November is a special month for celebrating family connections, building strong relationships and recognizing the importance of the season. It is also National Adoption Awareness Month, a time to recognize the many ways families are created and to celebrate the lasting impact of providing children with a safe, loving and permanent family. National Adoption Day also gives us an opportunity to recognize the importance of adoption and the families brought together because of it. For our family, November holds an especially meaningful place in our hearts. On Nov. 2, 2018, we adopted Peyton. That day marked the beginning of a new chapter for our family and a moment we will always treasure. Adoption was more than a legal process or a date on a calendar. It was a commitment to love, support, protect and be there for Peyton through every stage of life. It was about creating a lasting sense of belonging and building a connection that would continue to grow over the years.
November has brought our family another beautiful milestone. Joshua was born on Nov. 17, 2025, one day after my birthday. My friend Victoria and I shared a due date of Christmas eve, but God (and stress) had other plans, and Tutti was born about six weeks early. Having his birthday so close to Relo’s makes November even more special and gives us another reason to celebrate the gift of family. His arrival added another meaningful connection to a month that already held so much significance for us.
Family connections are built through the little things we do every day, the family routine and family culture. That family culture and family routine create safety because kids know what to expect; they thrive off consistency, which all assists in fostering attachment. Attachment grows when children know they are safe, valued, heard and loved. It is built through consistency, patience, shared experiences, open communication and simply being present. Although a predictable routine is valuable, sometimes the best opportunities for connection happen when families step away from the everyday routine and experience something different and semi-planned/unplanned together.
November in Ponca City offers several opportunities for families to do exactly that. On Nov. 20, 2026, families can gather downtown for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the opening of Ice on the Plaza. Watching the tree light up and skating together can create simple memories that children carry with them. Families can also experience the Festival of Angels at Lake Ponca beginning Nov. 26; on Nov. 28, Penguins on the Plaza offers another family-friendly opportunity to spend time together. These events may seem like simple holiday activities, but they can become meaningful opportunities to strengthen attachment. Laughing together, sharing traditions, taking pictures, trying something new and being present with one another sends children an important message: You matter, and I enjoy spending time with you.
Maintaining attachment is just as important as establishing it. Families grow and change, and children’s needs change as they grow. Strong family relationships require us to continue showing up, listening, communicating and creating opportunities to connect, even during busy or difficult seasons. For our family, November will always carry extra meaning. It is the month we adopted Peyton, the month we celebrate Joshua’s birth, a month where Relo can try and redeem himself from the previous year and not burn the turkey (wink) and a month that reminds us to slow down and appreciate the people who make family what it is. Family is built through love, connection, commitment and the memories created together; November gives us plenty of reasons to celebrate all of that!
If you find yourself feeling down during this season, please reach out for help; the holidays can be tough for so many! If you or someone you know needs support or mental health assistance of any kind, please feel free to reach out to your local community mental health agency or call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline or call 911 for immediate emergencies.
Remember your family values, take care of yourselves and each other.