| Rituals are an important part of any life cycle event. | | | | Each parent takes vows to the child and the child |
| They validate our feelings and allow the rite of | | | | accepts their commitments. |
| passage into a new part of our lives. Some of the | | | | Adoption ceremonies are not the finalization of the |
| occasions in which we have rituals are at birthdays, | | | | adoption. (That happens in court.) The adoption |
| funerals, weddings, births, and for religious | | | | ceremony is an agreement initiated by the adoptive |
| celebrations. Having an adoption ceremony is no | | | | parents and responded to by the child. The |
| different than having a ritual for any other occasion. | | | | ceremony should take place early on in the |
| The ceremony helps to validate our feelings and | | | | placement, to symbolize family unity while the |
| provide a sense of connectedness. | | | | adoption is in the process of being finalized. It serves |
| An adoption ceremony is a simple ceremony to bring | | | | as an insurance policy to the child that Mom and Dad |
| together the parents and child to symbolize the | | | | aren't going to change their minds and return the |
| joining of the new family. It is essentially a covenant | | | | child. This is especially important if you are adopting |
| and all parties stand in front of their witnesses and | | | | an older child. This helps the child to see that you are |
| acknowledge the new bond between parent and child | | | | committed to your plan for adoption. |
| and the lifelong commitment the parents are making. | | | | |