Karen's Adoption Links Blog

Soup seems to be the soul of Slavic cooking. If you are looking for good soup recipes, check out Natasha's Kitchen  for great recipes.  Borscht (beets), Rassolnik (Beef, barley and pickles), Kapustnyak  (Sauerkraut),   Kharcho (tomato and beef) and many more. See all her soup recipes here . And what is cooking without a great apron? 

When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I wrote down “happy.”  They told me I didn’t understand the assignment.  I told them they didn’t understand life. Be happy. Choose happiness.

You are not failing, it is a child's job to grow through learning! Have faith in yourself and process. Have faith in your child and the process. Seek out connected parenting resources ~ This one has been helpful to me:  Parenting Teens and Tweens with Connection

Creative Face Masks with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and American Flags

LATVIA - I contacted USDOS regarding Latvia closing for adoptions. Dear Ms. Holt, We know that there have been reports that the Latvian Parliament  voted to stop intercountry adoption, however we verified that this is not accurate. The Human Rights Committee of the Latvian Parliament recently drafted legislation that would end all intercountry adoptions, including pipeline cases. The first reading of the draft legislation is expected to occur on July 2, and there must be at least two readings before Parliament can vote. If passed, the legislation proposes that the ban begin on September 1, 2020. The Office of Children's Issues met virtually with the Latvian Embassy and the Latvian Ministry of Welfare on June 18 to discuss their concerns and we will continue to encourage that intercountry adoption remain open and that pipeline cases reach conclusion if adoption does close. Thank you, Office of Children's Issues U.S. Department of State

Beteseb Felega – Ethiopian Adoption Connection is a grassroots effort to reconnect family members separated by adoption and to provide compassionate support to adoptees, birth family members, and adoptive parents. Our internet database contains Ethiopian adoption information provided by adopted people/adoptive parents and birth families who are looking for each other. The website has research and advice on birth family reunions; a reunion registry, and information how to move forward on a search.

Considering contact via social media? *There is no privacy on social media. A boyfriend or husband may be reading the messages and be very angry about not knowing. (there is less acceptance of adoption and more acceptance of domestic abuse in most of EE/FSU) *A mother may not actually be using that account, or not know how to check messages (this is true in USA too), doesn't reply, thus leaving the adoptee or AP feeling rejected, when the message was just not seen. *No support for the birth mother in her processing of the situation. *Birth mother may perceive it as a scam and/or blackmail attempt, especially given in Russia/other countries they have little experience with open adoptions. She may not reply because she is afraid. *An experienced searcher is skilled in communicating with birth family, reassuring them of your good intentions. An experienced searcher will gather medical and family history for you. My advice? Use social media as a way to connect afterwards, n...