November is a really important month around Heart of adoptions, Inc. You may or may not be aware that November is National Adoption Month. We spend time in October preparing for this with things like attending meetings at the local foster care agencies and/or court houses, but also with getting gifts ready to send to the hospital social workers to thank them for all they do for adoption. (in all fairness- this is done by our Marketing & Outreach Coordinator!)

We also want to be sure we are taking the time to educate adoptive families and birth families on ways they can celebrate National Adoption Month. Hopefully this list will give you some inspiration- or if you think of something else or have a tradition you already participate in to celebrate, we would love to hear from you as well! Let us know via Facebook, Instagram, or even an email on what you did and how you celebrated!! Below- 10 simple ideas to get you started:

1. Watch an adoption related movie. Here are just a few of my favorites:

• Juno
• Instant Family
• Superman
• The Blind Side
• Three Identical Strangers
• Annie
• Losing Isaiah

2. Send a care package to your child’s birth family. Have your child draw a picture, write their own letter, etc. to be a part of the activity. Or if you are a member of the birth family- write a letter to the child you placed or to the adoptive family- give them an update on how things are in your life.
3. Read a book about adoption. Here are a few of my favorites:

• I Wished for You
• We Belong Together
• A Mother for Choco
• Horton Hears a Who
• The Connected Child
• The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption
• The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade

4. Cook a traditional meal from your adopted child’s heritage- based on your child’s age- have them help in an age appropriate manner! Whether it is planning the actual menu, chopping up the items or stirring a bowl- everyone can help!
5. Re-tell or talk about your child’s adoption story with them. Talk about all the stuff- not just the good stuff- talk about your hopes and fears at becoming a parent, etc. If you haven’t adopted yet, take this time to journal about your time waiting, what has brought you to this point, etc. If you are a birth parent, reflect on how things are in your life now, what has or hasn’t changed, and what you think your child would be proud to know about you!
6. Offer to meet up or coordinate an event where you can talk with other families considering adoption. This is great from all views of the adoption triad members!!
7. Spread awareness about adoption through social media- share a meme, a link to an article or even a picture of you and share a bit about your own adoption story if you feel comfortable.
8. Donate time, money, items to an organization that provides adoption services or that provides services to single mothers, teenage parents, etc.
9. Share a profile link from the website of the agency you worked with.
10. Make an adoption playlist. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Somewhere Out There— Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram
• Bless The Broken Road — Rascal Flatts
• You’ll Be in My Heart — Phil Collins
• I Will Wait— Mumford & Sons
• Temporary Home – Carrie Underwood
• Here Without You – 3 Doors Down
• Lullaby in Blue- Bette Midler
• With Arms Wide Open- Creed
• Officially Alive-Brad Paisley
• Lullaby for Wyatt- Sheryl Crow
• Just Haven’t Met You Yet- Michael Buble

No matter how you celebrate, take the time to recognize, respect, and appreciate all the members in the adoption triad. We know National Adoption Month is only officially celebrated in November but we celebrate adoption every day and are thankful to all of our birth families, adoptive families, and adoptees that we have been a part of on their journey!