November is National Adoption Month, a time to celebrate
adoption and the love that brought your family together. This month offers a
special opportunity to reflect on your unique adoption story.
As you celebrate
National Adoption Month
2024, take a moment to recognize the role of your child’s birth
parents. Their courageous decision was rooted in love and hope for a bright
future. Without them, your family wouldn’t be what it is today.
The Importance of Recognizing Birth Parents
Every adoption story begins with birth parents who made a
brave choice, one that changed their lives and their child’s life forever.
National Adoption Month is a chance to remember that adoption is more than just
a legal process — it’s
a journey that brings families together in a unique way.
Respecting the role of birth parents can be crucial for your child’s sense of identity and belonging. Many children want to know that their birth parents are remembered and valued. Taking a moment to recognize the role of birth parents not only acknowledges their impact but also honors the place they hold in your child’s story.
How to Celebrate National
Adoption Month 2024 With Birth Parents
Whether you have an open or closed adoption, you can do
something to acknowledge the role of your child’s birth parents. Honoring their
selfless gift can show your appreciation and strengthen your child’s connection
to their beginnings.
Here’s how
to celebrate National Adoption Month and show appreciation for your
child’s birth parents:
Honoring Birth Parents in an Open Adoption
If you are in an open
adoption, consider ways to strengthen the bond between your child and their
birth parents. This month, you could:
- Share a heartfelt update with them via social
media, text or email expressing how much your child has grown. - Arrange a visit or video call if possible,
allowing your child and their birth parents to share meaningful moments
together. - Create a memory book for the birth parents with
photos and stories that highlight your child’s milestones and experiences.
Staying in touch and offering reassurance can mean a lot to
birth parents. These gestures remind them that their choice was important and their
love still plays a role in their child’s life. Knowing that their child is
happy and thriving can bring them comfort and joy.
Honoring Birth Parents in a Closed Adoption
For families in closed adoptions, honoring birth parents may
look a little different. Here’s how you can recognize their impact:
- Talk to your child about
their adoption story and the courage and love that went into their birth
parents’ decision. - Work with your child to write a letter about
their birth parents that they can open in the future. - Create a scrapbook that includes pictures and
stories of their adoption journey.
Even if you don’t have direct contact, these activities can
still reinforce to your child that their story is treasured and that their
birth parents are remembered. As your child grows, these gestures can serve as
a meaningful way to help them feel more secure in their place within your
family.
By keeping the conversation going and finding creative ways
to honor their birth parents, you can help your child feel proud of their
unique story.
Creating Meaningful Traditions for National Adoption Month
As you reflect on ways to celebrate National Adoption Month 2024, think about traditions
you can carry forward each year to honor your child’s birth parents. This
month celebrate the courage, selflessness and love that form the foundation of
your family.
We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share how you plan
to celebrate and honor your child’s birth parents this month.