There are only a few more days in 2009. Soon, a new decade will be upon us. At the end of the year, I like to reflect on what has happened in the previous 12 months. I went through this year’s posts on the Adoption Blogs, and on each of the blogs I write - Hoping to Adopt, US Infant Adoption, and Transracial/Transcultural Adoption – I’m summarizing for you. Here on US Infant Adoption, you get a list of my favorite posts of 2009.
Yes, there is an inordinate number of my posts on this list. I can’t help it. I read all my posts, and some of them I really like. I don’t read every Adoption Blogs post, but I honestly do try. I want to know what the other writers are talking about, I want to support them, and I want to learn more about the different aspects of adoption. The posts I’ve chosen as favorites are those that are of interest to me. If you peruse previous posts, you may find many that interest you.
When I took a look back at 2009, these were the posts that jumped out at me:
- Answering Questions from an Expectant Mother: a post to get prospective adoptive parents thinking.
- Birth Father Rights: a post about the individuals we don’t often think about.
- Connections: if I could convince everyone to read just one of my posts, this would be it.
- Defying Gravity as a Birthmother and More Wicked Lyrics for Adoption Healing: I simply love the musical Wicked and have an attachment to the song “For Good”.
- Discussing Adoption, Never Too Young: Courtney’s post about birthparents in international adoption is right on the money.
- Don’t Let the Norm Define Your Relationship: a really great way of putting “normal” in its place.
- Foster Adoption vs. Foster to Adopt: an informative post about a confusing subject.
- God’s Role In Adoption: a post of mine that was trying to come out for many, many months.
- How Open Does Open Adoption Have to Be?: I think all parents could learn a lot from this post.
- Match Relationships, Ethical or Not?: brief, but extremely useful information.
- More Thoughts On Timing: Once again, Jenna explains it all!
- The Most Important Question to Ask: Jenna expands on one of my posts with specific information about agencies and post-adoption services.
- Not Just a Number: this post by Mandy puts international adoption in perspective.
- November Is National Adoption Month: a number of us wrote posts specifically about National Adoption Month. I feel that Courtney’s is the strongest of them.
- Open Adoption Q & A: Meghann’s post answers the top three most frequently asked questions about open adoption.
- Planning a Family Through Adoption: a great post about adoption as a first choice, as well as some thoughts on timing.
- She’s Not Your Birthmother: one of those “it’s so obvious, why didn’t I see it before?” posts.
- Terminology: another one of mine, this answers a lot of frequently asked questions (or questions that should be asked instead of assumed).
- They’re Not “Technically” Siblings: a post I wrote in response to those who simply deny biological relationships.
- We’re All Lucky: this post had been in my brain for years until I finally let it out.
- What Are Expectant Parents Looking For?: every prospective adoptive parent asks this question, and Jenna answers it.
- What Can You Learn From… : when Jenna’s right, she’s right.
- What Does Adoptive Parenting Mean Anyway?: Courtney wrote what I’ve often thought and felt.
- What Is an Open Adoption?: a post I wrote in response to another one of my favorite posts, Jenna’s Is Your Agency Properly Promoting Open Adoption?.
- When Adding a Child Adds Stress to Your Marriage: as my husband and I plan to embark on another adoption journey, this post hit home.
- Why Do Adoptive Parents Close Adoptions?, Not So Good Reasons to Close an Adoption, and Can You Close an Adoption?: a trilogy of posts from Jenna that is important, well-written, and useful.
- You Aren’t Responsible for Their Issues: a concise and useful response to adoption naysayers.
I see that haiti accepts singles, does anyone know if there is an age limit for an adoptive parent hoping for an infant? Are newborns available? I am Canadian with caucasian English background — is a transracial adoption possible?Thank you for your help or referral to a site that would answer these questions.