August 25, 2018
Adoption and Parenting Reads of the Week
Happy weekend!
Summer’s almost over, school’s about to begin, and fall comes again. It’s a season of change, and that evokes all sorts of thought, contemplation, and curiosity about the future.
We’ve got some excellent pieces to spark thoughtful meditation on parenting, adoption, children who’ve experienced trauma, and the world our little ones are growing up in. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Have a beautiful weekend, and we’ll see you next week!
<3
The American Academy of Pediatrics has some thoughtful tips for raising “creative, curious, healthier” kids. “Unsurprisingly, the academy noted that the use of technology and media can also be a tough competitor against the kind of play its doctors recommend. Some media can be helpful in teaching kids and boosting curiosity, but it’s the in-person contact that remains crucial for child development.”
How much of your adopted child’s past should you share with their teacher?
The former students of these two married teachers are helping to fundraise their adoption! So sweet.
This birth mother made a beautiful scrapbook for her child before giving birth. “Before my falling tears smudged the page, I signed the letter, “Love, your birth mom.” I cringed at the name “birth mom,” wishing circumstances could be different. Fear and self-doubt had enveloped me as I thought about raising a child alone, without support or stability. After months of agonizing, adoption became the only viable choice for my daughter.”
The criminalization of parenthood.
We absolutely love this beautiful interview between a mother and her adopted child about her daughter’s Reactive Attachment Disorder. “Why did you not want to do things mommy’s way?
S: I thought you did everything your way, always bossing me around, telling me what to do all the time. You were always winning. I didn’t want a good relationship then because I thought you would leave someday and abandon me or something would happen to you. So if I pushed you away I wouldn’t get hurt again.”
Much needed! Relaxation tips for people going through the adoption process.
10 therapeutic approaches to trauma rages.
How school lunch shames students and exacerbates the wealth gap. “That stigma stands in the way of many students getting the only healthy meal they’ll be offered all day. The meals served at school tend to be healthier than many bagged lunches, Linsenmeyer said, but of course, that can vary by student.”