Lighthouse Thoughts

Developing Fine Motor Skills

During the preschool years there are a number of fine motor skills that your child will master. Increased hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills will allow your child to perform everyday task which will lead to greater independence and self-confidence. The mastery of these skills will set a foundation for exploration and learning, and creative […]

Sensory Seeking and Sensory Avoiding

Does your child play too rough, have a high pain tolerance or lack an understanding of personal space? Does he startle easy, avoid touch, or fuss about tags in clothing? If either one of these sound like your child, he may struggle with sensory processing issues. “There are two ways kids with sensory processing issues […]

Home Study Documents

One of the first things you will begin working on, after you have selected your adoption agency is your adoption home study. The home study can be overwhelming for some parents, because in addition to required home visits, you will also need supporting documentation. The State that you reside in has jurisdiction over your adoption […]

The Worst and Best: Being an Old Mom

I can definitely relate to number two on the worst list- 2. Font Sizes. Even with reading glasses the fonts on many mediations, etc. are too small. Thank goodness for my handy magnifying glass, lol. 10 Worst Things About Being An Old Mom- by Kathleen Dennehy “The hardest part of being a parent is witnesses.” […]

Your Child’s Birthparents

Without your child’s birthparents, you would not be an adoptive parent. Your thoughts and feelings towards your child’s birthparents resonate clearly to your child. It is important for your child to be able to process his feelings towards his birthparents. He will need your help. You can assist him by keeping the following in mind: Don’t […]

Considering Adoption?

If you are considering adoption, it is important that you gain a clear understanding of all the steps of the adoption process. Choosing the right agency is an important part of this process. By working with our Adoption Specialist at Beacon House, attending webinars, and taking pre-adoption education classes, our adoptive families gain the necessary […]

ADHD Advice from Olympian Michael Phelps Mom

“They Will Make You Proud.” “Here, the mother of history’s most decorated Olympic athlete, Michael Phelps, explains how he overcame and harnessed his ADHD symptoms as a young swimmer and student. Need some parenting advice? Likewise, the parents of “Extreme Makeover” star Ty Pennington and world record-breaking climber Danielle Fisher offer inspiration and strategies.” by Judy […]

What is the Matching Pool?

The Matching Pool is the pool of prospective adoptive families who are waiting to be matched with a birth parents. Some adoption agencies will take an unlimited number of families into their matching pool however, at Beacon House we only accept up to thirty families in the matching pool. We believe that by limiting the […]

Open versus Closed Adoption

At Beacon House we do not promote either totally open or totally closed adoptions. The issue of open versus closed adoptions requires some understanding of the vast spectrum of possibilities in this area. We recognize that there are varying degrees of openness in adoption. We provide extensive counseling with all the parties to the adoptive […]

Birthparents are off Limits

Most adoptive parents have a great deal of awe and respect for their children’s birthparents. It’s frustrating when well-meaning friends and families just don’t get it. “More often than not, the conclusions people draw about our children’s birth parents are far from funny.” 3 Reasons Not To Vilify My Kid’s Birth Mother, by Kristin Berry […]