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Brantwood Children's Home in Montgomery Alabama Hasn't ... - CBS News

... watching the special report on children waiting for adoption, my heart sank while reliving the heartwrenching experience we began in 2007. I must say, we had been warned before we began about process of adopting in the US as many of our friends ...

Xilinx Named EE Times ACE Awards finalist for Design ... - Stockhouse

They remove the designer expertise barrier to FPGA adoption by automating much of the process and bundling all the elements needed to optimize system-on-chip (SoC) development when ASICs or ASSPs are not an option. Sophisticated reference designs, IP ...

'Our Girls': A Tennessee church reaches out to Haitian ... - Los Angeles Times

But it turned out she'd gone to Port-au-Prince with her birthparents to finish the adoption paperwork for church members Andy and Allyson Coleman. No one had heard from them since. The fate of Wousamy, 6, was also unknown. "I don't have words for the ...

Telepresence Growth Peaks in 2009-10 Predicts Frost ... - Newswiretoday.com

Regional adoption was highest in Australasia which accounted for 30 percent (US$13.5 million) of the Asia-Pac revenues last year. The Asia-Pacific Telepresence Market study is part of the Conferencing & Collaboration Growth Partnership Service ...

International adoption delayed for a Haitian orphan - The Christian Science Monitor

So the Haitian government is taking no new cases of adoption. How many mid-process adoptions are in limbo is unclear, but US Embassy officials in Port-au-Prince confirm that at the time of the quake 1,600 to 2,400 cases of American adoptions were ...

Why User Competency Matters in Social Design - Mashable.com

In designing for social participation, we can consider user goals and needs — even interests, features, functionality, adoption and scaling issues. Best practices and popular ways of using social media guide us in our decisions. But there’s a ...

International adoption: A big fix brings dramatic ... - The Christian Science Monitor

... ride through the mountainous countryside to leave her at an orphanage in Guatemala City, the infant had every prospect of an international adoption – of captivating adoptive parents from the US or Europe. That was four years ago, when the ...

HF Financial Corp. Announces Adoption of Majority ... - Stockhouse

HF Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: HFFC) today announced that its board of directors has adopted a majority voting policy for the election of its directors, effective immediately. Under the majority voting policy, if any director nominee receives more ...

Tennessee church rushes to aid Haitian girls - OneNewsNow

Unica Releases "The State of Marketing 2010" Survey ... - Yahoo Finance

Marketers highlight turning data into actions as one of their top issues and see IT as their number one technology bottleneck; contact optimization adoption will be the fastest growing marketing technology; and emerging channels like mobile, rich ...

Open Question: relationship need your opinion?

ok well i am 21 and currently 8 months pregnant i am due april 28. my baby's father and i have known each other for 4 years now and we got togther right before i got pregnant. we were allmutual friends. and he has had a child before. the thing is his first baby's mom i was like best friends with. and i was there through her whole pregnancy and even at the hospital the whole time with her. she gave her child up for adoption. they both recieve pictures of the baby from time to time. now me and him got 2gether a yr n half after she gave up the baby and for the 3months b4 me n him got 2gether he kept trying to get back with her and she kept sayin she didn't want him and he had gotten thrown out of his house so i had let him move in with me and he always told me how he wanted to get with me even when we first met b4 he was with her. so once he moved in and we talked i had realized i did like him and we got 2gether . well once we got 2gether it was a big circle of cluster f*ck. becuz then his x who was also my friend was pissed at me sayin she still wanted him and then after she was done with that she was tellin me how she wanted to b with me. which i am bi and me n her have had sexual relations b4. and my man kept telling me to stop talkin to her all she wanted was to break us up and start trouble. but i felt bad seeing she was my friend .... but again she was rediculous with her sh*t .... she would never give us time alone and would b at my house 24/7 i didn't have the heart to tell her to go.... so me n him were together for two months and thats wen i found out i was pregnant and once she found out cuz she was there wen i took the pregnancy test she had the nerve to ask me wat i was going to do... abort it or adopt it out... i flat out told her wether he was there or not i am taking care of my child! .... so about a week after we found out i was pregnant he had told me he was goin to get his little brother so he can get a hair cut and then he just never came back. so afterwards i found out him n her got back together and then she stopped talking to me and then about a little over a month ago i had talked to him just to ask him wats goin on with him and wat does he want to do with the baby situation and if he wants to be in the babies life. and me and him wound up hanging out together and i told him i am not here to break u n her up.. we r just hanging out as friends and all i wanted to do was just ask him about the baby and then he would up telling me how he missed me and did i ever think about us getting back together and i had said to him i had becuz i would rather our son have both parents in his life ... so we got the talking and we got back together. so we have been back together for over a month n a half now but yet his x has his wallet with his id n social in it and she wont give it back to him unless he speaks to her and he doesnt want anything to do with her and me and him are fine we never argue and things are going great but i still think about how he just left me and ran back to her am i wrong for thinking about this?? do you think he will do it again?? also children n family services and been involved with the 1st baby and from wat the x n him r tellin me they told him that if he has another child they will b involved right away. i am not scared of them i have nothing to hide and i have a clean house for them to check for my child. but i had them in my life wen i was younger and just hate their b.s. so do u think if this doesnt work... should i put him on the birth certificate and get child support???? more

Open Question: Do I have dual citizenship and can I get a British passport?

I was born in the Philippines and adopted by my Mom (US Citizen) and Dad (dual US/UK). I am a naturalized US Citizen. My Dad has his UK citizenship by birth. Am I a UK Citizen by descent? Even though it's complicated by adoption and US naturalization? If so, am I able to get a British Passport? I don't think I was ever registered as a British citizen.To Flower: British citizenship may descend to one generation born abroad. So if you were born outside the United Kingdom or qualifying territory and one of your parents was a British citizen otherwise than by descent (ie. birth), you are a British citizen by descent (ie. lineage). http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/othernationality/Britishcitizenship/bornoverseas/ more

Open Question: i was asked to clarify a few things on my last question...but i don't know how to reply 2 those ppl on this?

the baby's father is mad, not the person i thought him to be. what needs clarified is he offered to give the baby up for adoption (our 1st child together and i'm currently 8 months pregnant) but then when i broke up with him, he said he didn't mean it and would regret that later, i still said no i won't go back with him and he turned mad. he calls family member's of mine and acts really rude to them when he doesn't hear what he wants to hear. his temper is bad, yells at the drop of a hat, suicidal only when we argue, very vindictive, mean and has a problem with his hand in the bedroom if i would piss him off and, drinks rum and coke with EVERY meal and finally, goes to the casino in the winter to gamble instead of save for baby accessories (when we were together). i just don't want this man around my child but now he wants to be the father b/c he wants to take me to court. i told him i didn't want child support just to leave us alone and now he drives past my house to see i'm there, and this is all serious, this man is a freak, i just didn't see it when we were dating in the early months.....i know what i should do, but what do i tell the court???? has anyone out there been in the same problem(s) as me or close to it in the courtroom? more

Open Question: How much does it cost to treat Heartworm?

My husband and I want to adopt another dog. We fell in love with a 2 year old Pitbull (I think she weighs about 50lbs) at the human society. They told us that she tested positive for heartworm so she will need to be treated before she is eligible for adoption. From what I understand, we will have to cover the cost of treatment if we want to adopt her. They said they would call us tomorrow with more details but I have no idea what to expect. I've never dealt with heartworm before. more

Open Question: Looking for info on private adoptions?

My husband and I have been married 1 year on March 25, he is 19 (20 in August) and I am also 19 (20 in October). We have been together 3 years on March 27th...I know we are young but we have been ttc for 2 years. We have recently started looking into adoption, because we feel that we are ready for that next step in our life. He is in the Army and I am a stay at home wife. We live in Germany right now. The only countries that will let us adopt is Croatia and Scotland...but it could take up to 3 years for that. So does anyone have any information on private adoption or a site where mothers look for adoptive couples? Thanks in advance for the help more

Open Question: A sign from God that I should get this dog?

A very close friend of mine has been going through some though times. She was afraid that her family would chastise her for being my friend. So she said that we couldn't be friends anymore. I cried and sent her an E mail saying that she will always be in my heart and that I love and accept her no matter what she chooses in life. Then, I felt very sad. I thought to myself "I just want someone talk to without saying a word, God I want a dog..." Then I called my friend Luke and told him what was happening and that I was very worried about my friend. He prayed for us very hard, to the point of tears. Before I went to bed, I just had to look at something. I needed to see the dog my friend was adopting in a local rescue. She was very pretty but an orange color caught my eye. I clicked on the link and I saw the most captivating picture of a dog I'd ever seen. He was a Corgi, a breed I knew and loved. I didn't fall in love with his looks. I really didn't like the name the shelter picked out for him. No, no, it was his eyes. They were a mirror to something deeper. They looked exactly like the eyes of the dog my friend wanted. The left eye on both dogs was slightly darker, the right one was captivating and golden-orange. I fell in love with this dog. Something deep down said that I had to meet him. The next day I told my friend Luke about it. He said that he prayed for a guardian angel to come to me. He prayed for guardian angels to come to both of us. I decided that I wanted to meet this dog at the rescue. I'm going to meet him tomorrow. If we click, and he's a good match then I will adopt him. My family said that they are willing to pitch money for his adoption fee. I can't wait to meet this dog, I know his breed needs very well and I'm sure if we are a match then we will make each other very happy. My friend that said we shouldn't be friends anymore said she didn't mean it and that she thinks my little angel is a sign from God. What do you think about my story? more

Open Question: Do you think there is any link to prophesy and what's happening in the world?

