In honor of National Adoption Month, I hope that those of us in the adoption community can celebrate adoption in meaningful and positive ways.

If you are an adoptive family, consider talking to other families considering adoption to tell them the highs and lows of your adoption experience. Many families experience a tremendous roller coaster of emotions throughout the adoption process, and it can be helpful to know what others have experienced. If your adopted child has a different heritage, consider celebrating with an activity or recipe unique to your child’s heritage. If you haven’t already, develop a family ritual to show thanks for your family and the way you found each other.

If you are an adoption professional such as a social worker or attorney, consider helping a family by donating your services so that a child may have their forever family regardless of the families’ ability to pay for a Home Study or legal fees. Start thinking now about how you can help a child waiting in foster care for their forever family during this holiday season. Many of these children will spend the holidays without family and a small gift can mean the world to these children. You can donate unwrapped toys, books and clothing to your local Guardian ad Litem Program (guardianadlitem.org for your circuit’s contact information).

I am incredibly appreciative of the amazing families and professionals I have met through my adoption practice. I look forward to many more years of celebrating National Adoption Month.