TPPN MEETING MAY 8, 2012

The Third Party Parenting Network will gather again on May 8th at 7:30pm.     Professionally led by Nancy Kaufman LCSW, these small group discussions have been lively, rewarding and truly helpful to those who participate. Join us to hear the experiences of others, and, if you wish, share your story and questions. First-time participants and partners are encouraged to attend. The Third-Party Parenting Network (TPPN) is a network of parents who have built (or are working on building) their families through ovum donation, embryo donation, sperm donation, or surrogacy.  TPPN provides the opportunity for parents to connect, share their stories, receive support and learn from each other about the issues that are unique to the experience of Third Party Parenting, such as disclosure, siblings and  genetic origins. It has been our experience that meeting regularly, over time with the same group of people builds a level of trust which enables a deeper exploration of what it is like to be a parent dealing with these issues.   TPPN Spring 2012 Schedule :        May 8 June 5 All meetings are held at: 7:30 – 9:00 pm 1430 Second Avenue (between 74/75th St.) Suite 109 New York, NY 10021  212-772-1200 Fee: $20 per person/$30 per family

FAMILY BUILDING NETWORK SUPPORT GROUP MEETING Wednesday May 16, 2012 7-8:30PM

The Monthly Support Group, lead by Patricia Mendell, LCSW, is dedicated to helping families formed through egg/sperm/embryo donation and surrogacy, create healthy and lasting connections.  

Everyone has a unique Story about their family. For parents planning to disclose, telling the Family Story can seem overwhelming.

Discussions will  include:

·        The importance of language in the disclosure story ·        Latest research on children and families ·        Age appropriate books for donor offspring children ·        How to answer questions from your child and others ·        How to begin “The Talk” ·        How childrens’ questions change over time ·        What to tell siblings

Date: Time: Cost: Location: Contact:

Wednesday April 18, 2012 7:00-8:30 pm $25 per person, $40 per family 902 Broadway (between 20th-21st Sts. next to 920 Broadway), 13th Floor, NYC 10010 Patricia Mendell, LCSW, 212-819-1778 Call to reserve a space www.patriciamendell.com

Future Dates: 5/16/12, 6/20/12

Talking With Kids About Sensitive Topics

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/12/when-very-young-children-_n_1143086.html?ref=parents

Lisa Belkin's Blog is now on Huffpost, Parentlode.

Very good advice on talking about where children come from....

Lovely Language

We can learn so much from Adoption. Third Party Reproduction and Adoption are not the same thing, but there are similarities. Here is something that resonates for me, it starts out....


"Adoption is the legal and social means by which a child becomes a member of a family other than the family of birth. Adoptive parent(s) have all the rights and responsibilities of parents.Through adoption, children receive families of their own."


Read more here:
http://www.ococujima.org/default.html

A New Book by Sharon LaMothe for the Children of Surrogates: Surrogacy Helps Make a Family Grow!

A New Book by Sharon LaMothe for the Children of Surrogates: Surrogacy Helps Make a Family Grow!
I am thrilled to announce that my book, Surrogacy Helps Make a Family Grow!, is available on Amazon.com for those living and working in the world of surrogacy......Please see Sharons comment to this post, further clarification that this book is meant for the children of the Gestational Carrier. 

Surrogacy vs. Adoption: A Distinction With A Difference

In my mind, (that being public perception rather than speaking as an attorney or expert in either topic) whether or not there are screening processes for ART vs Adoption, here and around the world, has more to do with liability and lack of govt involvement than any particular interest in society as a whole. Here, we have a free country where no one is denied the right, among other things, to procreate (and yes for some it is because they can afford it). When using this argument against ART and citing that screening ip's is done in other countries, the agenda is still the agenda and we must recognize that for what it is. Sure, it would be nice to become more qualified to become parents if we could, but hopefully that will never be the way it works, and reproductive freedom will remain part of what it means to be an American.
http://www.eggdonor.com/blog/2011/08/22/surrogacy-adoption-distinction-difference/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eggdonor%2FHrVf+%28The+Spin+Doctor%29#