With the tragedy that unfolded at Virginia Tech yesterday, more and more information about the gunman is coming out. Or should I say more and more statements about the fact that the gunman was an angry loner and little detailed information about him can be found are being released. While the loner persona seems to be a common thread when it comes to this type of seemingly... more

Stepchildren whom have been abandoned by one of their birth parents, and adopted later in life by a loving stepparent tend to have a lot of trust issues towards both of their parents, both biological as well as adoptive. Children, who have grown up always knowing their adoptive stepparent as mom or dad, can still have trust issues, but it seems to be less significant than in those who were adopted at a later age.

Adopted... more

While one on one bonding is an important aspect of creating strong emotional connections between you and your adopted stepchild, it is important to have family time for everyone to be able to bond as a family unit as well. Families often divide up, with one parent taking care of one child, and the other parent taking charge of another child. While this gives the parents a bit of a break only having to deal with one child at a time, instead... more

Many people are asking on the adoption.com forums if they can simply amend a birth certificate with no name listed for the father, without having to go through the process of a stepparent adoption. While it may seem like a quick and easy fix when it comes to naming a legal parent for your child, this is not the way to go.

A big draw for those looking to do this is that they do not need to notify the biological father of their actions. In a stepparent adoption the biological father must either sign over his parental rights, or have them... more

My adopted stepson is a genius. I know that all parents think that their child is surely the most gifted being on the planet, but really, he’s been tested several times, and scores in the genius area every single time. For the standardized testing in the public school system he scores in the 99th percentile, and has done so ever since he began school. He is incredibly bright. He can retain facts like you would not believe. He knows more about science and history than I could ever hope to learn. He can read over something once, and retain... more

Emotionally damaged children can, and often do, close themselves off, not wanting to let others in for fear of getting hurt all over again. Doing their best to keep others out so as not to bond again and risk the pain of rejection, they can become extremely resistant to touch. Touching helps us to form deeper connections with one and other, to help us to connect with the world outside of ourselves, and to help reassure one another that everything is okay and that each is loved by the other. All of these emotions can be too great for an emotionally damaged... more

Along with the rejection of his birth mother, came a lot of emotional issues for my adopted stepson. Not wanting to become close with others who could potentially hurt him by leaving, or pushing him away, he became closed off emotionally. He did not react appropriately in social situations, there was no laugh when something funny happened, no sympathy when there was a sad event, there was in effect, nothing. He was nothing more than a blank stare for... more

Finally completing a stepparent adoption is a joyous occasion for the entire family. After going through the pain, heartache, and frustration of a parent who does not wish to be in their child’s life, for one reason or another, as well as jumping through one legal hoop after another to complete the adoption, having an end in sight, something good to look forward to, is a wondrous release and certainly a reason to celebrate!

When children are born, parents send out birth announcements. Excited with their new addition to their family,... more

Have no fear; a stepparent adoption can still be performed even if you cannot locate the non-custodial parent. While the process is a little lengthier, and can cost a bit more to complete without the consent of the non-custodial parent, there are still ways to complete your stepparent adoption.

You will have to prove to the court that you have gone above and beyond in your efforts to locate the missing parent. Contacting family members (of the non-custodial parent), old mutual friends, asking the post office for a forwarding... more

Stepparent adoption is the most common form of adoption in the United States, yet many of us sitting at home have never run into another adoptive stepparent. We are sometimes able to find each other online, yet deep bonds between adoptive stepparents are rarely formed. When we already feel left out in the home, with our spouses being biologically related to their child, and we are not, it is an even bigger blow to not be able to find support and friendships from other adoptive stepparents outside of the home setting.

In the home, adoptive stepparents... more