Homeschooling My Kinetic Kids

It's been a long time since I've written about adoption and foster care on this blog.  Since our anniversary of becoming parents through adoption is coming up, I thought this would be a good time to address it again.  I originally wrote this article for a guest posting opportunity, which fell through. Related: Foster to Adopt Party Ideas My three children were adopted at young toddlers from foster care. My oldest, Dragonfly, was three months old when we welcomed her into our home, Skimmer was four months, and Tadpole was a newborn. Although the three kids share a birth mom, they were three separate legal cases with about twenty social workers over four years. Raising someone else's children has unique challenges, including ones that most people don't consider like breastfeeding. BREASTFEEDING FOSTER BABIES If you're like most people that I've encountered in our years as foster and adoptive parents, you're probably thinking “breast...

May is National Foster Care month.  I started this post last November, but I was in the middle of the pre-Christmas series and never got it posted.   I did a  "Songs of Adoption"  post a few years ago, but today seemed like a good day to update it.  In honor of my blog anniversary, here are our favorite adoption songs. All I Really Want for Christmas When I was planning this post before Christmas, I put this one first.  This song always makes me cry.   "All I really want for Christmas is a family!"  Sob. I'm Adopted! My kids LOVE this song!  It has a fun beat and is so singable. "Love came and found me.  Wrapped arms around me.  I'm adopted!" Child of My Heart Becky has a lot of adoption songs, and "Child of My Heart" is one that I picked for one of my children's adoption. "You're the child of my love.  Specially chosen.  No accident." This is Home One of my children asks for us to play this song quite often. It'...

Adoptions are a big deal around here, since all three of my kids were adopted.  My most popular blog post is a pile of foster-to-adopt party ideas.  As I was thinking about that theme again, I thought it would be good to make a list of ways you could do an adoption-themed guest book.  There are so many creative ideas online that everyone should be able to find something for every family and theme. Jenga blocks fingerprint tree puzzle pieces wood hearts shadow box picture frame mat video wishes new family name initial message in a bottle signatures on globe picture books postcard shells wish rocks "Oh the Places You'll Go" highlighted quotes/verses signed clothes quilt squares guitar Snapchat video photobooth Christmas ornaments {More Adoption Party Ideas} Click on the Pictures to Visit the Posts Pin for Later!

We adopted 3 kids from foster care and know first-hand how difficult it can be to find party ideas for adoptions.  It's even more difficult to find ideas when you're not adopting a baby or an international child.  I started this list as a way to brainstorm fun ideas as we were planning for our own finalization dates. I realize that not every party theme will be applicable for every family, and I have included themes that are not ones that I would have for myself.  My hope is that this list will stimulate discussion between yourself and your kids and aid in your party planning. Martian Child ( aliens/space ) Free Willy ( whales/ocean ) Angels in the Outfield ( baseball ) Anne of Green Gables ( tea party/garden ) Elf ( candy/Christmas ) Despicable Me ( minions! ) Meet the Robinsons ( robots/science ) The Blind Side ( football ) Cinderella/Tangled ( princess ) Kung Fu Panda ( China/pandas ) Up ( balloons, outdoors ) Lilo and Stitch ( Hawaii/luau ) The Book Thief ( bookworm )...

Today is National Adoption Day!  Even though I already have the "All Wrapped Up" gift guide series every day this month, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to do an adoption post too! FOR KIDS I Wished for You   This was the first adoption book that we bought.  It has the great line in it- "You're my wish come true."  The story is very detailed and a bit long for younger kids.  It also assumes interracial adoption, which doesn't fit our situation.  I recommend this book for ages 5 and up. I Love You All the Same This is our favorite adoption book.  The story revolves around an infertile bear couple and their three adopted cubs.  Although each of the bears are different types, the emphasis is not placed on their appearance, but instead on their personalities.  The panda bear only eats bamboo.  The brown bear likes to take long naps.  And the polar bear is best at hiding.  Through each of their differences, the parents kee...

wikimedia commons When we first became foster parents, I didn't realize how complicated everything would become after adoption. Foster care was crazy enough, with all the oversight, appointments, and people in our lives. I thought once we got all the extras out of our life, then things would get simpler. Not having three or four appointments a week helped, but adoption is still quite complicated. Constantly Second Guessing Every single incident, behavior, and word out of their mouths is analyzed  according to these questions: Is it trauma related? Is this an attachment issue? Is it sensory? Is it behavioral? Is it autism? Is it developmental? Is it a mental heath issue? Is it physical? Is it evidence of a delay? Does it need discipline? A specialist? Medication? Therapy? It's possible that I have a problem with labeling (wink).  But, seriously, it's complicated. Birth Parent Relationships When we were foster parents, the State told us what our relationship to the birt...

My adoption party theme list is one of my most popular posts right now, so I knew it was time to update it with some free printables.  I had always intended to post the signs from this party, I just never got around to it.  So, back by popular demand, the Nemo Party! Food We had the party at our church, after service, so we asked congregants to bring the food.  There were about 100 people at the party, so having help meant that the party was much more doable. Darla's Fish Sushi: This was the neatest part of the whole party!  A friend and her kids assembled all the pieces for us (you can see them in the first picture) using a recipe from Pinterest.   Or you can buy some already assembled to save time. Bruce's Tuna Salad Toast: Another group favorite.  I cut plain bread with a small cookie cutter and served them with tuna salad.  Easy and adorable. Peach's Star Fish Sandwiches:  Plain o' PBJ cut into star shapes with a cookie cutter.  If y...