For many, a blended family is the norm today. Whether through divorce or the loss of a spouse, couples remarry and form new families. Step-siblings and half-siblings add another layer of intricacy, while interracial marriages blend individual cultures. However, the blending of biological and adopted children has unique challenges that other families don’t face. If you’re contemplating adding to your family through adoption or are already raising both, here are some tips to help build a stronger, loving family bond. Tip # 1: Celebrate the Differences Children, no matter if they are biological or adopted, all have different personalities, traits, and interests, but adopted children feel those differences more acutely. They may look completely different from their adopted family or have different likes and dislikes. Adoptees already have a predisposition to feeling like an outsider. It’s the old nature vs. nurture debate. They see their siblings' physical features and personality similarities with their parents as a constant reminder that they are different. Be especially sensitive to the idea that parents show favoritism to their biological children over their adopted ones. Comments like “You have your grandmother’s eyes” or “You have your father’s sense of humor " remind your adopted children that they are not blood-related. Emphasize the uniqueness of everyone in the family and celebrate those differences. If you have an open or semi-open relationship with your adopted child’s birth family, reference them when speaking to your child. Create an atmosphere where everyone feels special. Tip #2: Learn Something New Together One child may be gifted athletically, while another may be a talented artist. The key to drawing the family together is finding new, shared experiences. For instance, take up a new family hobby, tackle a home improvement project together, or start a family book club. Everyone is on equal footing when adopted and biological children learn something new together. It’s also good if you, as parents, are learning something new, too. Watching a YouTube video to get instructions or taking a class together can build an excellent family rapport. Just be willing to stumble along like everyone else. Tip #3: Build Trust Through Openness ANo one, whether they’re outsiders or family members, should ever be allowed to refer to your biological children as your “real kids.” Draw tight boundaries and protect the integrity of your family as a whole. One way of doing this is to speak openly about adoption. A report published by the National Library of Medicine stated, "Engaging in aspects of birth family contact and having adoption conversations together as a family, including siblings (adopted or not), appears to yield advantageous results for target adoptees.” Help your biological children understand that their adopted siblings may battle with feelings of rejection and, therefore, perceive words or actions differently. Be sensitive to everyone’s emotions, and when arguments arise, never let it be an “us” vs. “them” fight. Make it clear, as parents, you do not view them as “adopted” or “biological,” but simply your children. Validating every child’s feelings is essential. Reinforce to your children that you love each of them unconditionally and equally. Tip #4: Enjoy Typical Sibling Interaction It’s agonizing for parents when siblings argue, but wonderful when they enjoy being together. Don’t stress over disagreements between your adopted and biological children; after all, they’re siblings. Let them have the freedom to build their relationships on their own. Not everyone enjoys each other's company, even in a family with all biological kids. Stress that, as siblings, they must watch out for and protect each other. As they grow and interact, encourage their kindness and care for one another. Contact Adoption Angels for More Information As a full-service, licensed child-placing agency, Adoption Angels is committed to offering the highest level of care for both expectant and potential adoptive parents. We understand and value the importance of a strong, loving family for every child. If you are considering adoption to add to your family, we invite you to fill out our interest form . We also provide a list of Adoptive Family Resources .

The DNA-testing phenomenon in the context of adoption doesn't always lead to a happy ending. Learn what adoptees should expect from DNA testing.

The idea of being unexpectedly pregnant is finally sinking in, and it’s time to consider one of the most significant decisions you will make. Should you parent this child or place them for adoption? Only you know what’s best for you and your child’s future. Here’s a list of the pros and cons of both. Pros of Parenting You are the one to guide your child’s future. Your child has a complete understanding of their heritage. There are no doubts your child is loved and cared for. You receive the reward of their happiness daily. You get to enjoy every milestone. Pros of Adoption Your child has greater opportunities for their future. A two-parent home is more secure than a single-parent home. By choosing the adoptive couple, you have the assurance your child is loved and cared for. You avoid having your child potentially enter foster care. You build a relationship with your child without the day-to-day responsibilities of parenting. Cons of Parenting Parenting is expensive. Raising a child leaves you with little time for yourself. You have a greater work responsibility to provide for a child. Parenting requires an incredible amount of energy and focus. Cons of Adoption When choosing your adoption agency, you want to work with an experienced agency that understands how it feels to be a birth mother placing her child. You need confidence your adoption specialist will be with you from start to finish. Adoption Angels has over 40 years of combined experience in the field of adoption. We consider every client a part of our family, so we strive to provide the highest level of care, comfort, and support throughout the adoption process and beyond. We provide many pregnancy-related services and assistance at no cost to you. Take a closer look at the profiles of some of our waiting families hoping to adopt. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering making an adoption plan for your child, contact us. Call or text us 24/7 at (210) 227-2229 or fill out our confidential online contact form . We’re here for you.

