As I have mentioned before, we are in the beginning of our adoption. The girls have been home for 17 months. Sometimes that seems like a long time but it really is the beginning. I write about positive things, but I am also truthful about the hard situations we've been through. I want to be helpful for families... more]]> 1 comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/a-letter-to-the-teacher Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:23:38 +0000 Mandy W Preparing to Adopt an Older Child Adoptive Families Challenges 23512@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ Last school year I arranged conferences with the teachers my newly adopted children were going to have. I met with the assistant superintendent of schools and the principal. We talked, emailed and prepped for the start of school. This year the girls have a successful year under their belts. They have friends, read well and are just normal kiddos. I still felt like I needed to do something extra though. I already knew one of the teachers and trusted the reputation of the other one, but there was still so much to tell them about. I decided to write each teacher a letter.... [...] Read more! Last school year I arranged conferences with the teachers my newly adopted children were going to have. I met with the assistant superintendent of schools and the principal. We talked, emailed and prepped for the start of school.

This year the girls have a successful year under their belts. They have friends, read well and are just normal kiddos. I still felt like I needed to do something extra though. I already knew one of the teachers and trusted the reputation of the other one, but there was still so much to tell them about.

I decided to write each teacher... more]]> Leave a comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/adoption-timelines-milestones-and-grief Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:13:26 +0000 Mandy W Preparing to Adopt an Older Child Parenting Challenges 23493@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ Looking back it all seemed so easy the first year. The honeymoon period, outbursts at six months post adoption and then at one year and then BOOM! You are a normal, well-adjusted family. How did I get that stuck in my head. Me! The woman who has read everything that was to be read. Who has yahoo-grouped for hours on end, gleaning all the info I could on older child adoptions? How could I have been so naive? It was a survival mechanism I now realize. All the hard times seemed more bearable if I could excuse them in some way with an "adoption issue" that will be settled... [...] Read more! Looking back it all seemed so easy the first year. The honeymoon period, outbursts at six months post adoption and then at one year and then BOOM! You are a normal, well-adjusted family.

How did I get that stuck in my head. Me! The woman who has read everything that was to be read. Who has yahoo-grouped for hours on end, gleaning all the info I could on older child adoptions? How could I have been so naive?

It was a survival mechanism I now realize. All the hard times seemed more bearable if I could excuse them in some way with an "adoption issue" that will... more]]> 1 comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/preparing-to-start-a-new-school Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:56:27 +0000 Mandy W Preparing to Adopt an Older Child Parenting Challenges 23483@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ If you and your child have decided to start school this coming month there are several things you can do to prepare for this exciting and nerve wracking day. The first thing is to get in touch with your school district and arrange a meeting with the principal of the school your child will attending. You will have a pretty good idea of the school atmosphere and how well they will work with you and your family just by getting an appointment set up. A few questions to ask... [...] Read more! If you and your child have decided to start school this coming month there are several things you can do to prepare for this exciting and nerve wracking day.

The first thing is to get in touch with your school district and arrange a meeting with the principal of the school your child will attending. You will have a pretty good idea of the school atmosphere and how well they will work with you and your family just by getting an appointment set up.

A few questions... more]]> Leave a comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/is-your-child-ready-for-traditional-scho Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:38:12 +0000 Mandy W Preparing to Adopt an Older Child Adoptive Families Challenges 23480@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ School is a big deal for every child and every parent. When to start school for your older adopted child can be tricky. Every child and parent is different of course so there is no "this way is the right way." Single parents or families with both parents working out of the home have to consider child care/school earlier than families where one parent stays at home. I will go over a few ways parents have handled this situation and how we handled it with our family. Please comment on what your family did and how it worked out for you and your child. If your older child... [...] Read more! School is a big deal for every child and every parent. When to start school for your older adopted child can be tricky. Every child and parent is different of course so there is no "this way is the right way." Single parents or families with both parents working out of the home have to consider child care/school earlier than families where one parent stays at home.

I will go over a few ways parents have handled this situation and how we handled it with our family. Please comment on what your family did and how it worked out for you and your child.

If... more]]> 1 comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/life-books-part-3-meaning-what-i-say Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:40:53 +0000 Mandy W Adoptive Families 23470@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ Last month I wrote two posts on Life Books. The first on why we have them and the second, different ways to make them. I have to tell you that shortly after writing those, within a week actually, I had to put my money where my mouth was and it was hard to do. As I had mentioned, I view Life Books as a tool to help my girls with their grieving and a way to stay connected with their first few years. My girls sleep with them... [...] Read more! Last month I wrote two posts on Life Books. The first on why we have them and the second, different ways to make them. I have to tell you that shortly after writing those, within a week actually, I had to put my money where my mouth was and it was hard to do.

