Work with the child’s developmental stage. As you get older and as you need it, we will do our best to find out more information.” Let’s say that the birth father is incarcerated. “We know a lot more about your birth mom than your birth dad. “Couldn’t take care of another child at that time. “Your birth mother couldn’t take care of you at that time.” Be specific around the circumstances.
Goldberg is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she also currently serves as the Director of Women’s & Gender Studies, and is the current holder of the Jan and Larry Landry Endowed Chair (2020-2023). We have spoken, in the past, about blended families and some about adoption- but today I’d like to go deeper into adoption as well as other family structures like gay and lesbian parenting with someone who has been studying diversity in families for quite a while, Professor Abbie Goldberg.Ībbie E. Even when watching animated children’s movies where one parent dies before the adventure begins, the implied family structure typically starts as a dad, a mom, and a child.) This sends a message about what is supposedly “normal,” and with children naturally wired to want to belong, perceiving your family as “different” can make children feel “less than.” Let’s aim to change this by being more inclusive in our conversations and explanations of what alternative families look like.
While media outlets-from TV shows to movies to the press are becoming better at highlighting different types of families, The traditional mom-dad-kid family still seems to be the default. That word can mean different things to different people.