ATLANTA – Stock market slides may hurt more than your savings. New research suggests they might prompt heart attacks. Duke University researchers found a link between how a key stock index performed and how many heart attacks were treated at their North Carolina hospital shortly after the recession began in December 2007 through July 2009, when signs of recovery emerged. The trend weakened after they did a second analysis taking into account seasons of the year. Some research suggests heart attacks are more common in winter, meaning the initial finding could have been a statistical fluke. However, leading scientists unconnected with the work said they found it plausible and worth further research in a nationwide study. "I do think there's merit to their first-round conclusion," said Dr. James McClurken of Temple University in Philadelphia. He is chairman of the American College of Cardiology's annual conference, where the study results were released Saturday. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_med_stocks_heart_attacks Seems to fit the prophesy: Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Mom Throws Unwanted Newborn Into Lake PontchartrainPosted on February 11th, 2009 by Jan Barrett in Louisiana News, Society and CultureRead 971 times.What does one do when they have a one night stand with a guy and then nine months later gives birth to a baby girl that you definitely do not want? Well normally I would think one would just sign the baby over for adoption. Unfortunately 21 year old Cara Craig of Metairie, Louisiana found herself in this position but she didn’t give the baby up for adoption. Instead she took the baby which by the way still had the umbilical cord attached to it, and tossed her into Lake Pontchartrain so she could hide her pregnancy from her parents. Craig has been charged with first degree murder even though the results of an autopsy report has not come in yet, according to Kenner Police Chief Steve Caraway. “The girl admitted that it was her child,” said Caraway, “that she gave birth to the child; that the child was moving when she gave birth, the legs were moving, she felt a heartbeat. As she prepared to throw the child into the water or place the child in the water as she said, she had her hand on the baby’s chest and could feel the heart beating at that time. That’s why she’s been charged with first degree.” http://www.bloggernews.net/119708 The above seems to fit the prophesy below. There is no natural affection. People are killing family members at a record rate and children seem to be victimized the most. Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, implacable, unmerciful: Romans 1:30-32 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) 2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, TRUCEBREAKERS, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, The verses below are like reading the newspapers: Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Matthew 24:6-8 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter) Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. Mark 13:7-9 (in Context) Mark 13 (Whole Chapter) Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Luke 21:10-12 (in Context) Luke 21 (Whole Chapter) Results from Gospel.com Everyone says that every generation thinks they're the last, but we've never had the ability to completely annihilate ourselves before. We could go to war with each other, but not totally wipe the entire planet clean. It's like it's hanging in the air. Like something is going to happen. People don't want to accept that something catastrophic could actually happen. That's also scriptural: Matthew 24:36-40 (King James Version) 36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Everyone is just going about their business, not thinking about where they may spend eternity. I was just curious. Don't blast me, I'm just thinking about it and decided to see what everyone else thought.What natural law of the universe would that be?Excuse me what fundamental law would that be? more

Open Question: Is it wrong for me to feel this way(break up)?

So here's the situation that I'm in. There is no TLDR; version seeing as I have to give the whole story. *Kanye Shrug* Sorry. I recently got my ex-girlfriend pregnant. At that moment I was too scared to think of the responsibility of having a child because I'm a college senior with a buttload of student loan debt and I didn't want a child being born where the parents couldn't take care of it. She made it clear that adoption was out of the question, and after talking about it and giving it thought, we were going to go through with an abortion. It was scheduled in two weeks. To keep from panicking outright, I was coming up with a plan in case she did want to keep it. The weeks pass and neither of us actually talk about it (mainly because we knew we were forfeiting a child's right to live). She wanted to know if I was going to tell my family. I told her no. In my mind, I wanted to cut out all the surprise and anger that my family would hold against me. Now that I think about it, I guess thats just me having a weak heart. A few days before the scheduled abortion, she started talking to me about baby names, and what it would be like if we had a boy or a girl. Even before she was pregnant we were planning on having a kid down the road when we were both ready for it. At times she would ask if I could feel the baby's heart. This is probably ignorance on my part, but I couldn't feel the heart and she was six weeks in (CAN you feel the heartbeat at six weeks in?). At this point I knew that the guilt trip was coming hard..which meant she wanted to keep it.I didn't tell her I knew this. A day before the abortion I had barely woken up when she called me and basically told me that she told her mom, dad, and sisters about the pregnancy. Her mom, although surprised, was supportive. Her father not so much. He hasn't even met me and I'm pretty sure he hates me. She also told me that she was keeping it. I told her that I still wasn't ready for a child but if she she felt like she was ready I would try and be supportive. And thats where things got worse. One thing about my ex is that she doesn't like a liar. I haven't lied to her ever while we were together. I still didn't have anyone to confide in while she had the backup of her family. She was planning to move back home irregardless of the pregnancy so she said that she wants the child to be around a family. We sat down and finally talked about what was on our minds. I told her that I'm going back home with her when I had a better chance financially supporting the child in the city, as well as avoiding dislike from the family. I hate to say it, but that was the only plan I had if she decided to keep the baby. I'm not financially or mentally fit to be a father, and I'm not going to act like I am. Nor am I going to have the baby born and pretend that I love it when deep down I look at it as a mistake more than a blessing. After two hours of arguing there was no middle ground. She didn't want to force me to love something that I couldn't, and I wasn't going to convince her to kill a child that she has grown to love. Now this is where I'm torn. I told her that I didn't want to bring in a child with a broke daddy, nor was I going to follow her home if she decided to raise it while her family hates on the guy who knocked up their baby. If she wanted to keep it, I pleaded with her to stay with me so we can raise, but thinking about it now I couldnt force her to stay either. If she went home I could work a lot and try to financially support it, but she didn't want me to pay for something I didn't want. The only decision that we could make would be that she would go home and I would have nothing to do with the child. It physically hurt hearing that because it wasn't like I didn't want to have a kid, just not now when I can't support it with neither love or money. Deep down I feel like she can't either, but at least she has support on her side, where I know I won't because apparently the guy is always the villian who and never a victim, not even a little bit. The only thing I can be content with is that 1) I never lied to her, and I told her in all honesty how I felt about this, regardless how much it hurt. 2) I didn't say I wasn't willing to help somehow, but it hurts knowing that we would just end up living a lie if either of us stayed. I didn't want to be that guy, honest. I feel empty, hurt, and alone. How could I tell someone I deeply cared for the truth and it all falls apart anyway? What do *I* do from here on out? I still didn't even tell anyone about this.Oh, just for the sake for avoiding the obvious: "Well you shouldn't have had sex then". Um, I know this. That would actually answer a LOT of Y! Ans. similar to this. "You should have manned up" No kidding. Lesson still learning. "Stop acting like you're a victim" I'm not looking for a hug. I'm looking for what to do. Advice, if you will. more

Open Question: 12 year old pregnant girl?

During p.e. i found out that there is a pregnant girl at my school. I dont know her very much but i am very scared for her. She said that she is 3 months and trying to kill it. So since me and my best friend found out yesterday at school we promised that we wouldnt tell anyone. But my best friend didnt say it herself. Now she has told a counselor at our school. Therefore, she is probably going to be in huge trouble and i am just wondering what is going on with her right now. And my best friends name is also the pregnant girls name too. So there could be rumors going around when we are back at school on monday. I just hope that if there is that they say the girls last name and dont think it it my best friend. There already is rumors about my best friend that she is lesbian. But she is NOT! And my best friend gets talked about at school. So i try to my best to look out for her and hope nothing happens. Also since my best friend told on the pregnant girl, There is about 10 people that know about her pregnancy and they are going to blame it on us that we told cuz we found out that day. Another thing is that what if the pregnant girls mom doesnt let her to go school anymore or kills the baby or even keep it and care for it or keep it and give it up for adoption? I am just trying to look out for the pregnant girl and my best friend. What can i do or any suggestions, tips maybe? Help me so i can help them. I am only 12 too so i dont know what to say about the situation. Help them out Please! (the pregnant girl is 12 and i am 12 and my bestie is 13 just fyi)DO NOT worry! I just found out my other 12 year old bestie is tounge kissing and i dont really want to be her friend anymore cuz of that so DONT BE WORRYING! I AM VERY RESPONSIBLE AND WILL NOT GET PREGNANT YOUNG! maybe sometime in late 20's or early 30's :DI am not lieing about this at all. The girl didnt even know that she was pregnant. She found out cuz he stomach was getting bigger and she barely even eats. Then her bestie had her big bro drive her to the hospital and she truely is pregnant. So i am not lieing here. OK! I would NEVER EVER lie about something like this and MY BESTIE isnt telling ppl at school. She just told the counselor and she didnt even name the girls that knew including me. So i am glad about that :) more

Open Question: Bangladesh Adoption to US acceptance rate?

Here is the story. I have two cousins whose father [my uncle] is dying. He wants to turn over custody to my mom. The children are 15 and 17, so they can still be adopted. The only problem is that my parents as well as myself, live in the United States while they live in Bangladesh. If my parents were to go through the process and adopt them, would it be accepted? How much of a chance do they have for everything to work out and be able to join our family?They won't have to move back to Bangladesh, there are two ways to adopt internationally. They have to be either previously adopted [aka what you guys are talking about] OR be considered an orphan according to the definition by the US. I just want to know the acceptance rate, that's all. If this doesn't work out, we need to figure out something else for the childrens sake. more

Resolved Question: So exactly HOW are us AP's supposed to feel then?

