Millie Holloman may be the only one who signed the papers to make her foster daughter her adopted daughter, but that doesn't mean it was a solo journey. In fact, this mom's "adoption day" photoshoot included just about everyone in her life that was…

It seems like its hard to find ideas for adoption party themes, especially if you're adopting from foster care. I've been planni...

Do you remember the first time you brought your fur family home? No doubt, it’s a sweet memory that you cherish.

The best Adoption day shirts are here! Find Superman, Gotcha Day tees, and Family Adoption Day T-Shirt Ideas! Are you ready for court day?

Hand painted chalkboard sign for an Adoption Day celebration! Use this beautiful hand painted sign as a prop in your child's adoption photo shoot or as a decoration on display for their special day! Signs are all made to order so they can be customized or changed to fit your needs. Chalkboard size is 16 x 20 with a 1 inch border all the way around. Please specify the dates, the name and the colors in the "personalization" section. Color options are available in the last photo. If you would like to see a different design, please message me and I would be happy to work with you on something unique!

May is National Foster Care month. I started this post last November, but I was in the middle of the pre-Christmas series and never got it ...

You'll find adoption day signs, quotes, and more here! Your big day is approaching, so don't miss this perfect adoption day sign idea!

Super cute adoption party ideas!

Adoptions are a big deal around here, since all three of my kids were adopted. My most popular blog post is a pile of foster-to-adopt p...

Millie Holloman may be the only one who signed the papers to make her foster daughter her adopted daughter, but that doesn't mean it was a solo journey. In fact, this mom's "adoption day" photoshoot included just about everyone in her life that was…

Dear Sugar: Let's start with this: Yes, our family celebrates our kids' Gotcha Days. Before you start tweeting me, hold on. Hear me out. Three and four and five (plus) years ago, we didn't celebrate our kids' Gotcha Days. I as adamantly opposed. We had read on many forums that it was wrong to do so. I mean, it was, according to the Internet, essentially celebrating the severing of a birth family, and anyone celebrating such a day was certainly a clueless imbecile who coated adoption loss in cotton candy and glittery butterflies. Then two years ago, I was having a heart-to-heart with a friend who is both an adoptee and a mom-by-adoption. I told her, of course we do not celebrate Gotcha Day! And she said something that blew. my. mind. She replied: "Um, why not?" She shared how her mom made a big deal out of her day. Presents. A special outfit. A nice meal and dessert. A day of just celebrating her beautiful, smart, talented, kind self. It was as close to a birthday celebration as it could get. And guess what? SHE LOVED IT. And I thought, have I been denying my kids something really cool? To alleviate some sort of guilt? To attempt to be super respectful of birth families with whom we love dearly--even though they had never voiced that celebrating the children and their adoptions was wrong? Silly. Silly Mommy. I really didn't have a good reason other than someone I don't know and will never meet told me on the Internet that Gotcha Day is one of the ultimate adoption sins, and committing means I'm a heartless beast. So I asked my children, would you like to do something special to celebrate your adoption? It would be the anniversary of when we finalized your adoption, when you became a Garlinghouse forever. What do you think? The answer was an overwhelming, resounding yes. And so I swallowed my doubt and said, ok. I marked their adoption finalization dates on the calendar. On their days, we gave them a small gift and made a special dessert. And they, like my friend, LOVED it. They spent their entire days grinning ear-to-ear, reminding everyone around them it was their SPECIAL DAY. So here's where I'm at: I'm totally open to the celebration changing, going away, or becoming bigger and better. I'm open to whatever each of my children needs and desires, individually. You know why? Because as my friend Madeleine tells us in her book Dear Adoptive Parents, What You Need to Know Right Now From an Adoptee, we need to do our job. She gives us "permission slips" to BE the mother and father our children need. That's what being a good parent is: meeting the child's needs. (Please, please, please, read the book. I cannot tell you how much I learned from her words, how encouraged I felt, and how refreshing it was!) So I'm going to keep doing that. I'm going to consider, of course, the experiences of others. Absolutely. Had I of not done that, we wouldn't have considered celebrating adoption finalizations in the first place. And I'm going to do the job I was chosen to do: raise my children, encourage them, support them, listen to them, empathize with them, and love them for exactly who they are. And of course, we're going to celebrate their fabulous selves---without worrying anymore about what is "correct" and instead, what is right for each child. Oh, and we do not, in fact, call it "Gotcha Day" for a few reasons. First, I hate "gotcha." It's creepy. It's like sneaking up behind someone and grabbing them while yelling "BOO!" No. We call adoption days, "Adoption Day," because it's simple, it's direct, and it is what it is. The end. I know some others prefer to call it Family Day. Take it from Madeleine: Whatever your child wants and needs is what is right. -This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Happy Gotcha Day!

