Yes indeed - November is “National Adoption Awareness Month.” Last year we were half way through the month of November before I realized that there was a month devoted to adoption. Busy with my little Ella, I was watching almost no TV, and our local newspaper must have forgotten to mention it or it was hidden on an inside page and I missed it.

Now my awareness of adoption is pretty much daily with this blogging position. Sometimes I feel as if I’m in another world when I spend time with friends who are not involved in adoption. I follow their conversations until a certain point when my mind wanders back to the challenges facing so many people who are in the middle of an adoption process from Guatemala. With the completion of their adoptions in serious jeopardy, they face anxiety filled days and nights; they really need our support. Several close acquaintances and friends of mine are going through this precarious process right now and their children’s names are etched in my brain.

I’ve heard that there is no city or town in the US that has not been touched (I'd use the word blessed)by adoption - domestic and/or international. I believe it. Once you become an adoptive parent, it suddenly seems as if you hear about every adoption that has transpired in your family, among your friends, in your hometown, and current residence. A visit to the doctor’s office ultimately leads to someone coming up to talk with you about your adoption and conveying a story about a family member who is adopting or wants to adopt. The often immediate yet fleeting intimacy of conversations with people you meet on airplanes, now turn to the subject of adoption; at least that is my personal experience with all the traveling we’ve been doing in the last few months.

I don’t want to diminish the importance of designating a month to honor and support adoptions, but I would like to remind those of us who adopt that we are ambassadors for adoption all year round. During the month of November perhaps we can be a little more vocal and visible, reaching out to people and organizations that we don’t usually have contact with.

Adoption.com has some great ideas for adoption month so check out the link. I would also suggest reading one new book on adoption this month. Personally I’m going to buy and read Deborah D. Gray’s new book “Nurturing in Adoption: Creating Resilience after Neglect and Trauma.” I find her sensitive, insightful, compassionate and extremely knowledgeable and experienced in adoption issues. “Attachment in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents” has a permanent spot on my bedside.

I also recommend that we all acquire a new book about adoption for our children, or get around to finally starting their lifebooks. One adoption book I personally like was written by Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” called “Let's Talk About Adoption." It would probably appeal to children three years old and up and is an inexpensive paperback.

Kelly over in the Foster Adoption Blog has a blog on adoption books today that is worth taking the time to read. Erin over in the Transracial/Transcultural Blog has a contest going on that is easy to enter, and Sandra over at the Adoption News Blog desk would like to hear your adoption stories.

Have a great and safe weekend everyone.

Photo Credit: Lisa S.