Portrait of an Adoption

Carrie’s award-winning blog on ChicagoNow featured a yearly collection of posts for National Adoption Awareness Month. Below, find a list of several years’ worth of guest posts for “30 Days of Adoption Portraits.” 

Jazzy’s Quest: Adopted and Amazing

The Jazzy’s Quest chapter book series features a strong, sensitive adoptee named Jazzy Armstrong! Told from Jazzy’s point of view, these books are a perfect next step for your child’s library.

Fourth grader Jasmine is the youngest of three daughters, and the only adoptee in the musically gifted Amazing Armstrong family.  But secretly, Jasmine doesn’t like to sing or play instruments. The big community talent show is approaching, and Jasmine must scramble to figure out what her act will be.  Will her birth family be able to help? How will Jasmine discover what makes her amazing? A passionate Star Wars fan with a keen interest in making intricate costumes, Jasmine learns to follow her own path, with the support of both her families. [read more…]

 

2020 Series

For the tenth straight year, in honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is running a special series called 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will feature guest posts by adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, waiting adoptive parents, and foster parents-turned-adoptive parents. Painful and beautiful, these stories will bring you a deeper understanding of what adoption looks like, allowing you to appreciate the many brushstrokes that comprise a family portrait.

Late Discovery, Revisited

Late Discovery, Revisited

Nov 17, 2020 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  Late Discovery, Revisited By Kevin Gladish Five years ago, only three short...

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

Nov 17, 2020 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  Lessons Learned By Jessica O’Dwyer Shortly before Covid shut down the world, I...

Moving Forward

Moving Forward

Nov 14, 2020 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  Moving Forward By Rikki Daniels Ten years ago, I wrote a piece for this...

Having Coffee

Nov 12, 2020 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  Having Coffee By Ann Cser It's been almost eleven years since my husband was...

My Cell Phone Rang; I Ignored It.

My Cell Phone Rang; I Ignored It.

Nov 9, 2020 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  My Cell Phone Rang: I Ignored It By Gina Sampaio My cell phone rang. It was a...

2019 Series

For the ninth straight year, in honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is running a special series called 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will feature guest posts by adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, waiting adoptive parents, and foster parents-turned-adoptive parents. Painful and beautiful, these stories will bring you a deeper understanding of what adoption looks like, allowing you to appreciate the many brushstrokes that comprise a family portrait.

Letting Go

Letting Go

Nov 19, 2019 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  Letting Go By Susan Dutra One day in the early Spring of 2012, after months of...

Family Resemblance

Family Resemblance

Nov 18, 2019 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  Family Resemblance By Rosalind C Hughes I was a lanky child, long of limb and...

I Am the Lucky One

I Am the Lucky One

Nov 17, 2019 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  I Am the Lucky One By Dr. Meridith Gould In the past six months since my daughter...

The Unexpected Reunion

The Unexpected Reunion

Nov 15, 2019 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  The Unexpected Reunion By M Each summer, I have a reunion visit with the...

I Am Just Mommy

I Am Just Mommy

Nov 13, 2019 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  I Am Just Mommy By Heather Kurut “Find your tribe.  Love them hard.” A pithy,...

We All Had One Big Thing in Common

We All Had One Big Thing in Common

Nov 11, 2019 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  We All Had One Big Thing in Common By Missy Snapp There are days when it is not...

I Bend But Do Not Break

I Bend But Do Not Break

Nov 10, 2019 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  I Bend But Do Not Break By Fran Dichner Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the...

2018 Series

For the eighth straight year, in honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is running a special series called 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will feature guest posts by adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, waiting adoptive parents, and foster parents-turned-adoptive parents. Painful and beautiful, these stories will bring you a deeper understanding of what adoption looks like, allowing you to appreciate the many brushstrokes that comprise a family portrait.

She Comes Home

Nov 20, 2018 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.  By Jennifer Watson "Wow..." I say softly to the bundle in my lap, "you are a very...

Empty Boots

Nov 19, 2018 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives. By Andrea RossI readied myself for my appointment with Joan, the...

Who Dares Fathom Such Grief?

Nov 17, 2018 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives. By Daniel Drennan ElAwar We remain the repulsed, splinters, expelled...