My girls are 4 1/2 and 3. They came to us as foster babies and have since been adopted. We also have a birth son who is 16 months old. My husband and I KNOW that the adoption of our girls started as a loss. We both have been abandoned by a parent (I was abused by my mother, him by his father). We realize better than *a lot* of adoptive parents that there will be a lot of pain and that we don't live in "happy adoption land". My daughters know they are adopted and we are in contact with their first family. I don't talk badly about either of their parents and don't pretend anything with them. From what I have seen on here, it seems like we shouldn't even be happy about adopting. It's not ok to try to live normally because we can't for one second live like they didn't have a prior family/life. It's like we have to always have that on our mind and not ever just be a family- because God forbid we aren't focusing on the bad stuff all the time. We can't celebrate their adoption days or show happiness that they are in our family because that would make it seem like we are happy about their loss. Isn't it possible to love our a-children and be grateful that they are ours now?? It doesn't make the prior actions ok- but how is it better to only focus on the hurt? I am NOT glad that they were abused and neglected and that their parents couldn't get it together to keep them. I do agree that it would have been best for them to get help and be able to keep their girls. But I AM glad that they are safe and healthy now and that I am blessed with the opportunity to raise them. Why is it so bad to be exhilarated that we have these wonderful girls? Why can't we be sad for their loss and be happy for our family at the same time?I appreciate everyone's input. We are NOT those AP's who dismiss the mother (or fathers) pain in losing a child. I have asked their parents to 'clean up' so they can be a part of thei girls lives growing up. YES I am angry that anyone would abuse their children, but I am pretty sure most people feel that way. We aren't trying to create a false life for them or for us. With all of the stories I have read on AP's who 'ignore' the adoption or don't talk about it--- I do feel that us bringing a positive light into it might help my girls. I don't celebrate their being taken from their parents, but I do celebrate them coming into our family- and I hope that will help them see that it's not ALL BAD. Sometimes good things come from the darkest places. If that eventually makes them uncomfortable of course we will stop. My plan is to play it by ear (as every parent does, adoptive or not!) and support them. They don't have to agree with me and if they don't, I will respect their choice. more

Open Question: Why is there Intergovernmental Cooperation in Worldwide Implementation of ID Cards?

Is it all just a HUGE coincidence that there is a Simultaneous introduction of biometric, smart ID cards around the world? Or is it the case, that a huge network of "agents" in many Governments are all working towards a World Government and a Global population all micro chipped? The reason I say this is because it does seem strange to me that so many Governments are implementing the same policies, at the same time. Is it really all one huge coincidence? 1. The ID schemes and database projects are harmonised and conform to international standards, designed to be coordinated and interoperable. The smart ID cards being adopted by different nations worldwide are all on a common format: - ICAO 9303 part 3. This document available can viewed here: www.hasbrouck.org/documents/ICAO9303-pt3.pdf 2. Behind the ID project, the participating nations are also all adopting a common format for personal information on government databases. This is what ID cards are about - more than the physical cards themselves, they are an interface to access databases of personal information. Adopting a common format for cards implies adopting a common format for data systems and databases. Interoperability of systems and universal accessibility of data has been an explicit goal, not merely implicit. There is also a project to make your personal data available to all other governments, worldwide. 3. The adoption of these systems has been coordinated, by a government process, conferences, aid and support. 4. This policy is being projected worldwide by the European Union (EU) and the US. They have been the leading movers in promoting common format "smart" ID cards and databases. 5. It seems probable that Russia and the Eastern Bloc nations will also be joining the project - under the EU-Russia Common Spaces agreements. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union%E2%80%93Russia_Common_Spaces 6. Smart ID cards will cover at least 90% of world population - perhaps over 95%. This figure is even higher than that in my earlier article, in Global Research. Only about 2.5% are definitely not going in with the common-format ID scheme (e.g. Burma, North Korea, Madagascar, etc). For about 8% of world population, I haven't been able to track down solid, reliable information, e.g. small countries such as Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, etc. 7. The aim of this process is to track population movement - migration of population. The system of immigration and border controls has evolved into worldwide system of monitoring population movement, to stop potential immigrants. The aim has progressed from stopping potential illegal immigrants at the borders of the EU or the US, into extended border controls, that stop migrants hundreds or thousands of miles before they reach the borders. This requires systems of population monitoring and surveillance, in "third nations." ID systems are part of this strategy. more

Open Question: relationship help and wat you all think kinda long?

ok well i am 21 and currently 8 months pregnant i am due april 28. my baby's father and i have known each other for 4 years now and we got togther right before i got pregnant. we were allmutual friends. and he has had a child before. the thing is his first baby's mom i was like best friends with. and i was there through her whole pregnancy and even at the hospital the whole time with her. she gave her child up for adoption. they both recieve pictures of the baby from time to time. now me and him got 2gether a yr n half after she gave up the baby and for the 3months b4 me n him got 2gether he kept trying to get back with her and she kept sayin she didn't want him and he had gotten thrown out of his house so i had let him move in with me and he always told me how he wanted to get with me even when we first met b4 he was with her. so once he moved in and we talked i had realized i did like him and we got 2gether . well once we got 2gether it was a big circle of cluster f*ck. becuz then his x who was also my friend was pissed at me sayin she still wanted him and then after she was done with that she was tellin me how she wanted to b with me. which i am bi and me n her have had sexual relations b4. and my man kept telling me to stop talkin to her all she wanted was to break us up and start trouble. but i felt bad seeing she was my friend .... but again she was rediculous with her sh*t .... she would never give us time alone and would b at my house 24/7 i didn't have the heart to tell her to go.... so me n him were together for two months and thats wen i found out i was pregnant and once she found out cuz she was there wen i took the pregnancy test she had the nerve to ask me wat i was going to do... abort it or adopt it out... i flat out told her wether he was there or not i am taking care of my child! .... so about a week after we found out i was pregnant he had told me he was goin to get his little brother so he can get a hair cut and then he just never came back. so afterwards i found out him n her got back together and then she stopped talking to me and then about a little over a month ago i had talked to him just to ask him wats goin on with him and wat does he want to do with the baby situation and if he wants to be in the babies life. and me and him wound up hanging out together and i told him i am not here to break u n her up.. we r just hanging out as friends and all i wanted to do was just ask him about the baby and then he would up telling me how he missed me and did i ever think about us getting back together and i had said to him i had becuz i would rather our son have both parents in his life ... so we got the talking and we got back together. so we have been back together for over a month n a half now but yet his x has his wallet with his id n social in it and she wont give it back to him unless he speaks to her and he doesnt want anything to do with her and me and him are fine we never argue and things are going great but i still think about how he just left me and ran back to her am i wrong for thinking about this?? do you think he will do it again??also children n family services and been involved with the 1st baby and from wat the x n him r tellin me they told him that if he has another child they will b involved right away. i am not scared of them i have nothing to hide and i have a clean house for them to check for my child. but i had them in my life wen i was younger and just hate their b.s. so do u think if this doesnt work... should i put him on the birth certificate and get child support???? more

Open Question: how do you feel about open adoption?

I am 19 yrs old and i have a 6 month old daughter. I love her so much but i feel like its selfish of me to keep her because I cant proved for her and i am curretly in the process of attempting to get government assistance. I am still in school and getting my education and working to provide and she stays with my mother. I love her and dont want to let her go but I want other peoples opinion. Would it be better for us to just stick it out since i dont just not want her or would it be best for her to have a family that can provide. more

Open Question: PLEASE COMMENT!! i know its really long, but still!!?

