12 Questions to ask an adoptive family

We’ve helped hundreds of birthmothers place their babies, and we know that one of the most stressful decisions in the adoption process is choosing the adoptive family. It’s a huge decision – there’s nothing wrong with feeling nervous when you talk to a prospective couple for the first time.

After looking through the various family profiles and photos, you’ve got a pretty good handle on who the family is – you know how they met, what their family is like, what they do for a living, and what they do for fun… But what you don’t know is who they REALLY are.

It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous the first time you talk to the people who might be adopting your baby. We’ve put together a list of important questions to ask that will help you get a feel for the family – so you’ll feel more comfortable talking to them and more secure in your decision.

Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions – you want to be sure you’ve chosen the right family for your baby!

Questions to ask adoptive […]

Back to school tips for 2019

It’s back to school time… we’ve only got a few weeks until school starts! Back to school is an exciting time for everyone, but it’s also a time where anxiety can skyrocket. Don’t fret, we’re here to help make things easier for you and your children. It helps everyone to ease back into the school routine, and the tips we’re sharing in this month’s blog will help!

1) Meet the teacher night is key – don’t miss it!

Typically, the biggest back-to-school fear for most kids is wondering if they’ll like their new teacher. Every school hosts a “meet the teacher” night just before school starts. Don’t skip it, even if your kids have been in the same school for years. The informal setting helps break the ice – kids can meet the new teacher with their parents there, which makes the process much less scary.

2) Take a school tour

You’re already at the school for meet the teacher night – take the opportunity to tour the school. Help your child figure […]

10 summer activities in Dallas for adoptive families

School’s out, and it’s time for summer! There’s no better time to connect with your children and make memories that last a lifetime. We usually share tips for birth mothers and families wanting to adopt, but this month we wanted to share some fun summer tips for all the families who’ve already adopted (and any other Dallas area families looking for fun summer activities).

There are tons of fun things to do in the Dallas area in the summer, but sometimes when you live somewhere, you forget about the things that are right there in your own town. Here’s our list of 10 fun family activities in Dallas this summer:

Spend some time at the park

Klyde Warren Park

This is a great free option for a morning or afternoon of fun. Built above the highway between Uptown and Downtown, Klyde Warren Park is guaranteed fun. The park has an area packed with lawn games and ping pong tables, and there’s even a putting green. Your kids will love the jungle gym and the splash […]

5 Tips for Birth Mothers in Open Adoptions

One of the most common questions we get from birth mothers is “how do open adoptions work?” It’s an important question when you’re placing your baby for adoption, or even considering placing your baby.

Open adoptions allow the birth parents to stay in contact with the adoptive families, which helps many birth mothers feel more secure in their decision to place their child. They’re able to see their child grow up and know that their baby is part of a loving, giving family.

Most importantly, open adoptions are built on mutual respect and trust. As a birth mother, you’re trusting that the family you choose for your baby will love and take care of him or her. The adoptive parents trust that you love your child and will be able to be there if you’re needed.

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Tips for birthmothers considering adoption

Women who are pregnant and considering adoption may feel uncertain and have questions to determine if this is the right decision for them and their unborn child. Having sufficient support and information during this time can be extremely reassuring for anyone thinking about placing their baby for adoption. In order to help birth mothers in their time of uncertainty, we have compiled some common questions and answers from birth mothers who have gone through the adoption process.

If you’re pregnant and considering adoption, your mind is probably bursting with questions and anxiety. Adoption is a wonderful choice for you and your baby, but you want to know that you’re making the right decision. Information and support are the key to knowing you’re making the right choice. For all the birthmothers out there who might be considering adoption, we thought we’d kick off the new year with a blog post about the most common questions we hear from birthmothers.

Let’s start with the most common question:

How do you know that adoption is the right choice?

Every birthmother has different reasons for placing their baby for adoption – every situation is […]

Tips to help with waiting for your adoption during the holidays

Waiting for your adoption is never easy – it’s a long process, and it’s incredibly emotional. If you’re waiting for your adoption during the holidays, it can be even more challenging. You’ll see friends and family members you don’t see often, and inevitably, you’ll get questions about your adoption and your family. Seeing other friends and family members celebrating with their children can be tough as well.

We wanted to share a list of tips to help all the waiting families out there prepare for the holiday season, and hopefully help make the holiday wait a bit less stressful.

Keep yourself busy, but don’t do too much

Keeping yourself busy is one of the best says to keep your mind off your wait for the adoption, but it’s even more effective during the holidays. There’s so much more going on, between decorating your house, cooking, shopping, visiting friends and family, traveling, and attending parties. If you’re having a hard time finding something to do, ask friends and family if they need help with anything – […]

Can you use loans to pay for an adoption?

Every year, thousands of couples add to their families through adoption – it’s a wonderful gift that brings happiness to so many. It can be a long, confusing process, and our main goal is to try to make it as easy as possible and answer any questions we receive.

One of the questions we hear most often is “How much does it cost to adopt?”

It’s an expensive process, and many people wonder if there are any options for easing the financial burden – most often, we’re asked if loans are a possibility.

Most people don’t realize that there are pretty amazing tax benefits to adoption – click that link to head to our page and read more about how the credits work.

We found an awesome blog post that outlines the various options to help pay for adoptions, and we wanted to share it with you here on our blog. Head over to the post called Can You Use a Personal Loan to Finance Adoption Expenses? to read the details on all the options.

As always, if you’ve got any questions about adoption or any […]

6 Tips to Prepare for the Adoption Journey

The path to adoption is different for every family, and none of those paths are straight and easy. Adopting a baby is an incredible moment for any family, but the process leading up to that moment you hold your new baby is always long and difficult. You’ll ride an emotional roller coaster, so it’s important to work with an agency that’s experienced enough to know how important it is to support you every step of the way.

We know that waiting is hard… and when unforeseen issues cause delays, it’s frustrating. We wanted to write this post and share these six tips to help you prepare for your journey to adoption.

1. Do your research

It’s incredibly important that you research your options and choose the right adoption agency to work with. You need someone in your corner who you can trust, and who’ll be your advocate throughout the process. Having an agency that can help you through each step will make the process infinitely easier.

2. Set an emotional foundation

If you understand that the process isn’t easy and might take a while, you’ll be […]

You’re not giving up… You’re choosing a better future!

The most common phrase associated with adoption is “giving up” a child for adoption – but that’s such a negative phrase. You’re not giving your child up, you’re choosing a better future for your child. You’re giving an amazing gift to another family. You’re making people’s lives change for the better.

For many years, adoption was a dark secret of our society, but the public viewpoint has shifted. It’s no longer something to hide or talk about behind closed doors. Now that the perception has changed, it’s time to change the language we use around adoption as well.

At Lifetree, we’ve talked about using positive adoption language for years, and now that we’re posting regularly on our new site, we wanted to share a list of positive adoptions terms. The more we use these terms with family and friends, the faster the phrases will become the norm.