November 05, 2014

Adoption News Roundup

Say what you will, but when celebrities speak up about anything, people listen. And that includes adoption. That’s why it’s always such a huge deal when a beloved celebrity adopts, or shares their experience with the world. Here are some important celebrity quotes about adoption that we love and think everyone should share.

Parents, would you let your kids try just a sip of alcohol before they’re 21? Did you know that in 29 states it’s fully within the law for minors to drink at home with their parents, under supervision? (We did not know that.) In a new blog post, Kristen Howerton recounts how a supervised sip of champagne led her down the path towards drinking in high school, and why she doesn’t want to let her children drink until they’re of legal age. Thoughts? What are the rules in your home?

Love this video: “$#!+ People Say to Foster Parents.” Has anyone ever said any of these things to you?

Carrie Goldman’s “30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days” series is up on her blog, Portrait of an Adoption (we love it, and look forward to it all year long!) This woman talks about how her reunion was nothing like what you see on Oprah. This is the first time she’s told her story outside of her own journal, and it is brave, powerful and shows a very realistic side of the adoption world — one that adoptees fear, and one that we, as their supporters, should be aware of as a potential possibility. We’re always so inspired when people go outside their comfort zones to share their life stories…it makes a world of difference to those who are blessed enough to experience them.

Another good one from Rage Against the Minivan. This woman shares her story and what it’s like to be a victim of adoption fraud. “I had to mourn. I had to grieve the loss of this baby, because while (thank God) no physical harm had come to him, he was lost to us. To our family. A priest told me that I should let myself experience this like a death, because to us, it was.”

Oh my gosh, bless this mother and her hilarious account of what it was like to endure her first home study. Anyone remember those awful jitters? “Do you think we should have the smell of baking bread wafting through the house?” I ask Alex. “Might be a little contrived,” he says. “We never bake bread.” “Okay, applesauce.” “I made it in seventh grade,” I point out. “It was the first thing we cooked in home ec.” “We don’t make that either,” he says. “All right,” he says. He knows to surrender when I am being driven by stress.