what do think of this?? any info on adoption and stuff would be helpful.. PROLOGUE "Alexis, you know we have to.” Alec fought persistently; they’d been over this argument thousands of times already. “I know, I know,” Alexis sobbed, clutching her two baby girls to her chest. “I could take you to the Witches or Vampyres to change you and Ebony. . .” Alec said hopefully, but in his heart he knew the answer. “No!” Alexis snapped at him. “Our love and children may be forbidden, but I am not giving up my humanity or that of Ebony’s either. I know that from your point of view the Children of Christ are bad, but that’s only because you were a mistake when God created humanity. I didn’t mean to fall in love with a Magick creature, I probably should never have let you live . . .” She trailed off into another fit of sobs, sinking to the ground with her daughters in her arms. Alec moved over to comfort her, taking Ebony from her. Melanie giggled and clapped her hands, oblivious of the tension between her parents, after all, she had no idea that she was about to be turned over to the hands of the humans, this made Alexis clutch her tighter, savouring the last moments with her Magick daughter. In her father’s arms, Ebony seemed to realise a little of the tension, hugging her arms around her fathers neck and breathing in his scent. At only one year old, Ebony could understand her parents feelings easily, it was probably part of the God-given power in her, as a Child of Christ with Magick powers of a Mentalist, she could already empathise with others, even if she couldn’t talk. Melanie, on the other hand, was only three months old, not knowing much of the world outside the concrete walls of the basement her parents were hiding in. Her father was keeping the humans who owned the house subdued with his powers as a Mentalist. “I just don’t want to give them up . . . not now . . .” Alexis sobbed into Alec’s shoulder, “Melanie . . . she’s just three months old . . . she won’t remember us . . .” “I know, I know. Shh. Remember though, we can’t let them live like this. In sixteen years, Melanie will have to go to one of the Magick Academies and in seventeen years, Ebony will start to realise her powers of being a Child of Christ. Even if she isn’t Baptised properly, she has the blood of a Magick Mentalist and one of the strongest Children of Christ.” Alec grimaced as he thought of his daughter being one of those hateful Children of Christ; it still hurt him when he thought about his wife being one. He sought comfort in the fact that neither child would know their heritage. A Child of Christ and Magick creature shouldn’t be in love, they were sworn enemies; they had been since the Vampyre’s had been created by Cain killing Abel, the Nephilim being created when God’s Army of Angels – the Sons of God – had mated with human women, and the Witches and Wizards being created by God but they double-crossed Him by spreading the truth among humans and trying their best to help them but in the end being hunted by the Children of Christ. Even in the days before Christ was born; God had sent the Great Flood and unsuccessfully tried to eradicate them from the world. He shook his head and focused on the present, there was no use hating the past when he was spending his last moments with his daughters for the last time in their life. They would never meet them again, but he and Alexis would always look over them and with his Mentalist powers he could read their minds and be with them even if they didn’t know it. “Sowy,” a lisped voice said in his ear. He held Ebony up in front of him in disbelief, Alexis looked, too. “Wh-what?” He asked uncertainly, holding Ebony carefully in his hands. “Sowy,” She said again, with an intelligent glint in her eye way more advanced than what should be in a one-year-olds eye. “Her . . . her first word!” Alexis gasped, in her arms Melanie giggled. “Oh, Ebs, I’m so glad I got to hear that.” Alec held her tight in his arms again and Alexis managed to reach an arm around the pair, making it an awkward group hug, she burst into tears again. “Time to go give them to their new families . . .” Alec said, breaking the moment. CHAPTER ONE: "What?” Could someone please tell me mum hadn’t just said those two horrible words? Come on, you just shouldn’t say that on someone’s birthday. “You’re adopted.” My mum – actually, no, not mum now – repeated. “And you’re telling me this now because . . . ?” I prompted. Wasn’t the age to tell me eighteen or something? “Because it’s what your parents told us to do.” My so-called-father said. Okay, well, I’d always known I looked nothing like my parents, or whoever these people were. Seriously, I had dark red hair and green eyes while mum had night black hair and brown eyes and dad had brown hair and green eyes – there was no way we were related. Two minutes ago my biggest problem was what I was going to wear to mymy biggest problem was what I was going to wear to my birthday party on Friday . . . I wonder if I can still have that, my line of thought went off in another direction. I’ve invited all of my friends to that. “They told you. How? You’ve met the ‘loving parents’ who dumped me?” Okay, that isn’t nice – I did have feelings. “Don’t people usually wait until the kid-in-question – in this case me – is eighteen before telling them?” “Um, well, that is the normal protocol, but you’re a special case.” Said the woman who had led me to believe I was her daughter for fourteen years of her life. “‘Special case’? How? Are you telling me I’m a mental case? Or that my parents have this horrible disease that’s genetic, or whatever?” I asked incredulously. This was a lot for me to take in, in the time of, like, five minutes. “No! No, it’s nothing like that. You see, we were told by this . . . couple that at the age of sixteen you’d have to be sent off to Ephesos Academy.” Dadexplained, I couldn’t be bothered thinking they were anyone else – they’d raised me my whole life which made them my parents in my opinion – even if it wasn’t biological. “Ephesos? Sounds like a retarded name to me.” You know, this was starting to sound like Harry Potter now, except for the part where my parents are dead – or are they? Maybe I’m gonna be famous when I got to the school, I pondered thoughtfully. “Well, all we know is that you’ve been signed up since birth and when you reached the age you’d have to leave for this school. Also, it’s supposed to have a really good educational standard.” Dad added the last bit. Mum was silently shedding tears and dad had his arm around her shoulders comfortingly. “Honey, I’m so sorry, but we’ll have to send you immediately. You’re going to have to pack all your stuff – clothes and whatever else you need – today. Promise you’ll write to me?” Mum said, forcing another smile for my sake. “They’ve probably already sent a car“Okay mum. But, exactly how far away is this school, Ephesos?” I asked, now tears were running down my face, too, and my bottom lip started quivering. It wasn’t even eight o’clock in the morning, yet. “We don’t know honey. You’re not going to school today honey. But we’ll explain it to your friends.” Mum had moved and was now sitting next to me, an arm around my shoulder. “But, can I tell Ebony? She’s coming to walk me to school.” I asked. Ebony was my best friend and it had been that way since we were in kindergarten together. “Yes, but for now, you can change out of your school inform and into some casual clothes, we’ll cook you a nice breakfast today, your, uh, father can go get some ice-cream and food like that. Now I better go wash all your things that are dirty.” please help me with this!! more

Open Question: How Do I Find My Mom ?

I was born in May 1968. I was adopted a few months later. When I turned 16 I was told by my adoptive parents that my Father was killed in Vietnam. My father was black and Mother was blonde hair w blue eyes... The mixed marriage was not something easily accepted in that time. Thus the adoption at my birth. I am currently serving in the US Army and have recently returned from a year in Iraq. Suddenly, I feel an overwhelming need to find my Mother. I finally feel like ive done something that could make her proud... How can I find her??? My Army budget simply will not allow me to hire a private detective but yet I am consumed with the need and desire to find her... I am 41 and am fully aware that she has gotten on in years, but I still need to meet her. I want it so bad that I constantly and continuously think of her. I have alwayse wanted to find her but never felt that I was in a position or place in live to make her proud. Now, finally, I am. Do you have any advise JD more

Resolved Question: AP's, do you do anything "special" for your child's birthday?

We have 2 adopted foster daughters who came to us at 3 and 9 months old. They are half sisters (same mom) and the father of one is my half brother. They are 4 1/2 and 3 years old. Every year we go to an amusement park and the beach as a celebration of their adoption days (they were on 8/29 and 9/2 so we have a combined family outing). We have birthday parties for them too, of course! I was wondering if you do anything special as they get older and can understand more? We don't have any information from their mother about their actual birthdays or any pictures from the hospital (as far as a story to tell) but I have thought about showing them pictures of them with their parents as newborns and talking about their weight and all that... something to recognize that they were born to someone else and also to talk about their mother in a good way (since the rest of the info isn't very good). Of course we celebrate the day they were born, but it's THEIR day and has nothing really to do with us. I want to make it more about them, and not just with cake and presents!! Does anyone have any ideas??I appreciate everyone's thoughts!! Yes, the family day for their adoptions is for ALL of us- they had a loss but I don't see anything wrong with celebrating the good that can come out of something bad. If they decide they don't want to do it, we will obviously stop. We have huge birthday parties for them all as well. They are always wanting to see their adoption pictures and asking questions about it- which I have answes for. I do feel bad that I don't have much info to tell them about their actual birthdays, which is why I was asking this question. They deserve to know the story of the day they were born and I can't give that- so I wanted to see if there were ideas about that. ThanksThanks everyone- We don't even call the anniversary anything... we just plan a family day and tell them that this was when they were adopted however many years ago and look at pictures- which they love, and they love asking questions about their adoptions, too. So a celebratory day is a way for them to ask questions in a positive light. I have never used the term 'gotcha' in my life. more

Resolved Question: is it selfish to be disappointed that i won't get a baby shower?

my family is not happy i am having a baby because im not married even though my boyfriend and i have been together for years and are very devoted to each other. yes this baby wasn't planned but we are so exited about him we can hardly wait. At first my family did their best to pressure us into giving the baby away because i don't believe in abortion, when they found out that abortion and adoption weren't going to happen half of my family "washed their hands of me" the other half don't want to be a part of my sons life. long story short i know im not having a baby shower, and even if my friends throw one my family wont get involved of even show up. Is it selfish to be sad about this? my cousins got baby showers because they were married, i just want my family to get involved :(BTW i am 6 months along more

Resolved Question: pro-choice...men don't have a choice? Asked in parenting, want your opinions also?

I'll just say I'm pro choice and leave it at that. I'm not going to give an opinion not but I want to hear your opinions. When a woman gets pregnant she has the choice to keep the baby, give the baby up for adoption, or have an abortion. Men don't have any say in the matter. If a woman gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby, the man doesn't have to see the baby, but he does have to pay for the baby. Women have the choice if they want to take on the financial responsibility and men don't. If a woman decides to get an abortion and the dad wants to keep the baby he still has no say in the matter. I know the man knows this before sleeping with the woman but is this really fair? I guess the only other option would be to allow men to tell us what we can/can't do with our body or not be able to pursue men child support anymore. Opinions/thoughts?I just wanted to add that I seen a few people say all the man has to do is sign over his rights and he won't have to pay child support. That is not the case. A man can sign over his rights, meaning he will not be able to see or communicate with the child except on the mothers terms, but he will still have to pay child support if the court orders it. more

Resolved Question: pro-choice...men don't have a choice?

I'll just say I'm pro choice and leave it at that. I'm not going to give an opinion not but I want to hear your opinions. When a woman gets pregnant she has the choice to keep the baby, give the baby up for adoption, or have an abortion. Men don't have any say in the matter. If a woman gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby, the man doesn't have to see the baby, but he does have to pay for the baby. Women have the choice if they want to take on the financial responsibility and men don't. If a woman decides to get an abortion and the dad wants to keep the baby he still has no say in the matter. I know the man knows this before sleeping with the woman but is this really fair? I guess the only other option would be to allow men to tell us what we can/can't do with our body or not be able to file for child support anymore. Opinions/thoughts? more

Resolved Question: Pro-choice....men don't have a choice?

