[dimasmom]

Thought I would encourage a little brainstorming session on the boards. As my son's birthday rolls around I am thinking of ideas to help him recognize his love for his birthmother. He was adopted internationally, so does not have contact. If we all share ideas, we can come up with a neat repertoire of ideas, not just for birthdays but also mothers day and other holidays.

1) My church offers an opportunity for "spirtual boquets" for mothers day. My son earned his own money for this gift. He was quite generous with his donation because he wanted to get Svetlana as nice a gift as he got me.

2) I have heard suggestions of making cards, pictures, writing letters to put away and save till they get the opportunity to meet their birthparents.

I would love to hear from others.
DimasMom

[Susan Ward]

We know Hannah's birth mom's birthday, so we always say a special prayer for her on her birthday. I'm also into using candles to commenorate special occassions; maybe Dima could light a special candle for his birth mom. Hannah has what we call her "adoption journal." I helped her buy a journal of her choice when she was about six and a half. It's a place where she can draw pictures, write letters to her birth family, make lists, etc., relating to her birth family, and the complication of being part of two families. She doesn't write in it very often, but it's important to her that she has another avenue to express her thoughts and emotions.