As I had mentioned, I view Life Books as a tool to help my girls with their grieving and a way to stay connected with their first few years. My girls sleep... more]]> 1 comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/life-books-part-2 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:26:09 +0000 Mandy W Preparing to Adopt an Older Child Positive Parenting Adoptive Families How to... Books 23435@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ In my last post, I wrote about what Life Books are and how they can be used in an adoptive family. This time I want to talk about how to make a Life Book. As I stated before you can be really creative and fancy or just use the basics, the important thing is that you have a Life Book for your child to use. Any one who knows me, knows that I am not crafty at all. I have the imagination, just not the talent to make what my head pictures. When I was in Ethiopia I bought beautiful fabrics to make Life... [...] Read more! In my last post, I wrote about what Life Books are and how they can be used in an adoptive family. This time I want to talk about how to make a Life Book. As I stated before you can be really creative and fancy or just use the basics, the important thing is that you have a Life Book for your child to use.

Any one who knows me, knows that I am not crafty at all. I have the imagination, just not the talent to make what my head pictures. When I was in Ethiopia I bought beautiful fabrics to... more]]> Leave a comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/life-books-part-1 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:13:37 +0000 Mandy W Preparing to Adopt an Older Child Positive Parenting Adoptive Families How to... 23433@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ If you are new to the adoption world you may have questions about Life books or you may not have heard of a Life Book just yet. There are a few different kinds of Life Books. One is a book that a prospective adoptive parent or parents make about there family to have agencies or lawyers show to mothers thinking of making an adoption plan. There are many ways to make one of these. I have seen wonderfully intricate made scrapbooks and basic letters with a nice picture on it. These types of Life Books are generally seen in domestic infant adoptions. As this was not our adoption... [...] Read more! If you are new to the adoption world you may have questions about Life books or you may not have heard of a Life Book just yet.

There are a few different kinds of Life Books. One is a book that a prospective adoptive parent or parents make about there family to have agencies or lawyers show to mothers thinking of making an adoption plan. There are many ways to make one of these. I have seen wonderfully intricate made scrapbooks and basic letters with a nice picture on it. These types of Life Books are generally seen in domestic infant adoptions. As this was not... more]]> 1 comment http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/should-you-change-your-child-s-name Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:03:56 +0000 Mandy W Preparing to Adopt an Older Child Adoptive Families Challenges 23424@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ How important is a name? I never really thought about names until I had to name my first child. Does a name define who you are or do you define your name? Was I going to screw up the first big decision as a mom? Finally, two weeks before delivery we decided on the name Meg for our first daughter. The second time around, it was much harder. I loved our eldest daughter’s name so much, how could we match it? Well, Daddy stepped in and chose Elle. A little two popular for me at first, but now I cannot imagine her with any other name. Adopting two girls (ages 6 and 8) from... [...] Read more! How important is a name? I never really thought about names until I had to name my first child. Does a name define who you are or do you define your name? Was I going to screw up the first big decision as a mom? Finally, two weeks before delivery we decided on the name Meg for our first daughter. The second time around, it was much harder. I loved our eldest daughter’s name so much, how could we match it? Well, Daddy stepped in and chose Elle. A little two popular for me at first, but now I cannot imagine her with any other name.

Adopting two girls (ages 6 and... more]]> 5 comments http://older-child.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/teaching-how-to-be-appropriate Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:30:54 +0000 Mandy W Discipline Adoptive Families Parenting Challenges 23423@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ I must share that my Hubby and I are passionate about raising well-mannered kids. Good manners bring more opportunities, people want to be around you, instill a pride in ones-self and a positive attitude. We find that society is letting many young ones run amuck and the rudeness is out of control. It has been a struggle with our middle two as we have not raised them from infancy and they really are not sure of our expectations due to language barriers and having been with us for only about 15 months, especially when they see their friends getting away with things that we would not tolerate... [...] Read more! I must share that my Hubby and I are passionate about raising well-mannered kids. Good manners bring more opportunities, people want to be around you, instill a pride in ones-self and a positive attitude. We find that society is letting many young ones run amuck and the rudeness is out of control. It has been a struggle with our middle two as we have not raised them from infancy and they really are not sure of our expectations due to language barriers and having been with us for only about 15 months, especially when they see their friends getting away with things that we would not... more]]> 2 comments