We often see fathers (and men who long to be dads) as the unemotional, strong members of the family who represent a different perspective than their counterparts. But it’s important to celebrate these men as fathers and to encourage a man who is becoming an adoptive father. 

If we take the time to see adoption from a hopeful adoptive dad’s point of view, we can understand that they’ll need just as much support on their journey as a hopeful mom.

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During the initial stages of the adoption, dads may have different questions and concerns along the adoption process, from how they will afford to adopt to how they can support their wife.

One of the most effective ways that hopeful adoptive dads can get ready for adoptive fatherhood is learn from others who have gone before them on the same path. An efficient (and free!) way to do that is by watching Lifetime’s webinars featuring adoption stories from the men’s point of view. Hopeful adoptive moms-to-be will benefit from these webinars, too, because they can help you better understand what your husband may be thinking throughout the adoption experience. 

Adoption Webinars Featuring Adoptive Dads

Panel of Adoptive Dads Answer Questions
There’s no doubt that adoptive dads play an important role during the adoption process. They often bring a unique perspective and experience during the adoption journey. In this exclusive Lifetime webinar, two adoptive dads candidly provide heartfelt testimonies about their family’s path through adoption. Sean and Ryan answered questions from our webinar audience and spoke about their own families’ adoption stories. You’ll learn more about getting through the process to adopt, adoptive parenting, and what open adoption looks like for the guys.

Jake’s Adoption Story: An Adoptive Dad’s View of Open Adoption
Listen as adoptive father Jake shares his side of the story through two open adoptions. We think that you’ll enjoy his fresh perspective on adoption! Jake became a father through adoption and went on to grow relationships with each of his children’s birth families. 

In this webinar, Jake candidly shares about the births of his children as well as how open adoption works years later. Jake’s heart for family, parenthood, faith, and open adoption will inspire you. He has a special message for hopeful fathers too!

Tim’s Adoption Story
In this webinar, adoptive father Tim shares about his family’s adoption story. He provides a different look at adoption, through an adoptive father’s eyes. Along with his wife, Tisha, Tim adopted through Lifetime twice.

With two unique adoption stories, Tim provides tips and insights about traveling for adoption and how open adoption works. Tim even talks about what he wished he would have done differently, looking back now.

Brent & Latonia’s Adoption Story
Adoptive couple Brent and Latonia talk about living an open adoption and share their unique viewpoint as a transracial family. Discover insights and tips about the hopeful adoptive dad’s role through the adoption process.

In this webinar, you’ll get tips for talking about adoption with children, strengthening marriage through parenthood, answering other people’s curious questions about adoption, and learn how to set healthy expectations for contact after adoption.

Perseverance of Faith and a Preemie Story: Jeff & Christa’s Adoption
Anyone called to follow the path towards adoption should have faith, and flexibility, and perseverance. About the wait, adoptive dad Jeff says, “It’s all worth it…keep going.”

In this webinar, brand-new adoptive parents Jeff and Christa speak from the heart about their experiences during the adoption of their son and becoming first-time parents through open adoption.

You’ll hear tips and encouragement, as well as gain perspective about open adoption. Jeff and Christa talk about controlling what you can and then letting go of the rest, and how to have peace while you wait for the baby you’re meant to adopt. 

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By knowing ahead of time that adoptive dads will ask different questions, carry other burdens, and have a different viewpoint helps all adoptive parents better appreciate the big picture. If we’re willing to learn from one another, differences can unite us.

This Father’s Day, we invite you to recognize the differences that make every dad’s perspective on the adoption journey unique. Support a hopeful adoptive father as you celebrate and encourage him along the journey.

A Father’s Day Message for Adoptive Fathers-in-Waiting

Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P., founded Lifetime Adoption after her struggle with pregnancy loss and her own adoption. Here, she shares a heartfelt message especially for adoptive fathers-in-waiting:

With Father’s Day upon us, I wanted to write to you as a prospective dad. Chances are you will be celebrating Father’s Day yourself in a short time from now. Your job has already begun. Surprised?

There have been many surveys done where men have been asked to rank their heroes. Often, the top vote-getter is their Dad. Mom is also a hero, but she has already had her day. So back to you…

What does this mean to you as a dad to be? Simply that the role you are about to fill is one of the most influential roles you will ever have. It doesn’t start when the child is placed in your arms, but long before you even know who that child will be.

Your future daughter will look to you as a needed role model to help her in choosing the right boys to date and the type of man she will marry. Your future son will imitate your actions as their father, watching your every move and response for guidance to help mold him into the man he will become.

Clarence Budington Kelland was quoted as saying, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” What will your children observe from you as an adoptive father?

Yes, you will become an important inspiration to your children. Are you feeling overwhelmed yet? I hope not. Truly, it is a huge responsibility but remembering that God is on your side to inspire you and guide you, as you become the father and husband He wants you to be.

Father’s Day is a good time to think and pray about your strengths along with areas of improvements you may have. The Lord will soon guide you to your children who will carry on your name and look to you for guidance as they trust their little lives in your big hands. You will become an instrument God uses in their lives.

You can become the best father and role model by making God your teacher, the ruler on whose authority everything you do is based. As a father, one of your first responsibilities will be to acquaint your children with Scripture and love and kindness for their mother.

Will you start today to become the hero they are looking for? The habits you are developing today will become the qualities in building that hero in their lives. Never give up and never forget the important role you will soon be playing for a lifetime in your child’s life.

When in doubt, turn to Him for direction. My prayer for you, dear fathers of these blessed children, is one of strength, faith, and steadfastness in your journey to become Godly fathers.

God bless you and know we are praying for you and your adoption,

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on June 12, 2019, and has since been updated. 

Written by Heidi Keefer

Heidi Keefer is a Content Creator for Lifetime Adoption and has 15 years of experience in the field of adoption. An author of thousands of blog posts over the years, Heidi enjoys finding new ways to educate and captivate Lifetime’s ever-growing list of subscribers.

Heidi has a keen eye for misplaced apostrophes, comma splices, and well-turned sentences, which she has put to good use as a contributor to Lifetime’s award-winning blogs. She has written and published hundreds of adoption articles which explore the various facets of domestic infant adoption today.