| Crafting a life book may seem like a overwhelming | | | | child understand his or her history. |
| task. If you aren't a particular crafty person or don't | | | | Case in point, one of the most important parts of |
| have much information about your child's life before | | | | the life book is about the biological mother, but you |
| he or she became a part of your life, it can be hard | | | | may not even have a photograph of her. One idea is |
| to figure out where to start. | | | | to include a quotation or poem about how birth |
| Adoptive families vary in the extent of information | | | | moms typically feel. Then journal something like, "Birth |
| they may have about birth mother of their child. | | | | moms and dads give their special DNA to their |
| While some families actually have the birth mother | | | | children. I'll be your dark shiny hair came from your |
| over to baby sit the child occasionally, others meet | | | | dad!" |
| at a park for a few hours each year. Other families | | | | Sometimes you may not even know the birth date |
| have no relationship with the birth family, perhaps | | | | of your child or where he or she was born. Rather |
| even nothing more than a name on paper if that. | | | | than calling attention to this fact, write something |
| Many families have two or more adopted children and | | | | like, "You were probably born sometime during the |
| the relationships of the different birthmoms with the | | | | winter of 2005 because when you came to the |
| family vary. One birthmom may be very involved, | | | | orphanage you weight about the same as the other |
| while others have no contact at all. When this | | | | children born about that time." |
| happens, oftentimes a birthmom of one child will go | | | | Understand that it's the amount of love and effort |
| out of her way send notes or small gifts to the | | | | that you put into the life book that will most impress |
| sibling of the child to make sure each child feels | | | | your child. As he grows older and starts to ask more |
| included and loved. | | | | questions, plan to do some of the research together |
| If you have a good relationship with a birth mom you | | | | to help answer the questions that arise. Until then, |
| may be able to get any information you wish for | | | | get started and don't let a lack of information thwart |
| your child's adoption album. She may even be eager | | | | you from crafting a loving adoption scrapbook album |
| to assist to help dig up information or answer | | | | for your child. Kids love reading stories about |
| questions to help your child have an amazing book. | | | | themselves and they have the best imagination, |
| If you don't have very much information about your | | | | having fun make up their own stories to fill in any |
| child's birth or birth family-if any at all-don't worry. | | | | blanks. |
| You can still design an incredible book that helps your | | | | |