Recently after speaking with someone about the "National Fatherhood Coalition." On the importance of a male role model being present in a child's life. I began thinking about what a Father figure really means.

You may call him Dad or Daddy, Pop or Poppa. He could have been an Uncle or even a Grand Dad. Whomever he was. What he taught you is worth more than words.

In Foster Care and Adoption. Even in single parent homes. At times the male and or female role model may not be present. In these cases who is the person that shows... more

When you first begin your journey into the jungle of adoption. It may feel like open game season and the target is YOU.

I know my husband and I were naive. We wanted to go out and save the world one little child at a time. So when our orientation day came and we went to the first appointment, we were overwhelmed by all the paper work shoved at us and the bluntness of the speaker.

It seemed she was not going to encourage anyone at all to become an adoptive parent. She was not going to sweet talk anyone into anything. Then the next worker spoke. She was the exact opposite.

My husband caught on faster than I did. They were playing off each other. The Devil's Advocate.... more

With an adoption there are hurdles to overcome. When it is an International Adoption and the child is an Older Child. The language barrier might be a bit of an issue.

Learning any language as a younger child is easier than it is for an older child. One positive issue is that the child will be well versed in his own national language and will also become fluent with the English language also.

Communication may be an issue unless you yourself or a family member is versed in the national language from which country your child will be adopted from.

The one universal language is always love. Warm smiles and caring gestures are always a good way to communicate with any... more

Adoption itself is a little stressful. All the paperwork and the homestudy - along with a family study to see if you and your new child will fit correctly - can make a person a bundle of nerves.

Can you just imagine what it does to a child? Think about that for a moment. Sometimes a child may go through several pre adopt families before they match up with one that might just work out.

When you adopt an older child they are more aware of what is going on around them. So it is just a given that they will be shy, not so willing to make conversation and downright difficult at times.

So the ball is almost always in the prospective parents hands to open the doors of communication... more

There are millions of families around the world that desire to have a family or to extend on the family they now have started.

Just as there are families out there that want children. There are just as many children who want and need a new family.

I often think that those of us who would love to adopt from a different country just do not know how to go about the process.

We need more information and if you have a computer then that's a great place to start. By typing in international adoption in the search link. You will find hundreds of listings full of information about out of country adoptions and how to go about the process.

Your dream of having a child... more

There are many ways to be a Child Advocate. Some people get there by the road of Education. A degree in Human Services is a great place to start. If your avenue to helping children is through Education and Job Interest.

Another field of opportunity is in Child Custody. Family Law Attorneys will always be one aspect of Advocacy. Who they are and how they represent the parent will tell you if they are concerned about the children involved.

Save The Children Foundation is also another area where people can volunteer to help children and women. They stay up to date on legislation that ultimately affects Women and Children in need.

There are other... more

Adoption is like looking up into the sky on a dark night. You see a vast space that is filled with tiny little lights. Each light is like one child who has found his or her way to a new family.

In some places you see patterns beginning to form like the "Big Dipper." Where someone has shared a positive Adoption experience and some one new near them decides to adopt also.

Spread out as far as you can see there are these little lights. One or two scattered here and there. Filling the sky.

Each time you log on... more

When you begin to think about adoption and decide that an older child might be just right for your family life. You might ask yourself,

1). Where do I start? 2). Who has children available? 3). Do I want to adopt from my home land or from another country?

To make our life a little easier. We now have great places to interview for our Adoption Experience.

Here are some of the links to great adoption agencies.

1). Beatitude House: Email Matt@Beatitudehouse. com. This is located near the Great Smokey Mountains in Waynesville, N. C. and can be reached at this phone number: 828-926-5591

... more

There are millions of people all over the world who are wanting a child. For many different reasons they may not be able to have their own biological child.

Sometimes it is infertility of one or both of the partners. Sometimes it is a single person who would love being a parent without being married. Sometimes their children have grown up and are not out on their own and they still feel the desire to parent and help another child make it to adulthood.

It could be a number of reasons that make the person think about adoption. Sometimes the red tape and paper work of applying to adopt a child just baffles a person and they give up. However, for those who answer all... more

We all face people on a daily basis that may need to ask questions about our children. I have always thought it best to use the "need to know" basis.

As a proud adoptive parent. You may want to tell the world that your adopted child is the best. But it is a very personal matter. Sometimes the child might prefer you not to tell everyone about the adoption. They may want to bask in the beauty of knowing you are a "Real Family."

Of course school paperwork and medical paperwork will be one area that you may need to put down the facts. While in other areas you may not need to be so open and can rely on the need to know basis.

Recently as I was checking out what... more