---
title: Adoption Advice From Gladney Parents
description: Each month, we will ask Gladney Parents, Thomas & Stephanie, a question about their adoption experience. As you explore adoption as an option for your family, it's always good to get adoption advice from those that have walked the journey before you.
image: https://blog.adoptionsbygladney.com/hubfs/Blog/Bennett%20Thomas%20-%20DI%20-%20Photo%204.jpg
---

[![Gladney Center for Adoption](https://blog.adoptionsbygladney.com/hubfs/Adoptionsbygladney_November2017/Images/gladney-logo.svg "Gladney Center for Adoption")](http://adoptionsbygladney.com)

- [I'm Pregnant](https://gladneyadoption.com)
- [I Want To Adopt](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/i-want-to-adopt)
- [Post Adoption Support](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/post-adoption-support)
- [About](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/about)
- [Resources](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/resources)
- [Contact](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/contact)

- [I'm Pregnant](https://gladneyadoption.com)
- [I Want To Adopt](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/i-want-to-adopt)
- [Post Adoption Support](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/post-adoption-support)
- [About](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/about)
- [Resources](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/resources)
- [Contact](https://adoptionsbygladney.com/contact)

# Gladney Blog

# Adoption Advice From Gladney Parents

Posted by [Gladney Center for Adoption](https://blog.adoptionsbygladney.com/author/gladney-center-for-adoption) on 8/3/18 1:21 PM

![](https://blog.adoptionsbygladney.com/hubfs/Gladney-Logo_MarkOnly-bio%20photo.png)

Find me on:

[Facebook](http://facebook.com/gladneycenter) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/gladney-center-for-adoption/) [Twitter](http://twitter.com/gladney_center)

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

As you are exploring adoption as an option for your family, we are sure that you have many questions. Once a month we ask Thomas & Stephanie a question about their adoption experience.

### **Adoption Advice**

**Question:**

**When you hear, "I AM GLADNEY," what does it mean to you?**

**Answer:**

*I am Gladney. It is a simple phrase but it means so much.  It means being part of a community that stretches back to the 19th century and will continue onward as my child gets older and begins to understand her adoption narrative.  This community is why we chose Gladney to help us find our family.  Once we had made our decision to pursue adoption public, suddenly so many people in our lives came forward to share their [Gladney stories](https://blog.adoptionsbygladney.com/adoption-stories-my-story).  We didn't even realize that Gladney birth parents, Gladney adoptive parents, and Gladney children were in our midst.  This network of people, all touched by adoption, meant so much to us when going through the adoption process. *

*![Adoption Advice](https://blog.adoptionsbygladney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Bennett%20Thomas%20-%20DI%20-%20Photo%204.jpg?width=800&name=Bennett%20Thomas%20-%20DI%20-%20Photo%204.jpg)Now that our daughter has been placed with us, it continues to be invaluable.  We can count on being a part of this team for the rest of our lives.  We can rely on one another as we navigate the waters of post-adoption.  We can lift up other families who are just beginning the process.  We will continue to honor and support the amazing birth family that allowed our dreams of parenthood to come true.  This is what [I am Gladney](https://iamgladney.org) means to me:  that no matter what direction life may takes us, a common thread will always tie us together.  We belong to the Gladney Family forever.     *

We encourage you to share this adoption advice with others and find out what advice your social network would provide. 

[![Follow Gladney  On Facebook](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4002831/c1e33c29-f4e4-475f-bafa-05f391ef39ab.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4002831/c1e33c29-f4e4-475f-bafa-05f391ef39ab)

 

 Topics: [Adoption Advice](https://blog.adoptionsbygladney.com/tag/adoption-advice)

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- [Domestic Infant Adoption](http://adoptionsbygladney.com/i-want-to-adopt/domestic-infant)
- [Foster Adoption (New Beginnings Program)](http://adoptionsbygladney.com/i-want-to-adopt/foster-adoption)
- [International Adoption](http://adoptionsbygladney.com/i-want-to-adopt/international)

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see all

##### Other links

- [I'm Pregnant](http://pregnancyhotline.org)
- [I Am Gladney](https://iamgladney.org/)
- [Adopt*Ed*](http://adoption-education.com)
- [Gladney University](https://iamgladney.org/gladneyuniversity)

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