best advice for adoptive parents
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The Best Advice for Adoptive Parents Taking the Long View of Their Children’s Lives

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Roundup: Best Advice from 12 Adoption Thought Leaders

“It’s very easy to center yourself in everything.
We adoptive parents think about ourselves
and our needs, and that’s natural.

But I try really hard to remember that I’m the person
with the most power in this dynamic.
Always, I get to make the choices.
I’m the one with the legal standing.
I have more power than my daughter.
I have more power than her mom.

So it’s my responsibility to step back sometimes
and give power where I can.“

— Leah Campbell, single adoptive mom & author of
The Story of My Open Adoption
in Ep1 —

Episode 12 of Adoption: The Long View

With Episode 12 we close out our first season. What a success it’s been! I’m so grateful for all of you for listening. Thank you for tuning in, for sharing with others, and for continuing to support us.

Prefer to read Episode 12? Here’s a transcript (but listening is so much better).

I’m also grateful for the 12 amazing guests who talked with me during Season 1, a remarkable group made up of 4 adoptees, 4 birth parents, 4 adoptive parents, 1 researcher, 4 activists, 1 therapist, and 1 in a double-position (don’t even try with the math!).

Each has delved into the complexities of adoption in a way that helps us become more comfortable and effective at the difficult parts of adoptive parenting. I’ve found that these parts get easier just by acknowledging them, being willing to look at them.

Best Of Season 1: Twelve Guests on What Adoptive Parents Need to Know about the Long View

“I feel for that whole generation of adoptees who didn’t have a safe space with their parents to process their adoptedness.

I always want to be that safe space for my kids.

In those moments when they’re willing to
share their stuff with me and call me out on mine,
I feel like maybe I’ve done okay.”

— Rebecca Vahle,
adoptive mom, activist,
Angel in Adoption® in Ep8 —

If you’ve been following along, you know that my guest and I talk about a provocative topic that adopting parents need to know the ins and outs of, or at least various perspectives. They share brilliant nuggets of wisdom with me, and before we know it our time is up.

I end each interview by asking each guest the same question: what’s your best advice for adoptive parents about the long view of adoption?

In Episode 12 you get the digest, the down and dirty clips of what each guest had to say to that question. You may be surprised with some of the commonalities among them, and you may be intrigued by the “special sauce” brought to the table by each guest and their unique perspective and experience.

Listen in to is what my fabulous guests have said when I asked them to boil things down to their best advice for adoptive parents about raising their children to healthy adults and with vibrant connection. We have a transcript available so you can easily find any episode you’d like to refer back to.

“I will absolutely 100% respect somebody’s privacy, and not share something that could be hurtful or harmful.

But I’m not going to keep a secret that is going to be damaging, either for me or for anybody else involved.

Understanding that distinction is super important
and is my best piece of advice.“

— Kim Court, pioneering birth mom in open adoption in Ep10 —

Show Notes from the Season 1 Roundup: Best Advice for Adoptive Parents

Click on the name to go to the guest’s own site, listed in order of appearance in Ep12.

Click on the episode number for that guest’s full interview.

How to Tune In Regularly

You can find us on any podcast platform and on Adopting.com.

A new episode comes out the first Friday of the month. Thank you for sharing, subscribing, and rating this episode!

Now on the list of Top 25 Adoption Podcasts!

We’ll Be Back Soon!

We’re taking a brief hiatus as we prepare for a stellar Season 2. Make sure to click the subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts so you know when we release new episodes. And please, do share with others who may benefit.

Until then, work on your own stuff, get comfortable with complexity and discomfort, listen to adoptee voices, and be aware of always being a safe space for your child to have their feelings.

And may you meet everything on your road ahead with confidence, capability, and compassion.

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guide to living in open adoption

Lori Holden, mom of a teen son and a young adult daughter, writes from Denver. Her book, The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole, is available through your favorite online bookseller and makes a thoughtful anytime gift for the adoptive families in your life. Catch episodes of Adoption: The Long View wherever you get your podcasts.

Lori was honored as an Angel in Adoption® in 2018 by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

4 thoughts on “The Best Advice for Adoptive Parents Taking the Long View of Their Children’s Lives”

  1. Adoption whistle blowers admit that about ten percent of the adoptions were necessary. Assuming your child had a bad beginning is nearly always not true and a grave disservice to your child. Yes separating a child is always trauma. But thinking genetics is a problem is wrong and disrespectful.

    Reply

      1. I used to have some hope that you were able ally. Now it’s clear you’re just another typical AP looking to profit from your position of privilege and off the backs of your adoptlings. You really can’t stand to be challenged, can you…

        Let me ask you…did YOU listen?

        Reply

        1. Did you just call my son and daughter a pejorative? Do you suppose they sometimes read here and can see your words? Did you mean to insult fellow adoptees due to your perceived betrayal by me?

          I’ve asked you privately (but you haven’t responded), and let me also ask you here: what in this podcast episode specifically are you referring to?

          Reply

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