A phrase like “giving up your baby” is one of the many hurtful misunderstandings about adoption. Far from giving up, a woman who considers adoption is moving forward, taking charge, and creating a plan for the future. Adoption is courageous, selfless, and difficult all at the same time. Where Did “Giving Up” Begin? For centuries, the stigma of being an unwed mother was so horrible society forced women to give their babies up to strangers. Usually, a woman had no idea where or how the adoptive parents raised her child. Was the child loved? Safe? The birth mother and child did not know of one another. They both spent a lifetime wondering about the other, making adoption a painful, lonely experience. For adoptive parents, society regarded infertility as shameful. People believed couples were “cursed by God” for not having children. Therefore, when a couple had the chance to adopt, they often kept the adoption secret and never even told the child. Why Shouldn’t We Say “Giving Up”? When someone “gives up,” it means they’re quitting. The person can’t or won’t continue what they started to do. An expectant or birth mother may place her baby for adoption or make an adoption plan, but a caring, loving mother never gives up. A woman who chooses adoption for her unplanned pregnancy wants the best for her child. She recognizes she cannot give the child what they need. Out of love, she carefully selects other parents who can provide the love, safety, financial security, and future she cannot. Why Do People Still Say “Giving Up”? Although society’s stigmas and the adoption process have changed, the hurtful language hasn’t. Out of misunderstanding, people still regard adoption as “giving up.” Even some adoption agencies or lawyers still use this phrase. Choose To Make An Open Adoption Plan Today, the majority of adoptions in the United States are open. An open adoption plan means the expectant or birth mother carefully selects the adoptive couple. She looks through various portfolios to find the couple with the lifestyle she wants for her child. The couple and the expectant mother can meet and build a relationship before the baby is born if they would like. As the child grows, everyone shares photos and information. The child has the chance to ask questions and learn about their birth family, and the birth mother gets the assurance that her child is safe and loved. Beginning the Process If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to explore the adoption process, contact Adoption Angels. We realize how difficult this decision can be, and we want you to have as much information as possible. If you are currently pregnant, we provide free assistance for living and medical expenses, free counseling and legal services, and 24/7 support and care. If you have already given birth, there is still time to place your child for adoption. Call or text us 24/7 at (210) 227-2229 or fill out our confidential contact form . An adoption counselor will reach out to you as soon as possible. Only you can decide if making an adoption plan is right for you. We’re here to help along the way.

Every parent wonders what the future holds for their children. You hope they will make good choices, find happiness, and, more than anything, want to have a relationship with their parents, both biological and adoptive. How you set up your adoption plan at the beginning can affect how an adult adoptee views both sets of parents. It’s critical to remember adoption is never a one-time event. It’s a lifetime adventure. Every adoption is as unique as the people involved. Here are a few tips that may help you get a glimpse into your future. Growing Up Like children growing up in their biological families, adoptees are affected by their home life, family dynamics, neighborhoods, schools, and friends. But there is one crucial difference. An adoptee has a part of their lives that is entirely unknown to them. If the birth and adoptive parents agree to have an open adoption, their child has more knowledge of their biological family. However, knowing and living day-to-day are two different things. With a semi-open adoption, an adoptee has even less information but can still have confidence in some knowledge of their biological family. Although sometimes necessary, a closed adoption plan leaves everyone in the dark. Of course, the ability to have a relationship with one another depends entirely on the willingness of everyone involved. Adoptive parents feel threatened and afraid birth parents may want their child back. Birth parents wonder what is said about them and if their child knows they love them. The adoptee ponders why they like cats when their adoptive parents are strictly dog people or why they have black hair when their parents have blonde. They may wonder if their biological families even think about them. The unknown is one of the most complicated aspects of adoption. How You Talk About Adoption Matters Because adoption is slowly creeping out of the shadows, birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees are more willing to talk about their experiences. With open and semi-open adoptions, children learn about their adoptions at a very early age. Many adoptees say they’ve known about their adoptions for as long as they can remember. It is imperative that adoptive parents speak respectfully of their child’s biological parents. Even if there were issues such as substance abuse, incarceration, or mental health problems, adoptive parents must never ridicule the biological parents. After all, they became parents because of the choice the birth parents made. Adoptive parents must make room for honest questions and open discussions as their child grows. Although parents may feel hesitant, there's comfort when a child knows they can ask anything. Growing Up as an Adoptee In their teen years, many adoptees struggle with feelings of rejection. They find it difficult to understand why their biological mothers would choose adoption. They may have feelings of guilt because they want to know more about their biological families. Some adoptees act out because the abandonment they feel is so deep. Others grow up feeling confident they have as much information as they need. Again, the adoption experience is as unique as each family. Adoptive parents must make room for a birth mother and father’s story in their child’s life. Whether the biological parents tell it in person or it’s conveyed through the adoptive parents, children need to know what it was like for their birth mother and father to choose adoption. Everyone longs to know who they are and where they came from. Adoptive parents should give their children as much information as they possibly can. Of course, as the child reaches adulthood, the relationship switches to what they are comfortable with. What Can Adoption Angels Offer? If you are an expectant mother considering adoption for your child, know that Adoption Angels provides free counseling throughout your adoption journey and beyond. Our qualified staff offers comfort and support 24/7 for as long as you need it. We provide adoption education, support, and guidance for potential adoptive parents throughout your journey. We work hard to provide the best care and knowledge to see you through the process. If you wish to explore adoption for your unplanned pregnancy or you are a couple hoping to adopt, contact Adoption Angels. Expectant mothers can reach us by filling out our confidential contact form . Prospective adoptive parents can begin the process here . You can both call or text us at (210) 227-2229. We look forward to talking with you.