by Heather Featherston | May 16, 2022 | Adoption for my child, Unplanned Pregnancy
If you’ve just discovered you’re pregnant, you might be feeling shocked, confused, or scared. The situation might even feel unreal, leaving you thinking something like, “This can’t really be happening!” And you know you’ll have to...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Apr 26, 2022 | Adopting a child, Adoption preparation
The questions start as soon as you share that you’re starting the adoption process. Questions range from the racial heritage of the birth parents to the cost of adoption. Then, when your baby comes home and is out and about, people may ask if he is your...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Apr 11, 2022 | Adopting a child, Adoption preparation, post-adoption
Whether you are just starting your adoption journey or your baby is on the way home, your mind is most likely filled with thoughts about how things will be once your baby is there with you. That being said, there is also an element of uncertainty, fear, and disbelief...
by Linda Rotz | Mar 28, 2022 | adoption wait
So often on Lifetime’s blog, we provide suggestions about what to do during the adoption process. Since there are plenty of opportunities for hitches along the way, we’re going to share three habits to avoid during your adoption wait, as well as things to...
by Heather Featherston | Mar 17, 2022 | Unplanned Pregnancy
Last week, on a cold day in Portland, Oregon, a woman gave birth on a city sidewalk and walked away, leaving her baby behind. Luckily, people nearby covered the baby and alerted the authorities. The baby and mother survived, but this story could have tragically ended...
by Heather Featherston | Mar 14, 2022 | Open adoption, Unplanned Pregnancy
Being a single parent is more than just a job. It is a major life situation that will dictate how and what you do for years and years. Throughout those years of raising a child alone, your patience, strength, and sanity will be tried to the limit at times. Choosing...
by Linda Rotz | Mar 7, 2022 | Adopting a child, Parenting, post-adoption
Adoptive parents often ask me how and when they should explain adoption to their child. When is the right time to tell your child their whole adoption story? Many new adoptive parents feel uncertain and concerned about how to best discuss adoption with their...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Feb 28, 2022 | Adoption for my child, Open adoption
There are many benefits to adoption, not only for the birth parents and adoptive parents but for the kids involved, too. Adoption supplies children with the chance to experience the life that their birth parents wanted for them. Even though there are challenges...
by Heather Featherston | Feb 14, 2022 | Adoption for my child
If you’re thinking about adoption, you might wonder, “Will the adoptive couple love my baby as much as a biological child?” This is a question we are asked a lot by expectant birth mothers like you. However, in our experience of completing...
by Linda Rotz | Feb 7, 2022 | Adopting a child, Parenting
The first few months as new adoptive parents to a newborn could be challenging, but knowing what to expect can make it easier. Many new adoptive parents are surprised at how many adjustments are required when living with a newborn baby. While every hopeful...
by Heather Featherston | Jan 24, 2022 | Adoption expenses, Adoption financing
Trying to afford adoption is a common worry among hopeful parents. There’s the home study fee, adoption professional’s fees, travel costs, and legal fees. And sometimes birth mother expenses. So what can you do? Here are six creative tips that you...
by Linda Rotz | Jan 10, 2022 | Adopting a child, Adoption preparation, adoption tip
Hopeful adoptive parents dream about the day they will bring their new baby home. Videos and images of adoptive parents receiving their baby can make the adoption process seem like a scene in a movie filled with Hollywood magic. Some imagine the day they adopt...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Dec 20, 2021 | adoption tip, adoption wait
Family get-togethers over the Christmas holidays can be wonderful, but for those in the middle of an adoption wait, these gatherings can be challenging. Well-intentioned family members asking questions like, “Why haven’t you adopted yet?” or even,...
by Linda Rotz | Nov 29, 2021 | adoption wait
Many people feel a spiritual calling to adopt, in addition to their desire to add a child to their family. There are many reasons adoptive parents may be led to begin the adoption process, and behind many of those common reasons, there’s a belief that God has set an...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Nov 15, 2021 | Adopting a child, Adoption preparation, adoption situations
“My husband and I have just started researching infant adoption. We’d love to adopt twins! On average, how long does it take to adopt twins through Lifetime Adoption?” Twin adoptions happen from time to time at Lifetime; we might have two to...
by Heather Featherston | Nov 8, 2021 | Adoption for my child, Unplanned Pregnancy
Facing an unplanned pregnancy and thinking about adoption can seem unbelievable to many men. This decision can be just as difficult for the birth father as for the child’s mother. Even though agreeing might seem impossible, you both need to put your...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Oct 18, 2021 | Adopting a child, adoption wait, Birth mothers
Amanda perched on her stool at the café, with her laptop and a cup of cappuccino nearby. She grabbed for her phone and began to browse through her adoption agency’s website, something that she did every day during her lunch break. As she navigated the site,...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Oct 4, 2021 | Adoption expenses, Adoption financing, adoption loan
Once you’ve told people about your plan to adopt, you may get asked, “Why does adoption cost so much money?” People who ask questions like this might pose it negatively, maybe even adding, “Babies who need a home should be free!” So how...
by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. | Sep 13, 2021 | Adopting a child
The domestic adoption process can be complex. If you want to avoid delays and potential issues, it’s vital to be aware of a common mistake that many people make when trying to adopt. Waiting to be chosen by a birth mother can be agonizing, so when you get...
by Heather Featherston | Aug 30, 2021 | Adoption for my child, post-adoption
When you choose to place your baby for adoption, you provide them a stable and loving future. Adoption isn’t an easy decision to make, so you may find yourself wondering, “How will I feel after placing my baby for adoption?” It’s a common...