Open Question: Michigan Law with not being able to move 100 miles from resident. Need help!! Has someone been through this?

I have a 17 month old son with an ex boyfriend. We just recently had settlement for child support on what he will be paying and what he owes back. Upon all that, I was told that under the Michigan Law, I am not allowed to move no more then 100 miles from my current address. My fiancee who has been with me since I was 8 months pregnant, and has provided for my son everything that a father should do and so much more. My fiancee's job does out of state tranfers to people who want to make their way up in the company to high position's. My fiancee is one of those people who gets those offers and eventually has to take one which would result in me and my son going with him. He makes good money now being a store manager, but he does have other kids of his own that he has to support. Being transfered would result pay increase since it would be a bigger store and the next transfer would also be a district manager position. That would be really great for our family. My sons bio father has not seen my son until we went for settlement. He refused to acknowledge that se has the father even after the positive paternity test. He has made it clear he does not want visitation period and no part of our sons life. We do not have joint custody or anything along those lines. He refuses to want to have anything that will keep him tied down to our son unless it make me miserable. He is not listed on the birth certificate. He wouldnt even show up when and after our son was born. I have seen him once since November of 2008 and talked to him a few times since our son was born. He has made threats plenty of times in the past and that is why I cut off contact with him because I became terrified for my son. He lied to the prosecuting attorney about his home address and said that he makes less then he really makes as well. His father might not consent just out of spite with no intention of ever seeing his son again to keep us from having a better life and to destory what my fiance and I have worked hard to build together for my son. He will try to do anything he can to keep my son from having the life he deserves and he knows that not allowing us to move with my fiance will tear the life and family my son has apart. After we get married, my fiance plans to adopt my son and my sons father has agreed to that though just so he does not have to pay child support and be tied down to a child he refuses to have any part of. I know what to do to get everything going, but my question is, how would I go about getting permission from the court for me to move out of state with my son since his father might try to hold us back, or how do we go about just having his rights terminated since that is what he wants anyways and I would consent to it. His father wants more then anything to terminate his rights before me and my fiance have the chance to file for the adoption since we are not getting married until next Spring and we have to be married for a year because we can go through with my fiance adopting my son. His father has to start paying child support now since all the paper work and everything was finalized yesterday. He only owes back child support from June 2009 which is where I got stepped on with because my case was opened January of 2009. His back child support that he owes so far is almost $2000. Plus he owes the state of Michigan over $5500 which will be taken out of my child support which is unfair! But no one thinks that he is going to pay. He already has 8 warrents out for his arrest and is terrified to death to show up in court since they will probably arrest him on the spot. If he could just sign off rights, that would make it better for all of us in this situation. We would not be tied to each other and then I would not have to worry about him trying to destroy our lives.this would only be in the best interest for my son since his damn is crazy. he wants nothing to do with him and does not want him to have a life. he has said more then once he was going to kidnap him and sell him on the black market. as well as other threats similar and worse then that!And no I dont want him to still pay. I never did. The state went after him for child support because of Medicaid. I dont want anything form him at all. I dont want money or for him to be around. My son is better with him not being in his life because he is a danger to my son. more

Resolved Question: Want to hear about parents that have childen with ODD or CD?

I've a step son that is now 11 years old. I became his mother when he was 5 (his mother just walked off his life and never came back). I had at the time 3 other children and noticed that he had some major behavorial issues, such as: banging his head on the wall when he got pissed, highly defiant, cruel to animals, spread his feces around on the walls-floors-bathroom towels-the entire toilet, etc., tried to set the room on fire twice, peed on the dogs water bowls, urinate all the walls of his bedroom (along with showering the entire bed as well), shower with urine the entire toilet and floors, tried to sexually molest my 10 months old baby boy, grabbed a rope and hand the baby (literally) - thanks God we walked in and saved the baby, he steals everything he can from stores - our house - school - friends houses, self-injures himself, punctures himself with pencils or sharp objects, does and says other attrocious things to us, lies like there is no tomorrow, calls the cop and CPS on us claiming that we broke his bones or injured him, manipulates people like you have no idea (he is usually such a nice boy in the beginning and you wouldn't even think he would do something like the above said - until the honey moon stage is over), says things that never happen that are way odd and crazy, pees and poops himself infront of whoever while standing infront of them or eating at the table, we had to put him on diapers and put plastic bags on the cars, beds, etc., he violently attacks other children out of the blue, has some very violent and aggressive outburst when he doesn't get his way, he can't have friends (as everybody literally hates him at school and highly dislikes him), the other kids call him mean names, etc. The list keeps going on and on.... When I experienced all of this, I started researching and discovered that he has ALL the simpthoms of Oppositional Defiance Disorder and several traits of Conduct Disorder, I started fighting the system and got him into a Residential Treatment Center. Of course we were pin to the wall by CPS as per their statement we were the messed up parents. It took for us to video tape him, collect a million witness statements and declarations, rush him to a psychiatrist watch hospital, etc. He was finally placed into this treatment center back on 2007 when he was 8 years old. The Court and CPS insists in closing the case, CPS claims that he is now a healthy "normal" boy. From all the things above, he still has the following simpthoms: He still poops on his pants in purpose (he is 11), can't take a shower unsupervised or he'll trash the bathroom, he talks back in a hateful way, never takes responsability for his actions (regardless if you catch him in the act), attends one-on-one special education classroom, rides on a mentally handicap school bus, has managed to make very little friends (he is mostly a loner), they are giving him shitloads of medication (Ritelin, Tenex, etc.), he told my older son that he wants to hurt badly the boy that he hanged and tried to molest when the baby was 10 months (now 4 years old), he still has several sexual off the hook behaviors, still destroys his toys and clothing (not as bad as before), he doesn't have the violent-aggressive off the hook behaviors, he is now able to wear his seatbelt and wear his clothes, he allows people to be physically close to him, he usually listens when he's told to do something, etc. My question is: is he ready to come home, am I just being paranoid that the same thing will happen and will be forced to fight the system again, is he playing it out so he comes home and someone will end up seriously hurt, did he really change, do this children suffering from this mental disorder ever grow out of it? CPS is treatening that if we don't take him home now, that they will put him up for adoption. I don't want to loose him to adoption and give up on him. He is also smart, can be very kind, sharing, thoughtful, can be very nice, he loves talking, etc. more

Open Question: Please tell me how i can help my 8 month old neice with abandonment issues?

When my neice, was almost a month old, we took her in as our own.How this came about was because as expected, her mother left her at a strangers home for 3 days! Her mother has always been a drunk on the streets (believe me, this is by choice) she also has another child that my in-laws chose to raise and has always "snuck off" in the middle of the night, too many times to count. We were starting the process of legal guardianship, when my neice was 5 months old, one day her mom showed up and took her, she wouldnt allow us to see her, and it turns out she was being investigated for fraud, her only source of income is from the disability money she gets for her two children, she completely shut us out so she could convince the people that investigate, her living situation, that she raises both children on her own, which we never would have allowed this lie to follow through, which is the reason I believe they cut all ties with us.It wasnt until a few days ago, the baby being 8 mths. old now, a relative showed up at our door, with my neice!Her parents are in jail and being charged for child abuse, and we are going to do full adoption and revoke parental rights from her parents, but the damage has been done, and sadly i see the effects, how do help my neice heal emotionally from all of this? more

Open Question: My Adoptive Daughter's Asking Questions/Searching?

When my husband and I got married years ago we were told that I was infertile and we decided to adopt. We were given a beautiful girl, Blair. We made the decision NOT to tell her she was adopted. We came to this conclusion because my husband is adopted and his adoptive parents told him he was adopted when he was 7 and he never looked at the same again. He never looked at them as Mom and Dad but Mr. and Mrs._________. Blair is now 20 and in college. However, recently her fiance has remarked how their exists little to no resemblance between our daughter and either my husband or I. This has begun to spur her curiosity. She has been asking to see her birth certificate as well as various other documents. I removed the file with all the documents pertaining to her adoption from the file cabinet but she insists on looking. She hasn't told us that she thinks she is adopted but it's becoming obvious, I've caught her going through that same file cabinet while she has been home on Spring Break. I don't know what to do. My husband and I are adamant on not telling her she is adopted and will go to great lengths to conceal this from her. Help? more

Open Question: Can an animal shelter not give us an unfixed female dog if my current female dog is not fixed?

