California Adoption

Guest Blog: California’s Proposition 8 Affects Families

Submitted by GuestBlogger on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 21:15

Michael and his husband reside in California with their 18-month old adopted son. They hope to adopt another child soon. Michael contributes pertinent information on adoption issues on several websites and groups.

Regardless of your political affiliation, there is no denying that this past November’s election was historic. For the first time in our nation’s history, we had the choice of voting for an African-American presidential candidate and a female vice-presidential candidate. Future will tell if we made the right decision – I shall refrain from inserting my political opinion here!

Yet, in California, we faced an equally historic and hotly debated issue. For the first time in our state’s history Californians were asked to vote on a proposition that would amend our constitution and define marriage between a man and a woman. The proponents of proposition 8 argued that marriage has always been between a man and a woman, and thus it should remain that way. They insisted that marriage was a religious ceremony that dates back several centuries. The opposition argued that marriage was not about religion. Marriage, or the laws that protect those in a marriage, is a civil right, one that does not require a religious ceremony. In fact, many marriages are officiated not by a priest or religious figurehead, but by a justice of the peace. So who was right? Well, apparently 52% of the voting population decided that California’s constitution should be amended to reflect the new definition.

Guest Blog: Tyler, Coming Home, the Visit Second Day

Submitted by GuestBlogger on Sun, 10/26/2008 - 00:15

Our guest blog is from John, a retired commercial airline pilot who has adopted four boys, and working on number 5, from domestic foster care as a single parent. John and his family live in southern California.

 

Night was the local fun center, just what we needed. Go Karts that we turned into bumper cars. He didn’t get my humor for a while. I would tap the rear of his kart and he would wobble, I would say ‘sorry’, of course, I didn’t mean it. He got it, and then it got interesting. We were enjoying each other, laser tag, a big hit, and miniature golf. Mr. Silent was long Gone. That night, many questions, about my sons, about adoption, about Los Angeles, about issues he had to deal with, and one that clearly puzzled him. “What about masturbation?” A gutsy question, most kids on a first visit would never have the guts to ask. When its OK, why its important, and no, its not an off limits topic. Lots of chance in his questions to make it clear that no matter what, he was OK. Sleep came easily for Tyler. I was getting to see all of my son, not just the easy to deal with parts. How spectacular, God does have a plan.

Guest Blog: Tyler, Coming Home, the Visit First 24 Hours

Submitted by GuestBlogger on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 23:50

Our guest blog is from John, a retired commercial airline pilot who has adopted four boys, and working on number 5, from domestic foster care as a single parent. John and his family live in southern California.

 

First meetings are scary. As a retired airline pilot, I can tell you that no emergency in the cockpit ever compared with the stress of a first meeting with a new child. It is so important, and you want so badly for it to go right. This would be my fifth first meeting. As usual, this was in the child’s area, I live 600 miles south.