The Love Flows The Same

Nov 16, 2018 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives. By Allison BantaI remember when people would find out that we were...

Finding Herb

Nov 15, 2018 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives. By Jennifer Evans“Molly, do you remember my father?” I had a right to...

New Beginnings

Nov 14, 2018 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives. By Lori Prashker-Thomas“I met you on March 23, 1996.”I dropped the...

Adopted Across the Color Line

Nov 13, 2018 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives. By Lucy Waldmeir “Where are you from?” I’ve been searching for the...

2017 Series

For the seventh straight year, in honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is running a special series called 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will feature guest posts by adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, waiting adoptive parents, and foster parents-turned-adoptive parents. Painful and beautiful, these stories will bring you a deeper understanding of what adoption looks like, allowing you to appreciate the many brushstrokes that comprise a family portrait.

184 Days With You

Nov 18, 2017 | ,

By Lizzie HopeWelcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.I remember the bedroom where I was sitting twenty-four...

On Destiny, and Complexity

Nov 16, 2017 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.By Rabbi Susan SilvermanWho shall live and who shall die?This is a...

A Letter To My Father

Nov 14, 2017 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences and perspectives.By Kelsi MacklinDear Dad,Father’s Day is coming up. I will be moving...

2016 Series

For the sixth straight year, in honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is running a special series called 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will feature guest posts by adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, waiting adoptive parents, and foster parents-turned-adoptive parents. Painful and beautiful, these stories will bring you a deeper understanding of what adoption looks like, allowing you to appreciate the many brushstrokes that comprise a family portrait.

The ABC’s of Adoption

The ABC’s of Adoption

Nov 20, 2016 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences.By Gloria OrenWhat are the A B C’s of adoption?For the purpose of this post, the A B C’s...

Come Meet Your Son

Come Meet Your Son

Nov 19, 2016 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences.By SCome Meet Your SonWe wanted to adopt, and we hoped to adopt a newborn. Originally,...

My Daughters’ Other Mother

My Daughters’ Other Mother

Nov 18, 2016 | ,

In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is hosting the sixth annual acclaimed series, 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will...

Ruins and Ladders

Ruins and Ladders

Nov 15, 2016 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences.By Andrea RossAfter I told my parents I wanted to search for my birth family, we sent...

A Better Plan Than Mine

A Better Plan Than Mine

Nov 13, 2016 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences.By Whitney MarshIt was only fitting that Sophia held him first. I was almost afraid to...

Finding My Treasure Within

Finding My Treasure Within

Nov 10, 2016 | ,

Welcome to 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days, hosted by Portrait of an Adoption. This series will feature guest posts by people with widely varying adoption experiences.By Rick WempleI was given up for adoption when I was five days old. Not one day old....

2015 Series

For the fifth straight year, in honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is running a special series called 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will feature guest posts by adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, waiting adoptive parents, and foster parents-turned-adoptive parents. Painful and beautiful, these stories will bring you a deeper understanding of what adoption looks like, allowing you to appreciate the many brushstrokes that comprise a family portrait.

The Foundation of a Promise

The Foundation of a Promise

Nov 20, 2015 | ,

In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is hosting the fifth annual acclaimed series, 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days.  Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will...

Who Am I?

Who Am I?

Nov 17, 2015 | ,

In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is hosting the fourth annual acclaimed series, 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days.  Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series...

What Adoption Means To Me

What Adoption Means To Me

Nov 14, 2015 | ,

In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is hosting the fifth annual acclaimed series, 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days.  Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will...

More Family, More Alone

More Family, More Alone

Nov 12, 2015 | ,

In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is hosting the fifth annual acclaimed series, 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days.  Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will...

Standing At The Podium

Standing At The Podium

Nov 11, 2015 | ,

In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is hosting the fifth annual acclaimed series, 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days.  Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will...

2014 Series

For the fourth straight year, in honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Portrait of an Adoption is running a special series called 30 Adoption Portraits in 30 Days. Designed to give a voice to the many different perspectives of adoption, this series will feature guest posts by adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, waiting adoptive parents, and foster parents-turned-adoptive parents. Painful and beautiful, these stories will bring you a deeper understanding of what adoption looks like, allowing you to appreciate the many brushstrokes that comprise a family portrait.