The words we use say a lot about how we really think and feel. Words can either hurt or heal. The conscious and consistent use of positive adoption language conveys our values and affirms birth parents, adopted children and adoptive parents in the conviction that adoption is a valid way to build a family. Therefore, it is important to use…
Eligible adoptive mothers, including those who are self-employed, are entitled to 12 weeks of paid adoption leave to bond with and care for their adopted infants. Eligibility As the mother of an adopted child, you are entitled to adoption leave if you meet the following criteria: Your adopted child is below the age of 12 months at the point of…
While most parents do not get to choose their children, the Lims could have done so before adopting each of their four children. But they chose not to choose. They told the agent: Let us adopt any baby who needs a home. “We couldn’t bear the thought of any child being abandoned a second time just because we chose someone…
When you announce you’re pregnant, people usually react with excitement and want to know the details: When? Do you know the gender? What’s the name? But when you tell them you’re going to adopt, the reaction can be quite different. While the majority are thrilled – sometimes to the point of instant tears – there are some who react differently… with…
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said that it will consider if the relevant law on adoption should be amended, following a landmark decision by the High Court on Monday (17 December) to allow a gay Singaporean man to adopt his biological son. “MSF respects the Court’s decision. We will study the grounds of decision carefully, and consider…
SINGAPORE — Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee reiterated the Government’s policy against the formation of same-sex family units, saying it may be harder in future for gay couples seeking to adopt a child to “argue that they did not intentionally set out” to violate this policy. This is particularly so now that a landmark judgment has been published by the High Court earlier…
This woman was adopted at birth and wrote a plea in our magazine asking readers to help find her biological mother and her long-lost niece reached out to us. 06 Jan 2017 by Yanni Tan PHOTOGRAPH: Hayati Jantan In Simply Her’s June 2006 issue, Hayati Jantan, a Chinese woman who was adopted as a two-week-old baby to a Malay couple…
1) Why is it critical to let an adopted child know of his/ her adoption. Adoption defines the child’s identity. Growing up with a false sense of his/her identity will severely impact the child later in life. The child should receive the information from the parents and not ‘by accident’ from an outsider. This would destroy the child’s trust in…
How it started: In March 2014, Ivan and I went on a mission trip together to Iloilo, Philippines. That was the first time we had signed up and served on missions together. This was a medical mission trip, where we had to set up medical posts, blood pressure stations, consultation and dispensary at a few different locations. On our visit…
Growing up, Marcus Khoo often received curious questions from his friends about his background. They wondered why he looked so much darker than his mother. The truth is, Marcus is adopted. “A lot of people ask me if I’m Chinese. By right, I’m supposed to be, but because of my skin colour, they always think that I’m from a different…