Adoptive Families Blog

It's that time of year when showing gratitude and giving thanks is on the top of everyone's minds. Many times, Thanksgiving encourages us to think about the special things in our lives and express gratitude for them. It's a favorite holiday for many, as they're surrounded by loved ones and reminded of all that they have to be grateful for.

Whether you're in a season of hope or one of challenges, remember that you have been given "every spiritual blessing in Christ,"  in the words of Ephesians 1:3. Despite whatever challenges you're facing during your adoption journey, you can have an attitude of thankfulness.

The heart of Thanksgiving is expressing your gratitude. But in the midst of all the Thanksgiving meal prep and the tryptophan naps, it can be hard to figure out how to make time for that! Here are 8 creative ideas to refocus the thankful season:

"Are we meant to adopt?"

Lifetime adoptive couple Adam and Kristi share part one of their adoption story

"This is never going to happen." Many people who walk through infertility often identify with the hopelessness that can come of trying and trying to build a family, without success.

Moving from infertility to a decision to become a family through adoption is a deep and thoughtful process. There are layers of grief and disappointment mixed together with the hope of looking forward to the good that will come from their determination not to give up.

We often are asked: "How do you know when to move from fertility treatments to adoption?"

For every adoptive parent, the answer to that honest question will vary. However, one recurring thread in nearly every Lifetime Adoption testimony is the sense that adoption is where the story was leading all along.

As you’ll see in Adam and Kristi’s story, a sense of peace, relief, and renewed hope came from answering a call to adoption.

"It seems like adoption is so expensive, almost like it is buying a baby. Why does it have to cost so much when all we want to do is help a child in need?"

Many families have a similar reaction when they discover that there is a cost to private adoption.  Learning more about the costs often help families understand who the fees go to and what they are for. Today, Lifetime is giving you a quick rundown to help understand adoption costs!

Lifetime's Founder Shares Her Vision

Lifetime's Founder Mardie Caldwell knows the deep-seated need that motivates couples to seek adoption, having endured seven miscarriages before turning to adoption. Mardie's experience drove her desire to help others realize the joy of parenthood through adoption, and she opened Lifetime Adoption in 1986.

“I love to see people’s dreams come true!" she says. "I want adoption to be successful for everyone – the birth family, the adoptive parents, and the children."

Keep reading to learn more about Lifetime Adoption, how adoption has changed over the years, and get Mardie's #1 tip for hopeful adoptive couples!

If you're matched with a birth mother, you're probably feeling a range of emotions, from excitement to concern. You might be wondering “is it appropriate to have a baby shower when we’re adopting?”

While it's true that everyone in your life will want to celebrate your baby's arrival, sometimes a traditional baby shower isn't appropriate for adoptive families. Lifetime shares why we recommend an adoption sip and see instead, and how you can best celebrate in this way!

When a couple is dealing with infertility, there are generally five stages of grief and loss that they go through. Encountering these emotions is a normal and healthy way of moving from infertility toward adoption.

We all deal with grief and loss in different ways. Some people experience all five stages, while others only encounter a couple. Furthermore, it's normal to experience the stages in any order.

As a couple moves from infertility to adoption, they may experience these stages of grief and loss:

You might not realize it, but your employer might be able to help make your adoption a reality! More and more companies are starting to offer adoption benefits to their employees. Keep reading to discover how your employer might be able to help you fund your adoption!

The goal of today’s post is to help improve your family member's and friends' understanding of how adoption works today. If they wish to share in your adoption experience, this information can serve as a starting point for conversations about how your adoption will touch everyone.

We encourage you to share this post with your loved ones!

If someone you care about is hoping to adopt, you become part of their adoption circle. As such, you’ll need insights and information about adoption. Whether you’re experienced or unfamiliar with adoption, this blog post will be beneficial. We encourage you to as you participate in their lives as an adoptive family.

Here are 7 ideas on how you can support your loved one during their adoption journey:

"When should I tell my child they're adopted?"

"What if they don't understand or it makes them sad?"

"How should I tell my child that they were adopted?"

These are some of the most commonly asked questions asked by hopeful adoptive parents, struggling to find the right answers. Today, Lifetime shares the best way to share your child's adoption story with them!

Decades ago, almost every adoption was closed. Back then, people thought that closed adoption was best for the child. Today's adoptions look much different. An estimated 95% of domestic adoptions now have some level of openness between adoptive parents and birth parents. 

Even though there are varying kinds and levels of openness in open adoptions, there are healthy traits that many have in common. Here are 6 traits that adoptive families should strive for in healthy open adoptions: