We have always had an interest in how families grow, change and work on challenges together through the years. We became especially interested in how families' adoption conversations and stories might grow after several parents asked us during Phase 1 of the Family Stories Project whether we would maintain touch with them over time. They were anticipating the changes that might take place in their family conversations as their children entered the world of school, peers, and community even more actively.

We obtained funding for a follow-up study and we will be recontacting every family who participated in the Family Stories Project; we hope to meet with them again when their children are between 7- and 10-years old to see how their experiences in addressing adoption have unfolded.

Knowing how complex family schedules get as children get older we have designed Phase 2 so that we will travel to them this time. We hope to meet with each family in their home with a set of interesting and fun activities that will engage the whole family once again!