Real-Life Adoption Stories
Learn how adoption fits into the everday lives of ordinary people like youI’m a huge adoption advocate, but I also know that it is a big decision. Read these stories from real families who choose love and family even when it isn’t easy. In the coming months, you’ll see stories on international adoption, domestic adoption, foster care, and more. My hope is that you’ll see that you don’t need special skills or accolades to say yes to a child who needs you. On the flip side, it is important to educate and prepare for parenting children from hard places.
For more information on my family’s experience with international adoption, check out my China Adoption Journey page. Or learn how you can fund your own adoption here.
If you have an adoption story to share, please email me at jessica@jessicagoodpaster.com. I’d love to feature more perspectives!
What Life Looks Like 3 Years After International Adoption – Part 2
Welcome to the second half of my reflection on three years after international adoption. If you haven’t already, read Part 1 here. There I talked about medical needs, developmental milestones, and education since adopting from China. Read on for several other aspects...
The Top 4 Ways You Can Afford Adoption
In the latest installment of my Real-Life Adoption Stories, I'm happy to feature guest author Heather Marshall. She's a fellow adoptive mom and blogger who has not only been through the process twice, but also shares my passion for helping other families afford...
Why Quarantine Is Hard for Adoptive and Special Needs Parents
When we adopted our daughter from China in August 2017, our family chose to keep her world as small as possible in the first weeks after arriving home. This meant limiting trips out of the house, keeping visitors to a minimum, and spending lots of time with just our...
What if I Never Adopt from Foster Care?
My husband Jeremy and I have always known we wanted to adopt. It was something we talked about while we were dating. After being married for four years, we had our first biological child, Emma. I found so much joy in being a mom. I loved every minute of it. I had previously worked as a teacher, but when our daughter was born, I became a stay-at-home mom. I babysat…
How to Adopt and Stay on the Same Page with Your Spouse
The air hung heavy and thick, the humidity so dense you could cut a knife through it. Sweat, earth, and the sweet scent of tropical flowers scented the air while the ground left a perpetual covering of deep red dust. Laughter and shouts filled the air as groups of kids ran and played, begging to be picked up, thrown in the air…
How to Celebrate the Beauty and Embrace the Trauma of Adoption
Grownups come back! That little song is repeated over and over in an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Since the show is one of my daughter’s favorites, we have used it to ease anxiety when dropping her off at school, church, or for a visit with the...
My Experience with Special Needs Parenting
Our daughter was adopted from China's Special Needs Program in 2017. As soon as she was placed in my arms, I entered the world of special needs parenting. (Read more about our China adoption journey.) There is a wide spectrum of medical, developmental, and...
What to Expect in the First Year After International Adoption – Part 2
Jump into part two of this one-year post-adoption post! Though L was 18 months old when we met her, the orphanage primarily fed her formula from a bottle. They would…
What to Expect in the First Year After International Adoption – Part 1
One year ago, my husband, son, and I were ushered into a plain room in the equivalent of a Chinese DMV office for a meeting that would forever change all our lives. Along with another family on the same journey as us and our English-speaking guide, we met our daughter...
Meet Jessica
Hi! I'm Jessica! I help people fund adoptions, navigate parenting, save money, and enjoy the good things in life. Read more about me here. 
