Luggage Allowances

Regarding flying inside Kaz borders, you can carry 20kg for free, and you will pay $2.50 per kg over (20kg=44lbs). Here is a site for metric conversion if you want to figure out your luggage for yourself. Also found:

BMI British Midland (London)

• Here is the BMI site regarding luggage allowances
• Checked luggage: 2 pieces, max total weight 20kg (44lbs)
• 1 piecemax size 55x40x23cm, plus one personal item
• All passengers travelling to and from the UK are not permitted to check in any bag that weighs in excess of 32kg (70lbs).
• Checked baggage on flights to the USA and Caribbean should have maximum dimensions (length + width + height) of 158cm (62ins).
• Excess baggage fees: £7/€10.50 per kg outbound, and £7/€10.50 per kg inbound (about $7.50 pound). Euro/Dollar conversion today 1€ = $1.56
  

KLM (going through Amsterdam)

• Here is the KLM site regarding luggage allowances
• And KLM site regarding excess baggage fees - this site is quoted in Euros. Looks like its EUR 30 per kg (1 kg=approx 2.2 lbs)/ (approx $21.25 per lb). You can get a 30% discount by checking in online.
• Euro/Dollar conversion today 1€ = $1.56
• Economy allowances: 2 pieces, eachmax. 23 kg (50 lbs)
• max. 158 cm (3-dimensions)

Lufthansa (through Frankfort)

• Here is the Lufthansa site regarding luggage allowances
• Economy Class: 2 pieces, 23 kg each to and from USA and Canada
• I believe that overage cost is €30*/kg (approx $21.25 per lb). Euro/Dollar conversion today 1€ = $1.56
• Max size per piece: 22" X 16" X 8"

Employer Adoption Benefits

I recently had a meeting with the president of the company I work for, and made a proposal requesting that they provide formal adoption benefits to all employees (and of course me in particular.) I essentially asked for benefits equal to what biological moms are offered. I should hear an answer sometime this month.

Anyone out there who would like to encourage your employer to consider adoption benefits, I found a boatload of helpful information on these web sites:

http://www.adoptionfriendlyworkplace.com/

http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

- Regina

Childhood Disabilities: Early Identification and Intervention

Coping.org - this site can be translated easily into Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, or Spanish

Floor Time Activities

Resources for Behavioral Issues

Institute of Child Development

Newsweek's Adoption How To: Resources recommended for families interested in learning more about how to effectively parent troubled adopted children.

Interesting sites about adoption

Exploring Adoption Blog

About Lifebooks

What is a Lifebook

Adoption Lifebooks website. This site also offersa Free Adoption Lifebook Newsletter - Sign up for it here


Yahoo Listserv and Group on Lifebooks

The Backwards Lifebook: Using a different technique makes a book that is accessible to all who need to use it. - Free and downloadable.

Attachment Therapies

Therapy treatments:

Reports on various forms of Attachment Therapy

Theraplay

Library Search for Child and Welfare Issues

Family Attachment Narrative Therapy, about and links

Family Attachment Narrative Therapy


Books related to Attachment:

The Dr Sears line of baby books teaches concrete ways to promote attachment with your child. It is not especially geared toward adoption but is very helpful.

Attaching in Adoption by Deborah D. Gray is another great book that discusses attaching with your child.