After months of paperwork, research, and opening up your home and personal life to an adoption agency, it is hard to just sit back and wait for a birthmother to choose you. However, there are things you can do to make this waiting time productive and fun. In order to motivate you, here is the list of ideas and tips you may want to tackle.
PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO…
Find a pediatrician. Get recommendations from other moms, friends, and relatives. If possible, set up some interviews. Make sure the pediatrician shares your views on child healthcare and offers convenient hours and location.
Find out your employer’s policy on adoption leave. If your company offers leave for employees who become parents by birth, if you are adopting a baby, you should have equal rights. If your company doesnt offer the same benefits to adoptive parents, put together a proposal. Research the Family and Medical Leave Act in order to find out what your employer is required to do by law.
Explore child care. If you work, it is good to start researching child care options now. Some popular child care centers have waiting lists that are several months long. This doesn’t mean you need to choose one right away. Explore different options just to get a sense of what is available and how much it will cost.
Read adoption and parenting books and articles. Other people’s stories can be truly inspiring. There are a lot of families out there who are also waiting to adopt a baby. Find some blogs and articles about this topic online and allow those stories to become your own inspiration. Research and try to communicate with people on adoption forums as much as possible. When you feel like you are having a hard day, communicating with people who are in the same situation as you can really help you calm down.
FUN THINGS TO DO…
Buy a few favorite children books. Its never too early to start reading to your baby, so having a few to choose from when your baby arrives is a great idea. Think back to your childhood and choose some books you enjoyed, and do some research to find other popular titles. If you have a baby shower, ask your guests to bring a book to contribute to your little ones library.
Renew an old hobby. Keeping busy with productive activities can help you maintain a positive attitude. Tackle some items on your Someday List things you always said youd do someday. Try to do some things you have been avoiding for a long time. It is better to be busy and do new things than obsess about the adoption process.
During the waiting process, you need to be aware of the fact that it takes a long time to adopt a baby. Try not to put your life on hold; this period is best used to finally do the things you have always wanted but postponed them for numerous reasons. Think positively but also allow yourself time to be mad or sad every one of those moments can pull out the best of you. Never lose hope and your time will come!
