Super cute adoption party ideas!
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.
The best Adoption Party ideas for an adoption day celebration. How to celebrate an adoption and our top tips for an adoption day party.
Super cute adoption party ideas!
Personalized Smores boxes or bag toppers (contents not included)! Perfect for your adoption celebrationThe boxes are large enough to fit all the Smores ingredients! Your last name or fave saying can be printed on the back. Black color is chalkboard style. Make it a complete set with our cupcake toppers, water bottle labels, cake topper, banner, wine labels, etc.... LISTING OPTIONS: $25- Includes 10 EMPTY cardstock boxes $15- Includes 10 bag toppers with 10 clear baggies---CONTENTS NOT INCLUDED! If you want filled, PM me for a quote. $105- Includes 10 filled boxes with all the Smores ingredients! **NOTE- If you order more than 12 boxes contents ship separately. They're wrapped individually and boxes are fully assembled all you need to do is add to boxes yourself** If you want skewers or bag contents, email us for a quote. If you want your specific logo, or family photo design, Send us a custom request. ORDERING: Please assure that you provide your personalization details under the NOTE TO SELLER section at checkout.
The adoption process is exhausting. Celebrate the end of a long journey with these Adoption Party Ideas. From celebration themed showers, photo ideas, quotes and more. Be apart of the happy ending.
Super cute adoption party ideas!
Super cute adoption party ideas!
It seems like its hard to find ideas for adoption party themes, especially if you're adopting from foster care. I've been planni...
The adoption process is exhausting. Celebrate the end of a long journey with these Adoption Party Ideas. From celebration themed showers, photo ideas, quotes and more. Be apart of the happy ending.
Do you want to celebrate Gotcha Day? These gift ideas for Gotcha Day are awesome and perfect for celebrating the occasion.
The best Adoption Party ideas for an adoption day celebration. How to celebrate an adoption and our top tips for an adoption day party.
The best Adoption Party ideas for an adoption day celebration. How to celebrate an adoption and our top tips for an adoption day party.
Happy Gotcha Day!
The adoption process is exhausting. Celebrate the end of a long journey with these Adoption Party Ideas. From celebration themed showers, photo ideas, quotes and more. Be apart of the happy ending.
Attention! Gather your troops as we bring you an awesome boot camp themed party! Check out our latest post on the site, because this party was a total blast!
The adoption process is exhausting. Celebrate the end of a long journey with these Adoption Party Ideas. From celebration themed showers, photo ideas, quotes and more. Be apart of the happy ending.
Super cute adoption party ideas!
It seems like its hard to find ideas for adoption party themes, especially if you're adopting from foster care. I've been planni...
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…
If you are looking to throw a puzzle-themed party, all of your puzzle party resources are here! Free printables for party games, decor, and activities.
Yes we celebrate Gotcha Day to mark our children's adoptions although we don't call it Gotcha Day. Here's a little bit about how we do things and why.
How to throw the best adoption baby shower party - Adoption Baby Shower Invitations, Adoption Quotes ..
Adopting a child is an important event in any family's life. The day that the child arrives in your home is a day to celebrate. Your family and this child are starting a new life together, and you want her to know that she is valued and wanted. You want her to feel at home in her new surroundings.
Gotcha! -This is most definitely one of my all-time-favorite games! Fun to play and to watch!Players stand in a circle, arms out to the side. Their left palm is up with their right index finger poi…
Are you planning a bachelor party? No bachelor party is complete without some activities. Here are the 30 best bachelor party games to know!
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...
Happy Gotcha Day!
There are many ways to celebrate your family's adoption anniversary, from ways to give back to activities that strengthen your family bond.
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!
If you are looking to throw a puzzle-themed party, all of your puzzle party resources are here! Free printables for party games, decor, and activities.
If you are looking to throw a puzzle-themed party, all of your puzzle party resources are here! Free printables for party games, decor, and activities.
Pet lovers commemorate the day they adopted their cherished animal by celebrating Gotcha Day. It is the anniversary of the day a pet entered a family and
12 Simple April Fools' Day Pranks
20 Gotcha Gift Ideas to Celebrate Your Dogs Adoption Day. Get ready to shower your adopted pup with love and laughter!
I struggled with not having an adoption shower. It made me feel others didn't care about my family, which probably wasn't true. Here's my thoughts about it.
Happy Gotcha Day!
