wasn’t good news. The tone of my doctor’s voice was solemn, and she explained that I now tested positive for two clotting antibodies—and both can cause recurrent miscarriage. I had my answer. It was over. The miscarriages had taken a toll on me emotionally and physically. I knew there was no way I was going to attempt another pregnancy. My body had failed me. I felt like I had failed my husband and myself. I wept.

But through the tears, adoption called to me. It only took a few minutes after receiving that fateful call to know in my heart I was going to adopt a child. That was the moment I chose adoption. However, adoption had chosen me long before. Life had put the right people in my path so that I could see the bigger picture. I knew that love was the driving force in adoption—both in a birth mother’s difficult choice and in an adoptive family’s eager welcoming. My road to parenthood was heartbreaking, but I ended up exactly where I was meant to be.

For more information on how you can start your own adoption journey, visit Adoption.com. You can view kids for adoption by looking at their adoption photolisting at Adoption.com/photolisting.

The post The Moment I Chose Adoption appeared first on Adoption Blogs | Birth Mother, US & International, China.

Have you ever thought about starting an adoption Facebook page? Maybe you’re just not sure how to start one or even if you should. I thought these same things years ago and pondered on if I should start mine, but I was led to do so.

I opened my own adoption Facebook page to help me search for my birth family and for others to follow me on my journey. I hope it would give others hope in their own journey to find their birth parents. After I did find my family, I continue to have my page to encourage other adoptees to keep their faith and not to give up on their search. I also help others find their family through my page.

Positivity

One thing you do need to do is keep your page a positive page. This was something that was important to me. When you first start it, let that be the first thing you say is that this page is for the positive, not the negative. Trust me, there are very mean and negative people out there who don’t agree with adoption in any way shape or form. They will try to hurt you in any way they can. I’ve had several on mine that got real ugly and I’ve had to delete and block them. So on that note, keep an eye on your page and just delete those comments and block those negative people. Don’t let those negative people bring you down or hurt you. Just delete and move on.

Consistency

Make sure you post on your page every day or every other day to keep followers up to date on your page. Your followers love to hear from you. You’d be surprised what consistency can do to make a Facebook page thrive.

Engage

And though it might be an obvious bit of advice, always engage your followers. Reply to their comments, ask them questions, be more than just reading material. You can create an amazing community simply by interacting with other people in your Facebook group or who’ve liked your page.

I encourage you all to open and run an adoption Facebook page if that’s what you’re being lead to do. I’ll be the first one to say I’m proud of you! God Bless you all.

The post How To Run And Start An Adoption Facebook Page appeared first on Adoption Blogs | Birth Mother, US & International, China.

It’s been said to me over and over again to write about what I know, what I love, and what interests me. That is why I love to blog about adoption. At this time in my life, I know adoption very well from the point of the adoptive and potential adoptive parent. It took us four years to get from our “Yes” to bringing home our babies. Yes, babies! We have now adopted twice–our daughter, Ava who is 21 months old and our son, Nathan who is 9 months old. Besides constantly wanting to show off these cuties . . . here are Five Reasons I Love to Blog Adoption.

 1. Adoption is my Passion.

When you are called to adopt, it is a lifelong commitment and I do believe you must have a passion for it deep down inside to overcome the trials, the roller coaster and the loss that is associated with the beauty of adoption. When we drop everything to follow our passion, it’s hard not to let that spill over into words.

2. Adoption is my journey.

Everyone’s adoption story is different. Some may have similarities, but each child is uniquely created and enters your home in a special way. I blog adoption to trace our journey from the moment we said “yes” as a family in our living room, to the turning in of our application to the agency, to the anxiety associated with the dreaded home study visit, to the first match–and the failed match–and then finally to our bringing home our baby. There was a time we actually gave up after our fourth failed match. We left the hospital once again with an empty car seat and actually gave up. But it wasn’t the end. Just another bump along the way.