Super cute adoption party ideas!

Check out these Presidents' Day Math Worksheets for Preschool if your students need practice counting to ten or with math concepts such as same/different, taller/shorter, more/less and patterning (ABAB). These NO-PREP printables would correlate nicely with social studies lessons on Presidents' Day, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington. Use this Presidents' Day Math resource for: ►Independent work ►Small group work ►Extra practice ►Math centers ►Assessment ►Tutoring ►Homework/take-home packets Skills addressed: ✔Count to 10. ✔Recognize numbers to 10. ✔Identify sets to 10. ✔Same/different ✔More/less ✔Taller/shorter ✔Order by size ✔Categorizing ✔Finish an ABAB pattern. ⭐Click on the VIEW PREVIEW thumbnail above for a look at all that is included. ********************************************************************** YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: ❤Presidents' Day Play Dough Counting Mats 0-10 ❤Pennies Count and Clip Cards 1-20 (FREEBIE) ⭐Click for more Presidents' Day resources. ********************************************************************* CUSTOMER TIPS: Follow my store to learn about new products and store sales. Also, by rating this product and leaving feedback you will earn credits toward future TpT purchases. ❤New followers are always welcome and much appreciated! ❤Thank you so much for browsing at Linda's Loft for Little Learners.

So the time has finally come! The wait is over! It’s time to celebrate your adoption becoming final and you want to throw a festive party to commemorate this life-changing event. This isnR…

The best Adoption Party ideas for an adoption day celebration. How to celebrate an adoption and our top tips for an adoption day party.

Here's why we don't consider Gotcha Day offensive, and how we celebrate Adoption Day with our son as the day our adoption was finalized!

Do you want to celebrate Gotcha Day? These gift ideas for Gotcha Day are awesome and perfect for celebrating the occasion.

How to throw the best adoption baby shower party - Adoption Baby Shower Invitations, Adoption Quotes ..

A satirical look at the silly and sometimes insensitive things people say when they don't understand adoption.

China adoptions usually have gotcha day and family day 24 hours apart. Read our family's experience meeting our daughter for the first time.

Super cute adoption party ideas!

Are you an adoptive parent, work in the field of adoption or are considering adoption? Here are 25 inspiring adoption quotes to encourage you. Adpotion is a beautiful process, but it can also be incredibly difficult. Would-be adoptive parents wait for years (often suffering heart-break along the way) as they wait for a child toContinue Reading

Happy Gotcha Day!

Personalize Online Invitations on your phone, tablet, or desktop. Punchbowl offers hundreds of free online invitations!

“The second Michael caught a glimpse of his brother from across the playground, he ran with all his might and jumped into his arms. We…

Millie Holloman may be the only one who signed the papers to make her foster daughter her adopted daughter, but that doesn't mean it was a solo journey. In fact, this mom's "adoption day" photoshoot included just about everyone in her life that was…

China adoptions usually have gotcha day and family day 24 hours apart. Read our family's experience meeting our daughter for the first time.

These adoption shower themes include ideas for babies, older children, international, and domestic adoption. Because every child deserves to be celebrated!

It seems like its hard to find ideas for adoption party themes, especially if you're adopting from foster care. I've been planning ...

Super cute adoption party ideas!