The Hard Stuff Of Adoption

I'll try to keep this post as general as possible for privacy, but I would be amiss not to chronicle some tough adoption stuff that is happening as all three of our children are rapidly approaching adulthood and starting new phases of their lives that can change perspectives and impact relationships.

One of our children is now directly in touch with their family of origin.  We have had contact with the family for many years and even met in person, but until recently I have served as a conduit, helping with some of the lost in translation situations and mitigating some cultural and personality differences.  However, a recent interest in a closer relationship with a slightly younger full biological sibling brought about the direct contact which now also includes first mom and dad.

With that, our child has been asking some hard questions, requiring honesty, transparency and vulnerability from the family of origin which appears to exceed the family's current capacity to share and engage.  Confusion and distrust are heightened by the fact that information from our child's original documents does not align with the first parents' stated narrative.  Both our child and their sibling are now struggling for answers that may never come or never be enough.

As this process unfolds, I stand by to offer support when it's requested.  I've been able to help with bouncing around thoughts and feelings, with reviewing documents, and with exploring potential scenarios based on what we do know and what might happen next.  I maintain respect and compassion for the family of origin without diminishing our child's complicated, confounding views and evolving emotions as they sort out their own early (hi)story.

And even though this is a difficult time of growth for our child, I know we're lucky to have as much information as we do and to have access to a first family that is interested in a relationship the specifics of which remain yet to be developed.

MOJ Referrals IAC Sessions 659 to 663

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 659 held on December 5, 2025:

1) French dossier from December 2016 referred a male child aged 3 years and 6 months

2) US dossier from December 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

3) Canadian dossier from February 2024 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

4) US dossier from December 2025 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referral was issued in IAC Session 660 held on December 11, 2025:

1) Italian dossier from April 2024 referred a male child aged 6 years and 4 months with features in development and a family history

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 661 held on January 16, 2026:

1) US dossier from April 2025 referred an identified waiting child

2) US dossier from December 2025 referred an identified waiting child

3) US dossier from January 2026 referred an identified waiting child

4) US dossier from January 2026 referred an identified waiting child

5) US dossier from January 2026 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 662 held on January 22, 2026:

1) Spanish dossier from February 2019 referred a male child aged 3 years and 7 months

2) Italian dossier from November 2023 referred a brother and sister aged 7 years and 10 months & 10 years and 1 month with features in development and a family history

3) Italian dossier from July 2025 referred a male child aged 11 years

4) Italian dossier from July 2025 referred a female child aged 9 years and 5 months with features in development and behavior

5) Canadian dossier from December 2025 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from January 2026 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 663 held on January 28, 2026:

1) Italian dossier from February 2021 referred a female child aged 12 years and 9 months

2) Dutch dossier from April 2022 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

3) Italian dossier from November 2023 referred brothers aged 9 years and 3 months & 7 years and 11 months with features in development and a family history

4) US dossier from July 2024 referred a female child aged 5 years and 4 months with features in health status

Simply The Best

We've seen it all in the world of therapy and intervention: success and failure, fit and mismatch, progress and plateau.  So when you do find the best, you hold on.  It's been a decade with our trusted Gina (aka Ginabutter and Jelly) and we're so thankful.

School Is Hard - Bacon Helps

When his home school life skills lesson involves cooking bacon, Middle Kiddo is all in.

New Year New Floor

 And home school life/job skills training to boot for our Big Girl.

MOJ IAC Sessions 649-658

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 649 which was held on September 4, 2025:

1) Spanish dossier from April 2022 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

2) Italian dossier from August 2025 referred a female child aged 12 years and 6 months

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 650 which was held on September 12, 2025:

1) Italian dossier from April  2023 referred a male child aged 3 years and 8 months with features in health and development and a family history

2) US dossier from September 2025 referred an identified waiting child

3) US dossier from September 2025 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 651 which was held on September 18, 2025:

1) Italian dossier from May 2017 referred a female child aged 5 years

2) US dossier from July 2024 referred a female child aged 5 years and 7 months with features in health and development

3) US dossier from December 2024 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health and development and a family history

4) US dossier from February 2025 referred a male child aged 12 years and 8 months

5) US dossier from May 2025 referred a male child aged 2 years and 5 months with features in health status

6) Italian dossier from August 2025 referred a male child aged 11 years and 11 months with features in health and development and a family history

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 652 which was held on October 3, 2025:

1) Italian dossier from December 2023 referred a brother and sister aged 7 years and 7 months & 9 years and 10 months with features in health status and a family history

2) US dossier from September 2025 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 653 which was held on October 16, 2025:

1) Italian dossier from April 2023 referred brothers aged 8 years and 1 month & 6 year and 1 month with features in health status

2) US dossier from July 2024 referred a male child aged 3 years and 5 months with features in health and development and a family history

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 654 which was held on October 24, 2025:

1) Spanish dossier from March 2016 referred a male child aged 6 years and 9 months

2) Swiss dossier from December 2016 referred a female child aged 9 years and 5 months

3) Spanish dossier from April 2017 referred a female child aged 2 years and 9 months with a family history

4) Canadian dossier from October 2024 referred siblings aged 8 years (female), 12 years (female) and 9 years and 8 months (male)

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 655 which was held on November 6, 2025:

1) Canadian dossier from August 2025 referred siblings aged 9 years and 4 months (female), 8 years and 3 months (female) and 10 years and 10 months (male) with features in development

2) US dossier from October 2025 referred an identified waiting child

3) US dossier from October 2025 referred an identified waiting child

4) US dossier from October 2025 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 656 which was held on November 13, 2025:

1) US/German dossier from October 2025 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 657 which was held on November 20, 2025:

1) Italian dossier from July 2023 referred a female child aged 12 years and 3 months

2) US dossier from May 2024 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 658 which was held on November 28, 2025:

1) US dossier from January 2020 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history

2) French dossier from December 2022 referred a female child aged 6 years and 11 months with features in health and development and a family history

3) Italian dossier from April 2024 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

4) Italian dossier from December 2024 referred a male child aged 6 years and 3 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from March 2025 referred a female child aged 5 years and 9 months with features in health status

6) Canadian dossier from September 2025 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

7) US dossier from November 2025 referred an identified waiting child

Brand Ambassador

Aside from her longstanding babysitting gig, this week Big Girl started her first legitimate job as a brand ambassador. We're very proud of how she moved herself through the process of getting employment and pushed another step closer to independent living.