Adoption, Fostering & Tea: The New Family Social Podcast

98 - Adoption with a Trans History

Max and his husband adopted their son just over a year ago.  Max was concerned about the assessment process because he has a trans history and has anxiety.  Luckily, they had an awesome social worker who made things as easy as possible.  Max talks about the joys (and tiredness!) of parenting.

97 - Without the New Family Social Summer Camp we wouldn't have our son!

Adam and Oliver were struggling with family finding when they came to the NFS summer camp.  The people they met gave them the strength to continue and their son came home weeks later.  They talk about the highs and lows, including how they've dealt with their son initially bonding more with Oliver than with Adam.  They even tell us all about their "Jar Fairy" who magically sends messages to the people their son misses.

96 - We wanted one baby, we brought home two toddlers!

Brian and Kevin knew they wanted to adopt.  They imagined themselves with one new born baby, but as their assessment progressed, they realised they wanted siblings.  With a few months, they had a two-year-old and a one-year-old.  

95 - How we prepared for transracial adoption.

Lee and John adopted their son three years ago when he was two.  They talk about preparing for transracial adoption; the things they got right and the mistakes they made.  They also talk about how the first six weeks were difficult but overall their journey has been joyful.

 

• Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race (Book) by Reni Eddo-Lodge Buy from Waterstones
• White Fragility (Book)  by Robin DiAngelo Buy from Waterstones
• Colin in Black and White (Netflix) Watch on Netflix (account required)
• The Cultural Iceberg - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Edward-T-Halls-Cultural-Iceberg_fig2_361162662

94 - My husband left me and our three kids

Karl and his husband went through the adoption assessment process together but, within six months of their three children arriving and before the adoption order had been made, Karl's husband left and moved abroad.  Karl had to decide whether to continue as a lone parent or end the placement.  He talks about how he coped in the early days and how his ADHD gave him the strength and skills to carry on.

93 - It took us four years to adopt!

Geoff and his husband had a long journey to adoption but their young children have now been with them for three months.  Geoff talks about changing agency, a last-minute court appeal by the birth family, and what it's like in the very early days of parenting.

92 - We're becoming parents in 23 hours!

Today is the last day before Bradley and Stuart welcome their baby into their family.  They've already had playdates with the child but formal transitions start tomorrow and last a fortnight.  We talk about how they've prepared for parenthood (including the obligatory Ikea shopping spree!), what they think it'll be like to have a baby and how they'll handle personal questions.

91 - Our respite foster child has been with us for a decade.

Graham and John have been fostering their child, who initially came to them for a weekend, for almost decade.  They talk about how they supported their child through the uncertainty about his future and how they're delighted he's with them permanently.

90 - Solo adopter of a child with additional needs.

Lee is a solo transracial adopter of a child with additional needs.  He talks about navigating the complexities of "the system" when seeking support for her and about how excited he is about her future.

89 - Changing Agency and Volunteering at Summer Camp

Molly and Zoe found their first adoption agency agency hard to work with and made the difficult decision to start again with a new agency.  The new agency was great and they're family finding now.  They gained childcare experience by volunteering at New Family Social's summer camp and they talk about what they learnt and how it helped them to realise they'd be able to parent children with more complex needs.