– What it Means for Adoptive Families
Since 1958, July 30 has been the International Day of Friendship for countries around the world. What better time to send a nice gesture to the birth parents in your life?
“Friendship” may not be a powerful enough word to describe your relationship to your child’s birth parents. You share something unique, cherished, and irreplaceable – your child – and that is a bond to be celebrated at any occasion. This year, take a moment to learn a little bit more about International Day of Friendship and how you can add to the fun.
What is International Day of Friendship?
Although the holiday has been informally celebrated for decades, it was not officially accepted by the UN until 2011. The goal is to promote cultural acceptance and diversity, bring communities together, and advocate for peace.
In addition, the UN page for the holiday states: “The International Day of Friendship is also based on the recognition of the relevance and importance of friendship as a noble and valuable sentiment in the lives of human beings around the world.”
The International Day of Friendship is an occasion to celebrate not just friends, but all of the important people in your life.
Share the Love with Birth Parents
When it comes to spreading friendship and love, the best place to start is with family – and your child’s birth parents are a part of your unique family. To show them you are thinking about them, consider some of the following ideas:
- Work with your child on matching friendship bracelets for you, your child, and the birth mother.
- Arrange for a visit filled with fun activities. Take advantage of the summer weather!
- Send a care package to the birth mother. You can also give the package a theme.
So take this opportunity to share gifts, letters, or even a few words – not only to birth parents, but to everyone around you. Kindness is a gift you can give to anyone!