I went to the local animal shelter to pick out a dog today to adopt. I fell inlove with this beautiful female dog. They adoption consultant told me I needed to have my entire family with me to meet the dog and approve before we can finalize the adoption ( im 20 y/o) my mother and boyfriend were with me at the time, we had my father get out of work early, and had my 17 y/o sister get out of school to meet this dog, since their is a " no holding policy" Also, my female dog, minpin, had to come and meet the dog as well. So the whole family came with us and they AMBUSHED us about my current dog. And she is not fixed. (just for the crazy people who dont believe us ) we got her 6 months ago and are waiting for her certificate to come in the mail, she has an appt to be fixed. Anyways, the animal shelter turned us down because their female dog was not fixed, along with my female dog. Is this ok? Has anyone else had this problem before? and if so could someone please give me a reason why, two female dogs cannot be together if they both are not fixed? They also know my minpin has her appt. and refused us until the surgery was all said and done. I could really use some insight on this. Thank you very much.Im not waiting 6 months for a certificate, i just got it a few days ago. My minpin is MY dog. My family wants, a bigger family dog, so we decided to rescue one from a shelter.its called friends of animals, only certain vets except it to be spayed. Her surgery is scheduled for March 22. They wil not hold the dog. They put her on a "priority fix" they said if they can get her in tomorrow they will let us know and we can come pick her up after the surgery.but someone could of taken her tonight. And noone is answering when i call, lol. So we will call tomorrow. But i didnt know if anyone else has run into this problem or knows their reasons why they will not give her to us.its called friends of animals, only certain vets except it to be spayed. Her surgery is scheduled for March 22. They wil not hold the dog. They put her on a "priority fix" they said if they can get her in tomorrow they will let us know and we can come pick her up after the surgery.but someone could of taken her tonight. And noone is answering when i call, lol. So we will call tomorrow. But i didnt know if anyone else has run into this problem or knows their reasons why they will not give her to us.eyes of a warrior -i understand its healthier, and i agree 100% however, if my current dog was fixed, they were going to give me their unfixed dog no problem. So either way it doesnt matter, since they were going to give me her anyways. All im asking is their reasoning why they would give me THEIR unspayed female dog, if my female dog was fixed. it doesnt make any senseThe dog i was looking at was a year and a half old, so she was plenty old enough to be spayed. Thank you, i will be calling tomorrow, and hope all goes well :]see suszie q, you are the reason why people are ridiculous on this site. I cant beleive i have to explain this. My dog is 5. I got her 6 months ago from a neighbor who couldnt keep her.They did not have her fixed for a specific reason. My dog is alergic to the rabies shot. She had a bad reaction and they payed thousands of dollars on an emergency for her. I do not know how she would do being put under for the surgery, as that is what they told me. So instead of calling "everyone" a liar and financially incapable, i listened. However, its gonna cost me a pretty penny to even get her her rabies this comming appt because of the things that need to be done to prevent an allergic reaction. As for being " financially incapable of taking care of my dog, is ridiculous. My dog is well taken care of, and has some issues which is why she is not fixed. more

Resolved Question: please tell me yr adoption story?

i might give my 2 yr old up because of the conditions we are in (when i desided to keep her it wasnt bad the father was suporting us but now he isnt) can u tell me yr story's if it turned out good for u or not (I WAS ADOPTED TOO ADN IT SUCKED FOR ME ) more

Open Question: Why do some people think they gave the right to criticise an "older" mother?

I'm sick of it!! I'm 38 and expecting my second (naturally conceived) baby. I don't look or feel 38 but its there on my birth certificate. My husband is younger (27). I have a three year old son already. I hate reading the bile and hatred which gets spewed in the media toward some "older" mothers - ie we're all selfish "have it all" careers women using IVF to have babies we'll eb too old to care for etc etc. Utter crap. How would you accuse my cousin - who's been ttc since she was 24 and has endured 16 years of infertility, several m/cs, ectopics, failed IVF cycles and adoption attempts. She's 41 and about to have her first - total surprise (naturally conceived) baby, and we're all delighted for her after 16 years of pain. Is she "selfish"? Not at all!! She would have been a mum at 24 if nature had cooperated. Why have I had children in my 30's and not my 20's? Because my 20's were not the right time for me to have kids. The man I was with didn't want them and tbh I wasn't really interested in children then. I was too busy living my life. I'm not in any way a "career" woman but there were things I was trying to achieve and do in my 20s which took precendence over babies. I didn't really feel ready for children until I reached 32 (with a new partner) and it took us 18 months to conceive our son (my husband had the problem not me). Same again with this baby - its taken 18 months to conceive so hey ho I'm 38. We haven't used any form of IVF or artificial fertility treatment. I have no problem with being "older". This is the right time for me to have children. I feel ready and settled and able to be a good mum. My mum was older when she had me so I see nothing wrong with it I didn't miss out on anything because my mum was about 10 years older than some of my friends mums. I had a perfect, easy pregnancy and natural delivery with my son and it looks like I'll be lucky this time too. As for the "risks" of downs etc, well I'm not even having the tests. I'd love my child regardless. I would never abort a baby because they weren't "perfect". So why all the bigotry? I feel just as angry about stupid thoughtless teenagers who get knocked up to get a council house as some people feel about "older" mums. These silly little girls with no money, no home and no clue are the selfish ones not sensible women who are in a more stable position to have children. The reasons for having children younger don't always work out anyway. My mother in law started having babies at 19 (she was trying to get knocked up at 16, despite having no money, no job, no partner and nowhere to live - responsible eh?) so that she could "be young enough to enjoy her grandchildren". But she never sees them as she lives 250 miles away!!! So what was the point? My elderly mum sees more of my son than she does. (And yes it does make me a little sad that she can't do as much with him as she could have done 10 or 15 years ago. But thats my only regret.) So stop with the bigotry. I am so looking forward to the next 20-30 years of my life and have never felt more positive! And BTW noone EVER picked on me at school for my parents being a bit older. Thats a really stupid idea.Suze - I am not criticising ALL young mothers (most excellent mums) but just highlighting the fact that SOME young mothers could also be described as selfish and irreponsible for getting knocked up when they don't even have a roof over their heads! But less vitriol is directed at them than at women who are in their 30s . . .LeAnn - my 17 y/o little sister in law is currently deliberately attempting to get pregnant so that she and her boyfriend can get a council flat and she won't have to work. To me that is utterly stupid, irresponsible and selfish. Its people like that who make me mad!!Wacel - you paltry attempts at personal insults (insinuating that I must somehow be "immature" even though you don't know anything about me) are laughable. The fact that you have not even read my post and the fact that I have categorically stated that I am not opposed to ALL young mothers, just those who use pregnancy and benefit dependency as a lifestyle choice invalids anything you have to say on the subject. You have not read the full content of my post so how can you comment on it? People with weak arguments always resort to personal insults. Its deeply pathetic. more

Resolved Question: Do "Fundys" realize that democrats use the abortion issue to split the republican base?

The basic principle of conservatives is to minimize governments role in our lives, in general. If you advocate a smaller govt, reduction in spending & govt to stop regulating, controlling and bleeding business to death, THEN, if you tell government to stay out of your life, you can not speak out of the other side of your mouth and demand government to legislate morality. I agree that abortion is a despicable form of birth control, while its legal, that does not make it a good thing or you should be careless about it. Liberals make abortion into a HUGE issue, where fundys can not help themselves and make that a HUGE portion of their political position. Well, the end result is millions of people are persuaded to join the socialist party, through the emotional appeal of abortion as an entitlement, the core of the "liberal bill of rights". Like a moth who can not help but fly into the flame, fundys fall into the trap and cause socialists to win the war (capitalism vs socialism) trying to win the abortion battle. If you hate abortion, you should encourage adoption, teach abstinence and birth control and support single mothers to keep their children; if you insist on making abortion the litmus test for every candidate then you are the best friend of socialism and cause America to suffer with the disease of socialism. Liberals tell us all the time that Fundys have hi-jacked the republican party; when wackos like Pat Robertson make idiotic statements, the news and entertainment industry sensationalize comments like "Haitians deserved the earthquake because they made a pact with the devil". WTF! Socialists have hi-jacked the democratic party, make no mistake, after all the civil rights laws have changed, liberals have no cause, HELLO SOCIALISM! Fundys, if you insist on making abortion the biggest issue, should you go start your own "Abortion Party" and get the heck out of the republican party? Teach morality or legislate it? more

Voting Question: How can we adopt a child from from Haiti?

Hi, I am just curious... My wife and I have done a little research into haiti, and seen lots of video's and blogs etc, saying there are 100's of thousands of children in need of a parent. So we decided we would look into how to adopt a child in need in haiti. After looking around, all we could find was US based companies, and all of them charged a ridiculous fee to process the paperwork. thousands of dollars, sometimes 10's of thousands, not including travel costs. How can they call themselves a charity, yet charge so much money for something that couldn't possibly cost that much? The main reason I am writing here, is because we would like to know if anyone has heard of an australian organization that can help organize adoption from haiti. Or, better yet, does anyone know how we could contact an orphanage in haiti directly, to organize an adoption privately, and process all the paperwork ourselves? more

Voting Question: Cash Assistance Question?

I live in Ohio. & I live with my boyfriend and his father tomorrow morning I am going to sign up for Cash Assistance. I am currently 36w5d pregnant with no income because I don't live with my grandmother anymore. & I don't live with her anymore because I choose not and it is not a good environment for my son. There is nothing but drama there 24/7 so don't sit here and tell me to put my son up for adoption. I am keeping him and raising him the best I can now this is just a damn question. I am not asking for rude answers so please feel free to be kind and ANSWER my question. I have a question though would me & my boyfriend both be able to sign up or just one of us? Because he needs medical and we BOTH need cash assistance for the baby that is on the way. more

Voting Question: what am i doing with my boyfriend?

This is the first time I've used this thing. Uh. I got issues I should probably take up with some meditation but just wanted to see what you all had to say. I got a boyfriend. Met him in AA. I'm sober, he's not. I'm 25. He's 34. He's been married, has 2 kids, one he put up for adoption, the other they kept, he was with his wife 18 yrs. they divorced i think 2 or 3/4 years ago. he has a protection order against ex-wife and son, don't know the details, owes child support, is past due on it, trying to make small payments monthly. he's going to jail in a month for 80 days for violating probabtion, i want a family one day and at least the option of getting married one day. i feel myself getting jealous or even feeling like i'll never get to have my own family. i wonder if i need to leave him, but he is not only boyfriend, he is my best friend now. been together only a year, but it's been a very long year. i guess i just don't know how to leave him, or if i need to get past my own messed up thinking and move on with him or if we should be just friends, or not even talk at all. we almost had a baby but i miscarried. he is very kind and loving and i could see a possible future with him. but lately i can't even see straight. as you can see i'm lost and confused. bottom line: i love him. and i don't want either of us to be hurt. more

Voting Question: What rights do i have in regards to my unborn child?

