November - National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month! How will you celebrate? There are some things you can do to help educate and promote adoption awareness such as;

* Buy a few children's books on adoption and donate them your local library or school.
* Talk to local librarians about reading adoption stories in reading groups to make children more aware of adoption.
* Discuss with teachers the difficulties faced by adoptive children when faced with assignments that can cause them grief ("How do I fill out a family tree when I don't know?"). Make them aware of how certain discussions can make adopted children feel uncomfortable.
* Talk with elementary school administrators and ask them to acknowledge National Adoption Month in classrooms and open dialogue with students concerning adoption.
* Share with adopted children the positive aspects of adoption and make note of famous people who have been adopted. Note their accomplishments and let them know that they can be anyone they want to be.
* Call your local newspaper, radio, or t.v. channel and make them aware of National Adoption Month. Ask if they are planning an article or discussion and offer to help with information.
* Honor birth mothers by sending a card of thanks and remember them in your prayers.

Find teachable moments to explain the adoption process and the difference between birth families and adoptive or "forever" families to teachers or clergy. Share that adopted children have two families who love them very much. Don't assume that just because someone is in a position of teaching that they already know about adoption -- many don't. Use National Adoption Month to make those around you aware of how powerful adoption is and what a difference it makes in the lives of those who participate in the triad. We all know someone who was adopted and adoption has literally touched everyone's life. Perhaps a good assignment for the teachers out there would be to have their students write a short essay on "How Adoption Touched My Life". I bet there would be a lot of great stories to share!