| Many of you may know plenty on the intricacies of | | | | be ready to deal with the adoption realities both |
| the adoption process but did you ever have the | | | | towards oneself and the others. |
| whole picture of just how is the adoption going to | | | | While everybody would like to be an infant for the |
| affect and transform you, your family and the | | | | rest of their life we do grow up and move into |
| adopted child during a lifetime? We are going to | | | | childhood. The once baby has to go out into the |
| discuss in detail just how much experiencing adoption | | | | world, make friends, meet people and go to school. |
| during one's lifetime is coming of age. We will be | | | | Simple discussions about adoption may start to trickle |
| covering the aspects of being introduced, enjoying | | | | in. Questions from guests and other kids or people |
| the honeymoon and then going through the stages | | | | will start coming in. The biological facts of the child |
| of infancy, childhood, adolescence and finally | | | | not resembling the parents will be noticed and |
| adulthood. Hopefully, after reading this article, you are | | | | enquired about. |
| going to realize the adoption journey is nothing to be | | | | Past the rocky road of childhood comes adolescence. |
| afraid of but something you will look forward to. | | | | The child himself becomes inquisitive with his own |
| You may think the adoption experience starts once | | | | identity taking form right in front of your eyes. It is |
| the adopted child comes at home. That is only part | | | | time for serious adoption discussions and for some |
| of the story. The first step is the introduction and | | | | past and present clarifications. The once little bird will |
| the arrangements. The parents begin the process | | | | be ready to fly out soon and the adoption string |
| way in advance, looking for the right child, browsing | | | | better be cut before leaving home. |
| through photos, being interviewed. Then the day | | | | Adulthood is where most of the adoption journey will |
| comes when all is agreed upon, the last adoption | | | | take place and its success will be greatly impacted by |
| forms have been signed and it is time to bring the | | | | all the stages before it. Now birthparents or other |
| child home. While children will be excited of the new | | | | blood relatives may come into the child's life and a |
| world ahead, they have no idea yet of how | | | | whole unknown world will open up. Pleasant and |
| completely their life will change. | | | | unpleasant findings or stories may be revealed, old |
| Once home, the most enjoyable part of the journey, | | | | anguishes for both the adopting parents and child |
| the honeymoon takes place. The entire family is full | | | | may resurface. New children may come into the |
| of excitement, gifts are shared, pictures are taken | | | | family and the adoption word will always be there to |
| and rooms are being rearranged. The miracle child has | | | | stay and remind everybody of past times. |
| arrived and at least for a while nobody thinks of | | | | As you can see the adoption experience impacts |
| what adoption meant anymore and how is the family | | | | every single member of the family in more than one |
| going to deal with it in the long run. | | | | way. All have to eventually grow up and out of it, as |
| After a while, infancy's challenges start to creep in. | | | | painful as it may be, and enjoy it for what it is: |
| The first steps a family takes here will be the | | | | bringing people together in understanding, building |
| foundation for a successful adoption experience. | | | | lifetime commitments and ultimately spreading love |
| Instead of building up lies and cover-ups one should | | | | and beauty in one's life. |