Many adoptive families adopt more than one child. However, quite a few adoptive parents wind up parenting an only child. Perhaps this is due to the high cost of adoption, or perhaps the grueling adoption process is to blame. Regardless of why, there are a number of differences, both positive and negative, in parenting an only child.

I really struggled with whether or not to adopt a second time. I discussed my decision process in my post How... more

Whether you are adopting trans-racially or not, there are special considerations in biracial adoption. The focus of this article is to help the adoptive parents of biracial children, or those considering biracial adoption, in raising confident children who are secure and confident with all aspects of their racial identity.

As a biracial person myself, I remember growing up in the 1970’s amid rude comments and people who just didn’t “get it” or “get” me. I remember being absolutely sick of “The Box” – the ethnic identifier box you... more

Most people probably think of “first” as being experienced by older children who are adopted internationally. Obviously, with coming to a new country, everything would be new, intriguing, and scary. Actually, the experience can be very similar for a foster child who has experienced extreme neglect. The foster child will experience many first, upon arriving to a new family.

Our daughter, Lyn, came to live with us a few weeks before her fourth birthday. In her birth home, she, her brother, and four sisters were rarely... more

There is much discussion over whether it’s more difficult to parent a child of neglect or a child from abuse. I have dealt with children with both a history of child neglect and child abuse. They are both challenging, but in many ways, the neglected child is more difficult.

Children learning bonding and trust within the first two years of life. This is done by their parents or primary caregivers responding to their needs. In the case of child abuse, the child’s needs are sometimes met, sometimes not met, and sometimes... more

Knowing what to do to help an adopted child with difficult behaviors is NOT the same as helping any other child. Very often, an adopted child’s problematic behavior comes from an entirely different place of need. Because it’s sometimes hard to tell which is a “normal behavior problem” and which is an “adoptive child behavior problem”, it’s important for we adoptive parents to keep a ready arsenal of behavior management ideas. This allows us to be flexible and empowers us to find the right way to help our child (and ourselves)!

Modeling... more

When a child has selective mutism, it is generally evident only out of the home. When the child is home, he usually is able to use appropriate speech. So, how can we help our children who have a disorder that’s only evident when we aren’t around??

1. Remove the expectation and the pressure that the child will speak. Let your child know that you understand that he has difficulties. Offer understanding and support to him when he has difficult situations.

2. Don’t use punishment or bribery in attempts to persuade your child to speak. Knowing... more

What Is Selective Mutism?

Selective Mutism is a complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak in select social settings, such as school. These children understand language and are able to talk normally in settings where they are comfortable, secure and relaxed. (Selective Mutism Organization)

My daughter, Rose, was 4yrs old and in the district special education preschool. Her backpack contained a page of an... more

So what are the behavioral issues a post institutionalized child & family may or may not have to deal with?I have learned that this varies so much from child to child, you can read blogs of some families just home and they will say “ we are fine, he is attaching just fine, no problems here, its like he has been here all along”, while another family will be having issues right away with eye contact, tantrums, sleeping and eating.

I do think some families have honeymoon periods where the child’s true issues don’t rise to the surface perhaps... more

May 8th was Children’s Mental Health Day. Although that date has passed, we still have an opportunity to stop and acknowledge this enormous problem in our country. The entire month of May is dedicated as Mental Health Month.

According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF), more than one million children and teens suffer from bipolar disorder, and are among the estimated 50 million Americans who experience a mental health disorder in any... more

For bilingual children, here are 10 Tips for helping these internationally adopted children retain their first language.

1) “Let them still speak it.” This was the number one suggestion given by my 5 internationally born teenagers. Some feel that an English language immersion (having the child speak only English and speak none of their native language for a time) is the most effective way for a child to learn English. I’m sure this approach has merit. However, my kids feel that being allowed to use their language all... more