When I talk to couples who are preparing to adopt, I get so many questions about the home study. For some reason we think of it as this fearful judgement that gets to determine our future. A test that we must study for in order to pass. Hopeful families are unsure of what to expect and feel inadequate – even if they are already successfully
To Our Beloved Families, We have decided to grow our family by adoption! We understand you don’t have much exposure to adoption and it’s often misunderstood. We understand you are unfamiliar with the subject and may feel upset or uncomfortable with our decision. Or perhaps you feel as overjoyed as we do! We invite you to ask us questions or express your curiosities and we’ll answer
Experiencing adoption is different than experiencing a pregnancy, obviously. But can’t all the joyous rituals be the same? I’ve heard this debate among adoptive parents so many times throughout my few years submerged in the adoption community. Some hopeful adoptive mamas are asked by dear friends to host a baby shower on her behalf. Sometimes, we’re caught off-guard and don’t know what to say. Maybe
I went in to adoption with very little exposure of the concept. I didn’t have much knowledge on the subject nor know anyone personally who had adopted. It seemed so far-fetched, a mountain we couldn’t possibly climb. I was overwhelmed at the information online and the endless resources. In the beginning, I was paralyzed with fear and doubt. I had always been a planner. I
There are so many misconceptions regarding adoption. Mostly, those around us are simply unaware and uneducated about the topic. In the past, society has not always celebrated this occurrence or recognized that families are now made in so many different ways. We’re evolving from decades of living in a society that only recognized the “traditional” family and way of life. The concept of families is
My family just experienced a failed adoption. Many people in the adoption community somewhat balk at the term “failed adoption” because they believe it’s disrespectful to the parents who have bravely decided to parent instead of placing their child with an adoptive family. This is understandable. However, I can tell you first hand that it very much feels like a devastating failure for the hopeful
We live in a society of change and speed—high speed internet, fast food, express lanes, instant messaging, the list goes on. Life’s stressors can also come upon us both fast and unexpected. We may be, one minute, basking in comfort and security but one hiccup can shake up our lives, throwing us into a state of fear and uncertainty. As we dwell in a world
“Time and experience have taught me a priceless lesson: Any child you take for your own becomes your own if you give of yourself to that child. I have borne two children and had seven others by adoption, and they are all my children, equally beloved and precious.” --Dale Evans, Singer, Actress Most of us yearn for the opportunity to hold the title of mommy and
It will cost you. I’m not just talking money here. Although you may find yourself spending every last penny in your bank account, certainly. But adoption costs a lot more than that. Adoption is sacrifices. It’s compromise, waiting, and a lot of unknowns. It’s wanting to ask a million question and likely never getting an answer. It will cost you heartache and joy. It
We love to read. We always have. Our toddlers have adopted our reading habits and usually choose to look at books over most other toys. We began reading to our kids as soon as they were born. We’d hold them on our chest as they slept and we’d read the same books over and over. I believe that reading sparks their imagination and influences them