While You Wait
Filed under Adoptive Families, Matching by Elizabeth Ehlen
So, you’ve made it through the homestudy process (not nearly as scary as you thought, just LOTS of paperwork) and made a fantastic profile that showcases your family in the best possible light. Your agency, attorney, facilitator, referral service has the profile and is showing it to prospective birth parents. What do you do now? Hurry up and wait?
The waiting process can be long or short, and unlike your average biological pregnancy does not reveal itself physically unless you actually get to the point of tearing your hair out. It’s still stressful, frustrating and mentally exhausting. So what are some tips and tricks from the pros and the parents who have made it through to keep you from walking up to random pregnant women and asking if you can have their baby?
First, some to-do tips from the adoption professionals on how to maintain your composure. At least on the outside.
- Network, network, network, network, network, network. Someone doesn’t know you want to adopt? Make sure they do now!
- Have/find a hobby – seriously, it helps to have something normal (or not so normal) to take your mind off it.
- Start a savings account for legal fees and birth mom expenses.
- Start a journal or blog to record the highs and lows of the process – be sure to link to your profile or agency website!
- Check to see if there are any adoption support groups in your area – if not start one!
- Read books and articles on various aspects of adoption. There are lots of interesting articles on this website to get you started.
- Stick to a normal routine. Yes, the call could come anytime. That doesn’t mean you should stop making dinner and stare obsessively at the phone. Then you’re still waiting and really hungry.
Next time we’ll cover some don’ts, because some things you think will be helpful might actually make you less sane.
