In previous articles, we’ve mentioned that adopted children want to feel normal. The truth is, there’s something magical about adoption that makes things better than normal. Personally speaking, one of the more unique aspects of adoption are the stories about parents who go to great lengths because of their desire to have a family. With the holiday season just around the corner, November is the perfect time to incorporate ways to celebrate National Adoption Month that express thankfulness.

Why You Should Celebrate National Adoption Month

National Adoption Day is a fantastic way of celebrating the day you brought your child home, but wouldn’t you rather celebrate an entire month instead? Thankfully, in 1976, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis declared Adoption Week to help raise awareness. Afterward, in 1995, Former President Clinton decided that National Adoption Week should be extended into National Adoption Month.

But celebrating National Adoption Month is about more than just recognizing children who are adopted. It’s a chance for families to raise awareness about adoption and its issues, get more information about how they can help and offer their support. National Adoption Month is a time that we can band together and show our appreciation towards the individuals, families and agencies that help make adoption possible.

Ways to Celebrate National Adoption Month

There are a variety of ways your family can celebrate National Adoption Month. Since more states are choosing to participate in public events or fundraisers, it’s possible for you to find an event in your area. You can visit the National Adoption Day’s website for more specific information.

If you’re unable to attend a local event, some of the other ways of getting involved include:

1. Celebrating Your Child’s Heritage

Celebrating your child’s heritage can help teach them about having appreciation for their own culture and others. If you’re able to, you can also get grandparents involved to talk about the past and their take on the experience.

2. Retelling Their Story

It can be fun to reconnect with your child by telling them their adoption story. If you kept a scrapbook or took pictures on their adoption day, this would be an excellent time to relive those memories.

3. Watching Adoption-Related Movies

If you have any home videos of the day you brought your child home, this would be the perfect time to watch them together. If not, consider watching a movie with your child about adoption; that way, if they have questions about what their experience was like you can answer them.

4. Finding Adoption Books at Your Library

Getting out of the house is always fun. If you’re looking to educate your child about adoption or find facts yourself, going to the library can be a neat way you can learn together in an open environment.

5. Making a Donation

Like many organizations, adoption agencies can always use a helping-hand. Adoption Choices of Nevada allows you to make donations through their website that benefit the Tomorrow’s Hope Fund. Your donations will assist birth parents that are seeking help from the agency, help adoptive parents who have limited financial resources, and can even go towards purchasing baby supplies for children that are waiting to be adopted.

6. Using Your Voice to Help Others

If you are a parent that wants to get more involved during National Adoption Month and offer support to others, you may want to consider donating your time to an organization that assists with adoptions; you can also create your own or attend a community fundraising event to sponsor adoption awareness. If you’re someone who enjoys research and social media, you can research adoption statistics or issues in your area that need attention to get involved with your city or county. Once you’ve determined the issue(s) you’d like to focus on locally, you can share your voice on social media using #nationaladoptionmonth to increase awareness and followers.

The Smallest Things Can Make a Big Difference

Adoption is about more than just a single family’s success story, it’s the story of an entire family coming together. When you celebrate National Adoption Month, not only are you showing love and support for your own child, you’re showing caring, support and generosity for the other children and families that are now where you once were. There are probably times that you want to forget about any struggles you had during the adoption experience and just focus on the fact that your child is home, but sharing your family’s story can benefit others and make a positive impact on their experience.

Adoption Choices of Nevada

If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact, Adoption Choices of Nevada. You may visit the website here or contact us by 775-825-4673 (Reno Office) or 702-474-4673 (Las Vegas Office). Our hours are Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm PST.

Support Adoption Choices

Adoption Choices, Inc. is partnering with Crowdrise, a fundraising website for nonprofits, to help our adoptive parents and birth parents with much needed financial assistance. We understand that expenses keep clients from fulfilling their dreams. Both with birth parents making a plan for adoption, and with adoptive parents growing their family. It is our mission to provide financial assistance through grants and scholarships, awarded annually in November, in honor of National Adoption Month. Funds assist adoptive parents with matching and placements, adoption finalization and helping birth mothers improve their lives through higher education — and much more.

However, we can’t do it alone. Please read up on our programs and donate money where you are able. Your donation will make a huge impact.

About the Author

Desiree (Desi) Pohl is eager to start her career in writing! A Colorado native and adoptee herself, she lives, works and goes to school online from home. Desi received her BA in Communications in December of 2018 from Grand Canyon University and is currently a full-time online graduate student working towards her MA in English.

The majority of her writing thus far has centered around research papers for school; though, at one point, she created and managed a blog called “PTSD Me” that allowed her to share her personal experiences with others. She enjoys writing short stories and articles focused on women and family issues, mental and physical health, and wellness. Desi has said that it’s important for her writing to reach readers on a personal level, and she loves sharing her own story in hopes it will make a difference to others!

She aspires to become a writer or editor first and foremost when she’s finished with school. When she’s not writing articles or working on homework, Desi enjoys spending time with her husband and three dogs. Being in Colorado, they are a family who loves the outdoors. She’s been a swimmer most of her life and is currently training for her first open-water marathon swim next year at Lake Tahoe!

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Sources: 

“National Adoption Awareness Month.” Together We Rise – Blog, 27 Oct. 2016, https://www.togetherwerise.org/blog/adoption-awareness-month/.

“NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY – November 23, 2019.” National Today, 8 Jan. 2019, https://nationaltoday.com/national-adoption-day/.

“NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH – November.” National Day Calendar, 2019, https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-adoption-month-november/.

Trudden, Andrea. National Adoption Awareness Month. Heartbeat International, https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/national-adoption-awareness-month.

“10 Awesome National Adoption Month Ideas.” New Beginnings Adoptions, 23 Oct. 2015, https://newbeginningsadoptions.org/10-awesome-national-adoption-month-ideas/.

“9 Ways to Celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month.” AdoptHelp, 1 Feb. 2019, https://www.adopthelp.com/9-ways-celebrate-national-adoption-awareness-month/.