I was looking for something in my miscellaneous clippings file the other day, and I came across this 2007 NY Times article about a planned intergenerational community combining retirees and families raising children impacted by foster care. The goal is to create a close-knit community that can better support these children and provide elders with fulfilling ongoing intergenerational relationships. The first such community was in Illinois in 1994. The article says that the Kellogg Foundation is funding a replication of this model in 18 states. I want to follow up on that. What a brilliant idea!
Also, recently, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute put out a report highlighting the critical need for post-adoption services to help these new families thrive.
Taken together, it seems like we're getting smarter about adoption, which makes me so happy. First, it stops being a weird, shameful secret. Next, we all realize that, while it's a different path (and therefore, not for everyone), it's not second best. Now we're at phase three, where we're ready to acknowledge the major challenges that many of these families face without diminishing the joy of new families springing to life.
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Pregnancy update: 24 weeks! Have gained 3lbs a week for the last 3 weeks (blurgh). Got great baby stuff from a dear friend last weekend. Have to figure out where to put it. J still hasn't felt the baby move, even when we say, "C'mon, baby. Give daddy a high five!" Gathering recommendations for pediatricians. Bought life insurance for both of us. Feels very grown up.
Sounds good. 3 lbs/week. Awwww, that's not so bad, you will probably have a couple no gainer weeks.
ReplyDeleteI had a couple weeks where I gained 3 or 4 pounds, but it generally evened out with weeks where I didn't gain at all. Baby's just having a good old growth spurt. 24 weeks sounds wonderfully pregnant. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWow, life insurance! That does sound adult! :)
ReplyDeleteI too am curious about how those planned communities would work out. It definitely wouldn't be for me to have to babysit both damaged kids and feeble old people, but I have tremendous admiration for those up to the task!
Happy 24 weeks! Wow, pediatricians and life insurance....this is the "grown up olympics"!
ReplyDeleteGlad things are going well!
That sounds like a pretty interesting community plan. Very cool.
ReplyDelete24 weeks, dollface! Awesome.
Time is flying! I think that these communities would be great.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for post where daddy gets a high five, too. My cousin used to lay the remote control on her belly and tell the baby to change the channel.
Intergenerational living is on the rise in this country! I read an article in Mothering Magazine called 'The 21st Century Home: three generations, one roof' by Heather Hall. Communal living of this sort is not without its challenges, but the benefits can be great too! To post a quote from the article "Humans are social animals; we evolved to live in communities and extended families for very good reasons. The intense isolation of the nuclear family can be overwhelming, and is particularly hard on the most vulnerable members of our society, who end up carrying the majority of the domestic and social burden." I will be interested in reading the article you posted to see what the benefits were for the foster care children.
ReplyDeleteAnd grown up for a beautiful reason:)
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the fact that we're getting better at how we view and handle adoption. And, actually, and family situation that does not conform to certain "norms"
All very well said on the adoptive families front! too many adoptive families (I find couples especially) won't admit to having challenges & therefor don't know how to or that they should have support as adoptive families- when the reaction from most non-adoptive families is "why would you complain about anything? You wanted this"- people tend to clam up and pretend all is perfect. But what families need most are resources & sounding boards to succeed & thrive.
ReplyDeleteso happy that the prengancy is coming along so well! Saw your more recent blog posting too that J felt the baby move! :) yay! can't wait to see that sweet face and learn name choices or the NAME!