Welcome to Openly Parenting —helping you navigate life as parents!
This is a space for real parenting: the boundaries, the meltdowns, the moments you second-guess yourself, and everything in between.
This space started because there wasn't much out there on navigating open adoption after the adoption was finalized. So much focus goes to the process — the paperwork, the phases, the hoops — that the actual, ongoing relationship on the other side often gets left out of the conversation. Here, you'll find real, lived experience on what that looks like: visits, boundaries, communication, and building something that works for your family long after the finalization paperwork is signed.
But this is also a space for parenting more broadly — the everyday complexities of raising kids, including what I've learned (and am still learning) navigating anxiety, ADHD, and all the normal, messy stuff in between. Whether it's setting boundaries, advocating for your child's needs, or the things nobody tells you not to do as a parent, you'll find practical ideas here.
Behind Openly Parenting
Parenthood for us was no easy venture. It took years of trying, fertility appointments, two rounds of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), and finally adoption. Becoming a parent wasn’t as easy as we had hoped it would be, and when it came to choosing adoption, there weren’t a lot of resources for us to utilize.
Thus, I want to be a place where people who are considering open adoption can feel at home. There are a lot of misconceptions out there and there’s a lot of information that can truly be comforting, should you feel that open adoption is right for you.
The story doesn’t just end once you reach parenthood. There are still things to learn and navigate post legalization and these experiences can sometimes translate to all parents.
No two adoptions are the same; just like no two families are the same. We are all doing our best and have different variables to consider. I never want a parent to walk away from my page feeling like they aren’t doing all “the things.” Instead, I want them to see there are different ways of doing things — things to try and get inspired by.
This is a place of ideas, shared experiences, something to consider that may or may not align with you. But most importantly, this is a place to remind you that you are not alone.