All rite, my ex-girlfriend is 13 weeks pregnant, she went to an adoption agency and is setting all of that up, i personally do not want to go through with the adoption and would like either us to keep the baby, or me keep the baby, my problem is she doesnt tell me about wats going on with the baby in regards to going to the doctor, how the bbys doing health-wise, anything!!! Wat rights do i have when it comes to that and in regards to the adoption. I do not want to put the baby up for adoption, but it seems shes gone as far as to contacting an attorney!!! Help plz, all i want is my child in my life. more

Voting Question: Please help - Adoption?

I am a drama student from the UK. I am doing a play about a 15 year old girl giving her child away. The teacher wants us to use correct infromation in our play. We would like to know if the parent of someone under 16 is allowed to sign all of the forms for them to legalise the adoption. All answers appreciated! Thanks :) x more

Voting Question: How do I find my relatives in Norway, last name Gystad around the Olso area.?

Due to adoption my gradfather came over from Norway. He was left here by his father Charles Gysad for better opportunity.Charles died leaving a son here in US, and my grandfathers mother, siblings in Norway. My mom and remanding sibling would love to find them after all these years. We didnt get very much information from the adoption agency. Any help would be great!!! Thanks more

Voting Question: UK political parties, help choosing...?

Well, here's a list of what I abide to, see what you guys and gals think I should join; 1. Mixed Economy 2. Investment into renewable fuels and open up manufacturing market for renewable development 3. Proportional Representation 4. Close European ties for secure energy markets (especially the tag team we have with Norway) 5. Iraq war, a sham of false truths and perverted religious rhetoric 6. East Europeans want jobs, come and get um, us Brits cant complain as a lot of us really are slackers in our day to day lives. 6. Freedom of Information rather than privacy (at least, Government dealings, military I can understand want some data not made public) 7. I consider myself a Centrist (the accommodation of all views for a practical solution) : VERY hard to come by 8. Humanitarian to a degree - I can fit in what hours I can 9. Eco Friendly 10. Technologist all the way. 11. Gays, who cares if they are! 12. Abortion, well, if the mother does not want a baby, send to adoption 13. I prefer a more united world to tackle the actual problems like climate change Anyway, theres a few :) - see what you guys / gals thinkNope, im a 18 year old with a creative mind and dreams of a more perfect world. I say technology can be the solution to everything and renewable energy its implementation. Labour... hmmm, its like voting for Tory, except a socialist sticker plastered over the face. Sorry for Labour supporters here, but really, Labour has lost its way. A more modern "Neo Labour" might b in order for you. more

Voting Question: I need some honest advise on if we should drive 6 hours to get a dog at a shelter?

Me and my husband have a 20 month old son and a cat. We are renting (no lease, pets accepted) a 2 bedroom house in town with a good sized back yard with a chain link fence. We put in an adoption application for an American Eskimo/Collie mix and got accepted. She got spayed last Monday since we are adopting her this Saturday. It is a 6 1/2 hour drive to this no-kill shelter. It's a nice facility and have certain rules for adopting an animal. I mean, we have never drove this far and neither of us are very good at driving through the city and we have to go through it. What if we get there and this dog is nippy, doesn't like us, or has some other problem? There are so many things that can go wrong. What do you think? I drive a Taurus so I'm not sure how the puppy will do with that either. more

Voting Question: Can I throw a baby shower for my adoptive mother to my unborn baby?

Well i am 8m3wks pregnant with my first I had decided to have my aunt adopt her because I am in college its an open adoption my child will grow up knowing me as her BiOmom, but my aunt will be her primary mother. I just wanted to throw a shower for her she allready hasa child of her own my lil cousin but cant have any more children an i think this was a great thing for the both of us an instead of missing out on the baby shower aspect of my pregnancy i figured that i would throw one for her do you think that would be a good idea?oh an a side note at 35 weeks did you get horribly swollen feet an bad headaches im getting them allotHailey no, we have been threw family counseling since I decided Adoption more

Resolved Question: why are American children , being adopted by Europeans ?

we seem to adopt there children more than our children here in the US and they have been taking ours for adoption over there ,does anyone find this strange that we seem to be swiping kids from each other. more

Resolved Question: What should I do? What can I do?

Okay before I say my story- I know I made my bed and now I should lay in it so please refrain from harassment. I'm a single mother of two boys whom I love sooooo very much. I love being a mom and I love the closeness I have with my sons. My oldest is 4 and my youngest is 14 months. After my divorce, me and a guy friend (of 4 years) decided to "hook up". We were both lonely and agreed to keep the relationship platonic. Well this hook up ended up in me getting pregnant- when we found out we tried having a relationship- which did not end up working out. Now we hate each other and are no where being friends. I am living on my own in a duplex, paying my bills on time, have some savings, and things seem to be working out well. With the addition of a third child- I would not be able to pay my bills, I won't have time to clean or take care of all my kids the way they deserve. I sincerely believe the best option and choice for everyone is adoption. The dad on the other hand, is swayed and pressured by his family who is extremely against giving up any of their own. He lives in his friends moms basement- he has no plan to move out because he thinks its great to only pay $200 a month for rent. He has never paid for groceries, or regular living expenses on his own and has always lived off of other people. He works at a pizza place as a cook and thats where he eats and when hes not there he just orders pizza. He said he was going to look for a better job, save money, buy the baby things needed, and get ready but he has done nothing. He has porno on his TV almost at all times now, and laying around his room. He buys toys for himself like legos, and nerf guns. When he needs to fix his car or get a new car. He has yet to save any money and does not have any baby things other than a few hand-me-downs that are so old... no one would buy this shit at a garage sale. He does not want to give this child up because his family is enabling him living off of everyone. They are basically saying they will raise the baby and pay for the stuff he cant etc. I just don't see how this is fair to me, my children, or this child. I already know the stress of raising and coping with children seperately and not as a family and know that it is not what is best for the child. Not to mention neither of us would be fully capable to take care of them. What should I do? What can I do? more

Resolved Question: What is your attitude about adoption?

I'm wondering because I've never thought negatively of it until I was exposed to a certain family with incredibly strong views against it. One of the children of the family got pregnant at 14. The family of the father of the baby suggested that the two 14 year olds put the baby up for adoption. The pregnant girl's family flipped out and refused to let the father ever see his child until he went to court. Now to me that seems extreme. I think that adoption should be a serious consideration for pregnant teens, especially ones so young. Yes it would hurt to give up your child, but shouldn't the child be given every advantage possible? A teenager can't give the same advantages as an adult who has already established a career and home. The child of the 14 year old is now overweight with no rules and no stability. She gets shuffled around between family members because her mother can't handle keeping her for long periods. The only place she has stability and structure is with her dad, but she only see's him a couple days a week so it isn't very frequent stability. I got pregnant at 18 when I was just beginning my freshman year of college. Adoption was a serious consideration for me because I was so young and had no career to speak of. I lived in a dorm and worked in a restaurant as a hostess. My boyfriend had been with me for a long time, but we'd been rocky and I didn't know if things would last. I started interviewing families to possibly adopt my daughter and then I knew that I couldn't do it. My boyfriend and I resolved to make things work no matter what we had to do. We got married and now we both work 2 jobs while I also take classes. We barely see each other, but our daughter is the happiest baby you'll ever meet. She's well fed and well cared for. She has a nice place to live and will be in a good school district here in a few years. However, it's really hard on us. Older people could have given her everything we've given her with half the effort. So I'm just wondering what other parents think about adoption? I've heard the phrase "ducking out" in reference to adoption, but you know if a person isn't ready to have a child then why should the child suffer instead of being given to parents who will give it what it needs? more

Resolved Question: Will my partners criminal record stop us from adopting a child in the future?

Me and my partner hav talked about adoption in the future for personal reasons. We plan on marrying and having a family. The only thing is my partner has a criminal record with driving offenses such as drink driving and driving with no insurance. He also has drunk and disorderly and vandalism on his record. Nothing to do with assault or anything to do with harming anyone in anyway just the records mentioned. This is also from when he was a lot younger, he now has a full time office job and a very quiet stable life with myself. Will this affect us from adopting in the future?? Thanks! more

Resolved Question: Question for those who are anti-adoption?

Most of us foster-adoptive parents get cut some slack on this site- I am assuming that is because we are not considered 'baby stealers' and are, in fact, adopting children who DO need new homes. Children who's parents cannot/will not take care of their child correctly even given months or years to try. However, I am wondering if you think that ALL adoptions are WRONG? We can all (almost) agree that those children cannot be with the people who are hurting them and need to be removed immediately. But do you think that they should all just have legal guardians and never actually be adopted? Should adoption forever be eliminated from the planet regardless of the circumstance? I am wondering this because you talk about the loss of identity and the birth certificate change, etc. I am asking this seriously, not being sarcastic. I truly do understand that many of the adoption agencies are 'corrupt'. ThanksI fostered and adopted my niece and then her sister when their mother got pregnant again and had her taken. HA! Paycheck!! Their fostering checks didn't even barely pay for diapers.Cruzgirl, I wasn't saying it is black and white. This question was for the people who are against it. If you aren't one of those, you don't need to answer. I wanted the view of those who don't like ANY adoptions. more

Voting Question: I gave up my baby!I need your help!Please read!?

