Should your family socialize with other adoptive families? What benefits are there to socializing with other adoptive families? Does your area have organized events specifically for adoptive families? If not, have you thought about organizing a support group or an event? Maybe you have never considered any of these questions. Because our adoption journey began through providing foster care to area children, attending social events for adoptive families seemed very natural. In the process of becoming licensed foster parents we were required to attend many hours of training and... more

In my last post, Playgroups with Adopted Child, I shared that I founded a neighborhood playgroup when my son was only a few weeks old. Even though he was the only child in the group to join his family through adoption, the playgroup was a wonderful experience that I am glad we both had. The playgroup met weekly for about three years. Once children started heading off to preschool, the playgroup grew smaller until it ended when my son was four. While I no longer see... more

When my adopted child was just a few weeks old, I founded a neighborhood playgroup. None of the women in the playgroup knew one another before the playgroup started, but we became fast friends as we navigated the unknown waters of parenthood together. We had over ten babies in the neighborhood, all born within a few months of one another, so we were able to help one another learn the ropes of parenting.

My son was the only baby in the playgroup to join the family through adoption. As babies and toddlers, the fact that he joined our family through adoption... more

So if you have not yet been invited to a playgroup or playdate but are interested in joining one what do you do? How do you go about getting involved with a playgroup? When we came home from Russia I began using the internet and with Google I entered my county and the word “ Playgroup”. I came across an establish group that would take turns meeting in public or at each others homes. This was not the best fit for me because they only met once a month and they seemed to be an established group and while the coordinator was welcoming in her emails, I received a chilly... more

So eventually when you’re a new parent you will come across an invitation to a play date or Play groups…..I don’t know about you but that word filled me with both a nervous excitement and certain kind of dread. My first foray into play dates was more of a playgroup held at public places during the summer. About once a month a dozen or so Mom’s would meet at a local playground. They were an established group that communicated via email and I was the newcomer. I felt like an outsider and was stared at with a curious eye and nonetheless never felt very... more