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Post Adoption Community News serves as a continuum of
resources for all adoptive families through thoughtful insight and
constant contact. Please feel free to forward Post Adoption
Community News to friends and family!
This month: Rituals and Ceremony
Please note: For families who finalized through the
Minnesota's Waiting Child program, all post adoption educational
offering fees are covered by a grant from the Minnesota Department
of Human Services.
| What Adoption Rituals Does Your Family
Celebrate? |
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What exactly are rituals and ceremonies? Rituals
are repeated acts or a series of acts, done with intention,
serving a greater meaning. A ceremony is a grouping of
rituals making a significant event. Why are rituals and
ceremonies important you ask? Post Adoption's Melissa Mendez,
LISW and Certified Celebrant has some insight:
- Rituals and ceremonies have always played a key role in
all societies, particularly at times of major transition in
people's lives
- They assist people to 'step over the threshold' at times
of major change
- They can be an effective way to deal with change.
- They help us express our feelings, thoughts and emotions
in a concrete way.
- They bring people together during difficult times of
transition and also celebratory times.
It is important to note that often common societal
rituals are not extended to adoptive families (for example:
baby showers, meal trains, baby arrival decorations..etc.).
However, the inclusion of ritual and ceremony can enhance and
acknowledge the adoption process for families! When
establishing rituals or ceremonies within your family it is
important to involve the main ceremony participants in the
planning and implementation of the ceremony when
possible.
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| Learn How to Create Your Own Family
Rituals! |
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Don't wait for the next birthday; start thinking about
a new family ritual today! Join CHSFS adoption social workers
Corrie Wold and Jennifer Lavigne for a discussion on the
importance of family rituals. Learn how to create and
incorporate your own, customized ceremonies into your
family!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006; 6:30-8 p.m.; $10 per
person. Click
here to register.
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| It's Time to Register for More Bubble Gum
Years! |
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The first session of the preteen (ages8=-12) support
group, The Bubble Gum Years, has wrapped up with lots of great
reviews. Children representing five different birth countries
enjoyed the activities and topics addressed during the past
six weeks. Parents met separately with a social work
facilitator.
Session II wil be starting in January and is a new
curriculum, so whether you participated in Session I or not,
you will enjoy the great activities and topics in Session II.
The Bubble Gum Years is a safe group for children to talk
about adoption- related issues.
Session II of Bubble Gum Years will meet Jan. 29, Feb,
12 & 26, Mar. 12 & 26, and April 9. The group will be
held at 1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul. Dinner is provided at 6
p.m. and then the group runs from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
To register or for more information, please contact Jenni
Edwards at 651-255-2261 or at jedwards@chsfs.org.
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| Dealing with the Winter Blahs--Seasonal Affective
Disorder! |
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Blah Humbug! Although we often joke about the "winter
blahs", we adults may experience symtoms such as lethargy,
fatigue, strong appetite, pulling away from others and
difficulties focussing from November through March. These
"winter blahs" effect 25 million Americans every year, with 10
million experiencing more extreme symptoms leading to a
diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). Click
here to read the rest of this article.
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| Ask P.A.S.! |
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If you have a question related to you or your
child's adoption, please email aroeglin@chsfs.org. Please note
that we cannot respond to all emails, but stay tuned to
upcoming issues of this newsletter to see if your question is
answered. Thank you!!
Dear PAS: I recently read A Love Like not
Other -a collection of short stories surrounding
different themes of adoption. In one of the stories addressing
differences and race, an author wrote: " I am disinclined to
dictate to [my daughter] what her skin color, Asian features
and cultural heritage mean to her. I'm not Asian; how could I
possibly know? I also don't know how to instill racial pride
in her.." I wonder how I, as a parent of transracial adoption,
can ride the fine line of promoting race/ethnic awareness and
admitting that I don't really know how it feels? Can I give my
child her ethnic/genetic self when it's different than me? And
do I do this more now when she is a pre-schooler than l should
as she gets older? -Adoptive Parent
Dear Parent: First of all, thanks for reading
December's Adoption Book Club book; we missed you at our
discussion! Congratulations on your desire to promote a
healthy ethnic and racial identity in your child. There is a
wealth of resources out there transracial parenting out
there..... Click
here to read more.....
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| The Book Nook |
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For the Whole Family!!
- Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa by Burden- Patmon
- Chanukah Lights Everywhere by Rosin
- Lighting a Lamp by Zucker
- Lights for Gita by Gilmore
- National Geographic's Holidays Around the World
series
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World Celebrations-December 19! Register
today! |
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Help your child connect to their birth culture and
learn more about other cultures too! This fun, activity-packed
evening is for all family members and as always, is open to
all regardless of placing agency.
Please bring friends and extended family members to
show them more about your child's birth culture. Enjoy snacks,
take-home activities, and entertainment! This is an
opportunity to escape from the commercialism of the holiday
season and celebrate your child!
Celebration Highlights include:
- International Snacks and Drinks
- Korean Mask Making
- Indian Diwali Lights
- Russian Nesting Boxes
- and much, much more!!
The event will be held December 19 from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. Cost is $15/person or $30/family. Click here to register
or call Robyn Sjostrom directly at 651-255-2308.
PARTICIPANTS WANTED IN ADOPTION STUDY!
The University of Pittsburgh is conducting a research
study to assess the ways that parents of children adopted from
Asia help their children develop identity. Please consider
participanting (children and adults). This study is approved
by the Institutional Rview Board at the University of
Pittsburgh, IRB #0607096 and follows the Board's ethical
standards and guidelines.
To learn more about the different surveys related to
this study and about the incentive rewards for participants,
please
click here. Check out all that Post Adoption
Services offers! |
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