Adoption, Fostering & Tea: The New Family Social Podcast

Charlie and Ben had said they felt unable to take a child with complex medical needs but when their daughter was born and taken straight to intensive care, they knew they wanted to make it work.  They talk about early contact sessions and the toll they took.  They also talk about their family's delight in meeting the new baby and how much joy she's brought into their lives.

On our 100th episode, Miles and Pip talk openly about the process of adopting their daughters and Miles tells us about being best known for "poisoning" a fellow contestant, in front of seven million people, on the hit BBC TV show Traitors!

 

Traitors Season Two 

Peter and Tor adopted their children over a decade ago and they talk about what it's like to parent teens.  They also share what they've learnt along the way and what they wish they'd known when they started out.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLuEY6jN6gY 

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.

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.

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.  

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

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.

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.

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.