When Your Child First Notices Race

We recently came across an article in Adoptive Families Magazine that we thought would be helpful to share: 'How Do You Make Sure Your Child Feels Good About Herself?'. The article was written by Julia Chin who adopted her daughter as an infant from China. 

 

One day Julia's four-year-old daughter came home from preschool in tears. A classmate had pulled up the corners of his eyes and said, 'Your eyes are like this!'"My daughter was crushed," says Julia.  "Last year, Elizabeth had no clue about race or being different. Now she talks about it all the time."  Julia's experience is not atypical for Caucasian parents who adopt transracially. As parents, we want to do all we can to instill a positive sense of racial identity in our children. To read more here.

Gladney Family Support Group in TX

Heath and Katie Bonner have been married for 17 years and have four children.  They will be leading this week’s Gladney Family Support Group Meeting where the topic will be: SIBLING ADJUSTMENT!

 

Child care will be provided. To RSVP for childcare please call or email Joy Barnes (joy.barnes@gladney.org or 817.922.5993).

 

Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 6:30pm-8:30pm in Mabee Hall, Fort Worth, TX.

It's a Small World!

Gladney Families within one family!!  Recently, the Skinner Family and Witt Family met for the first time at a family reunion, not realizing they belong to the same large family!  While chatting at lunch, it was discovered both families are Gladney families and have children from Taiwan! The two families had great fun sharing Mr. Yeh stories, stories of their travels and their adoption journeys.  The highlight....watching the boys play together!!!!  

We have so many great advocates among our families!

As the Superkids Team wraps up their latest trip to China, during which they saw over 100 children waiting for forever families, we thought it would be a wonderful time to bring your attention to the blogs of families who have adopted or are adopting through the Guang Ming Program (Waiting Child). Family blogs can be accessed through Gladney's Website in the China Adoption Blogs section.

Empowered to Connect Conference in Houston-September 13 - 14, 2013

"Led by Dr. Karyn Purvis (Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development) together with Michael & Amy Monroe (Leaders of Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Ministry), this conference is ideal for adoptive and foster parents, those considering adoption or foster care and those who are serving and supporting others, including social workers, agency professionals, church staff and ministry leaders, counselors, therapists and others involved in adoption and foster care ministries or services.

Conference sessions will be held from 9am-5pm on both days. Light refreshments will be provided during breaks throughout the event, with “on your own” lunch breaks scheduled from 12-1:30pm. All participants are highly encouraged to attend sessions on both days. Professionals may be eligible to receive continuing education credit for their participation."

-From the Show Hope website

This conference is ideal for adoptive parents and those considering adoption. Click here to learn more.

Is It An Adoption Thing?

 Webinar  - Wednesday, August 7, 2013

7:00 PM Central, Q&A 8:00 PM

Are you struggling to decide if your child's challenging behaviors are adoption related or just kid stuff? Because so many families face that difficult task, Adoption Learning Partners asked an expert to help! Join Dr. Gregory Keck as he helps parents understand the impact of adoption and trauma on child development. Common challenging behaviors, how to manage behaviors, and effective (and ineffective) parenting tools will be discussed. Register here.

What No One Ever Told Me About Special Needs Adoption: Loving Our Perfect Child

  

Adopting several children from China has been a joy-filled, faith-building, abundant adventure. We have four biological children and feel as though we are experienced parents. However, sometimes even experienced parents can find that they are not adequately prepared for some issues.

During November of 2006, we decided that we would pursue a special needs child on a waiting child list. Our agency diligently prepared us for parenting a child with special needs....

Here is a list of items that no social worker ever prepared us for:

1. No one ever told us that when we had our adopted "special needs" daughter evaluated by an occupational therapist, that she would be 6-months ahead of her typically developing two-armed peers in motor development

2. No one ever told me that at age 2, she would figure out how to climb to the top of a bunk bed with her one arm just to admire her brother's trophies on a high shelf.

3. No one ever told me that she would be only 19 pounds but have the desire, tenacity, and strength of a Super Bowl bound football team.

- Tamera Wong - Rainbow Kids

To read the rest of this article and the remainder of this inspiring list, click here.