3. Connection

Blogging adoption has allowed me to connect with other adoptive and potential adoptive parents. We are a special community that grows to become as close as family. Reading other adoption blogs opens up new doors, answers questions, and helps others in our community to feel connected and not so alone in the process. My hope is that no matter what stage you are in your journey–that you would sit down, read a little about our lives and a become family, become encouraged, and not feel so alone in the process.

4. It’s my open diary to read and remind myself of the “why” and “wonder” of our journey.

There is a tremendous amount of excitement when adopting. There is unspeakable joy! But there is also a lot of fear, sorrow, and exhaustion. Yes, I write about the good, the bad, and the ugly (and everything between). It’s important when struggling with the waiting, the failed match, or just the miles and miles of paperwork to be able to look back and refresh your soul with just why you said yes to adoption. It inspires others to see the ups and downs that led you to your child and be able to take home with them some hope and encouragement. Blogging this open diary has been both for others as well as for myself.

5. Share with friends and family.

It’s a great way for family and friends to follow our journey without having to constantly re-tell every detail. This is exciting for your family and friends to stay involved, but it’s also a great way during the application process for both agencies and financial assistance. I’ve found sharing a link to my adoption blog has been instrumental in allowing grant and loan companies to really get to know us, our passion, desire to adopt, and our struggle to financially bring our children home.

Our adoption journey does not end with the children home. It is a lifelong decision and commitment–so there is never an end to the discussion on the topic. I love to talk adoption, therefore I’m blogging about it!

Do you blog adoption? Share with us your adoption blog in the comments!

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Ah, blogging! It can be fun. It can be frustrating. It can be cathartic. It can be infuriating, especially when blogging about foster or adoptive kids. We foster/adoption bloggers want to share the joys and challenges of our journey; however, we are constrained by the fact that we need to keep our child’s life private. An adoption blog can be a double-edged sword. 

Why should we keep our foster kids’ life private? First, out of respect for the biological family. Those in the community may not know that the biological family have a child in state custody. The stigma and shame of having a child removed from your custody is a real one. Bio families deserve that confidentiality.

Second, you need to keep your foster child’s life private for your own well-being and that of your child. Though, in my 12+ years’ experience in foster parenting, child abductions of foster children from foster parents is extraordinarily rare, there is always cause for caution. Always err on the side of caution.

Third, state law may prohibit revealing a child as a ward of the state, especially on the internet. If a child is not free for adoption, a foster parent cannot identify a foster child as a foster child. According to Federal standards like Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard (RPPS), foster parents may post photos of foster children, but cannot identify them as such.

The goal of RPPS is to provide youth in out of home care with a “normal” life experience.” But this must be balanced with the need for privacy and confidentiality. What follow are some ways to balance the two.

1) Initials:

Of course, the full names of your foster children should never be used on any blog, internet web page, or social media. Using alternate/pseudo names is appropriate. The easiest way to protect your foster child’s privacy is by using their initials (DW). Or by simply using their first name initial (D). However, bio family may recognize the initials and that may not be quite anonymous enough.

2) Abbreviations:

Using abbreviations in an adoption blog helps us to identify which foster or adoptive child we are referring to. For example, Foster Son, age 4, may be abbreviated as “FS, 4”; Adopted Daughter, age 10, may be referred to as, “AD, 10”. This way you can preserve anonymity in a large family.

3) Backwards photos

One creative way of taking a family photo while protecting the privacy of your foster child is to take a photo with everyone’s back turned to the camera. You can take the photo with just the foster child’s back turned but that would single him out as different. This way the entire family has their back turned, not just one person.

4) Children wearing masks

Another easy and cost-effective way of having fun with photos on an adoption blog is using masks! Halloween notwithstanding, masks are a good way to protect your child’s identity and to have fun at the same time!

5) Stickers

Lastly, stickers from Pic Collage or Pinterest are a creative way to give your little one some privacy. You simply download the sicker you want then drag and drop over the face of your foster child. It’s fun, it’s free, and it protects the confidentiality of your kiddo!

Pic Collage

http://pic-collage.com/

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/

Your child deserves to have fun and feel normal. Each situation is different and each child is unique. Use the method that best suits your needs and the needs of your foster child. An adoption blog can be fun for everyone, if done with care.

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