Ok so I'm seventeen years old.I had my beautiful son Ty a few months ago.By the time I was four months pregnant we decided to give up our baby.We couldn't provide what it needed at this age.We never thought that giving up our baby would be this hard.My boyfriend and I hadn't finished college and had no extra money for our baby.In order to do whats best for him we decided to give him up for adoption.I think about him more and more everyday.I have already gone to support groups and it didn't help.We get monthly photos of him and seeing them gets me emotional.I feel good knowing that my son will have a better life with his new parents,but not seeing him everyday gets to me.Do you have any advice for us that could help?I really need thoughts and advice.Thanks. more

Resolved Question: 20 & Pregnant, Abortion or No?

I'm 20 years old. 21 in a few months. I'm in school to be a CNA (certified nursing assistant). I'll be done in a few months before my 21st birthday. I found out last week that I'm pregnant with somebody that I've known for 6 years and been with for 5. He's a rare catch, very supportive and very good to me, always has been. I immediately knew that I had to make a decision of keeping the baby or aborting it. I would not be able to cope with adoption so it is not an option. I am pro choice, and I always told myself that if the time wasn't right, then I would abort. Well, being in the situation changes your perspective. No matter what I decide my life is going to change forever. He was planning on joining the Navy regardless, so that would be half of our income. I work a little part time job, but I will be done with school and working in the healthcare field in July, long before the baby would be here in November. I also previously had intentions of taking online prerequisite classes for nursing (to become an RN instead of a CNA), and I have a type of income that is a bit over $1000/month for as long as I am in school for up to six years. I am also receiving a larger amount of money for something else, which I plan on using to pay for school in full and putting the rest in savings, which is several thousand dollars. So even if I were jobless, which won't happen, I would have $1000/month. I live with a relaxed parent who is retired, not home alot and let's me come and go as I please--I stay on the other side of the house and it's like having my own little apt area. I don't pay rent here, or any other bills. I do pay for my car and insurance, and my phone which all comes to around $400-$500/month. The point is, finances will not be an issue. Worrying about how I'm going to finish school will not be an issue. Worrying about "oh who's the father" will not be an issue--my boyfriend is the only person I've ever been with in my life. Worrying about his support is no issue--he is a natural with children and babies, it is of his nature to be kind, gentle and caring. He wants me to keep the baby. He thinks that it is murder even though it isn't even a fetus at this point in time. He cringes at the thought and begs me to keep it, he says God meant for us to become a family at this time. He and I are the the same age, though. Exactly one month apart. I know people have babies at 16 and 17 like it's nothing these days, but isn't 20 a young age, still? I've always been "strange" or "different": I don't go out. I don't party. I went to a club once when I was 18 and said screw this, this sucks and went home to read a book and never went back. I don't have a lot of girlfriends, don't hang out alot, because I don't want or need to. I'm very mature for my age I guess, I just grew up and skipped all that stuff because it just isn't my thing. So I'm not being selfish here when I talk about abortion, I'm not worrying about myself and "what about my life" and "I'm still young, I want to go out and have fun". The two good friends that I have that I spoke to about this told me that there wasn't much holding me back from going through with having a child, but that I was just "looking" for something, looking for a reason to tell myself it was okay to have an abortion. Maybe they are right. I'm more spiritual than religious. I don't really have a religion, I just believe that there is a God and that he wants you to be good, peaceful, loving, and that's about it. But I feel like God would be disappointed in me. I would be disappointed in myself. What if I fell into a depression afterwards? I just keep thinking about years from now, when I'm sitting at the park watching my two kids play and thinking the whole time, there should be three, but I took it's chance for life. I'm just at a loss for words, my brain is exhausted from trying to figure this out, and I don't have a lot of time to make a choice. Haven't even told my parents yet because I want to go to them and be able to talk this over and tell them my full blown plans and intentions instead of being one of those people who sit in front of mom and cry and say I'm sorry and answer every question with "I dunno". If you're open minded and you have good advice...help?No one is deciding for me when I ask for advice. The idea is that someone new, who doesn't know me personally and cannot be biased, will have a different perspective and say something in a way that I didn't think of otherwise. more

Resolved Question: Trying to adopt out of foster care?

We started the adoption process last March to adopt a little boy or sibling group out of foster care. We completed all the required classes and have an approved home study. My wife has been looking on the adoptuskids website and has inquired and sent our home study to about 10 different workers in reference to about 10 different kids/sibling groups. My question is, what do we do after we send the home study? Do we just sit around and wait for them to call us and tell us yes or no? Do we call them? Not one of the workers who've requested our home study have called us back(granted it's only been a few weeks for some but still). Our adoption worker isn't that great. We had an approved home study in November and never even knew until Feb when my wife called and asked what was going on..then the lady was all like "Oh, I'm sorry I must have forgot to call you"..So basically we're doing this by ourselves. She emailed us our approved home study and now we're sending it out to workers ourselves..we're not really sure what we're doing, how long we should be expecting to wait, etc..anyone with any Information would be great! Thanks! BTW: We live in Florida if that helps, but we've been requesting information about kids in other states too. more

Resolved Question: I am pregnant, bipolar, the father wants abortion I do not and its driving me insane. Should I end things?

I found out a little over a month ago that I'm pregnant. Im 19 and have been with my boyfriend for over a year, he is 29. We were using the birth control pill at the time. I feel really guilty though because sometimes I took the pills at the wrong time and was antibiotics at the time that it happened, I really feel like it is all my fault. The guilt drives me absolutely up the wall, because I dont want to ruin his life (which he insists) but I cant get an abortion or give my child up for adoption. Seeing the little baby on the ultrasound was one of the best moments of my life, and I wouldnt give it up for anything. I am pro-choice but I would not have an abortion, its not for me. We have been talking for the last month and while I have accepted this and embraced it, he flip flops between being angry and sad and I am having a lot of trouble dealing with it. I am bipolar which is managed pretty good on meds, but its still not perfect. Lately I have been so depressed because of all this that I have thought of suicide. It scares me because I would never want to hurt my baby but my mental state is so fragile. If I ever felt like killing myself I would go to the emergency room, I went last month just for a few days to get some help. I am so excited for my little girl (or boy, ha ha wishful thinking) but I havent been able to enjoy it or begin to dream and plan because of all this. I just want to embrace being a mommy so bad and start to enjoy it. He has a stable job and an apartment, I rent an apartment but am saving money for maternity leave. Im just thinking I should end it with him, at least for now. I cant deal with him constantly getting angry at me and giving me some hope and then taking it away by changing his mind. It drives me absolutely insane. I find it hard to leave the house and have called in sick for work just because I dont want to move. I hate being in this depressed state but he hates that Im so depressed. It feels like Im caught in this big cycle. So I think ending it for now and giving us some time apart where we arent fighting and making each other crazier might be good, for a couple months. Maybe he will realize that he does love me and will stick by me no matter what and start to embrace it as well, or maybe he will realize he wants nothing to do with my or my baby and give me time apart to accept that maybe I will have to go at this alone? And give me some time to stabilize myself mentally Should I end things with him? What do you think? more

Resolved Question: "Welcome to the family" party: yay or nay?

My lovely amum and adad are currently going through the adoption of another 2 foster children who are siblings. I came into the family the same way, as did my younger twin siblings, though I was 9 when I was adopted and they were just over one. My soon-to-be sisters are 4 and 11; their parents had their rights terminated when they were 18 months and 8 respectively and she's been in foster care since. No one from their bio family was willing to take them in and now they're coming to us. Is it a good idea to have a "welcoming" party? I never had one when I was adopted, but that was through my own choice. We've all tried asking them if they'd like one but we've never really got an answer. My parents don't want to throw too much on them at once by introducing them to the whole family and I understand where everyone's coming from. I've been on both sides. What do you guys think? Did you ever have a welcome party either as an adoptee or the adopter? Thanks in advance! more

Resolved Question: My Bbrother wants to be adopted by my Aparents as an adult?

I have 5 siblings who were kept by my birth parents. They all to varying degrees have problems including substance abuse, PTSD, and depression as a result of their upbringing. But my younger brother has always had the most difficulty coping. He was abused badly by our birth parents and always resented the fact that they kept him and our other siblings while I was placed for adoption and got a great life. My parents have welcomed all my siblings into my life from an early age, and they got very close to my brother and were parent figures to him throughout his teen years. He is now 35 and finally starting to receive counseling for his problems. Out of the blue he phoned me up and asked if my parents would adopt him as an adult I can totally see where he is coming from but am slightly concerned that it is a knee jerk reaction from his therapy. He has spent a lot of time with my family since being very young, and even now he spends all the holidays with us, but I still think it's a big step for him to just jump in to. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Do you think it's something he should seriously consider or just put on hold for now? more

Resolved Question: sponsoring a child in the USA?

Hello, I need some advice. I am a sponsor to 10 children around the world (8 in Africa, 1 in Albania, and 1 in Haiti) and am looking into sponsoring a little girl in the USA (through Save the Children). Some people think it's a good idea, while others don't (they say American children are helped out by the government or whatever) so I was wondering what YOUR opinions are. I, personally, think children in the US need help as well and that sponsoring her would be a great thing! Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated! Oh and the little girl I am thinking about sponsoring is in Arizona. Thank you! (I am putting this in the 'adoption' category even though sponsoring is not the same as adopting) more