How to Design an Adoption Scrapbook for Your Child

Your child's adoption story can best be told through[5] Try to locate whatever supplies you'd like to use.
scrapbooking an amazing album that you can shareWhen I had a hard time finding anything other than a
with one another for many years, all the way tocouple of stickers that mentioned adoption, I finally
adulthood. As a new mom, however, good intentionsdesigned my own 8" x 8" overlay transparencies. I
are often put aside just trying to keep up with thereally like overlays because they give one's book the
daily tasks of parenthood. Our best keepsakes andappearance of class, there is no mess (no glue or
photos end up stuffed into a closet, as we wait fortape required) and anyone can use them (no
the time in our lives when we will have enough of ainstruction required either).
chunk of hours to do the story for our child justice.[6] Keep it simple and don't be tempted to put every
Don't postpone your child's adoption scrapbook anythought you have in the book. Consider your child's
longer. It's important that they get to flip through thisattention span too. Add more pages later as your
book and share in the photos long before they gochild asks questions and you want to answer them in
off to the university.the book (what kind of car did my birth mom drive?)
Here are a few ideas to guide you in scrapbookingYou may also want other things represented, such as
your child's adoption keepsake book (or a "lifebook"your child's country (or even city) or birth.
as some call it):[7] Add some poems and quotes. When you lack
[1] Write everything down. As a new parent it's easyinformation about your child's birth or are
to believe you will remember every special moment,overwhelmed by writing down all your thoughts, it's a
but in no time you'll be making loads of memories andnice touch to add a few adoption quotes. But be sue
some of your favorites will fade.to not rely on them completely. Quotes are nice and
[2] Record what you know for your child which iscan add to the album, but it's your own personal
appropriate for his or her little ears. Perhaps youthoughts that will be most precious to your child as
were able to spend some time with the birth momthey get older.
and you have some personal reflections on how kind[8] Use child-friendly language. For example, don't
she was. Or maybe you have no information at all ifever write, "Your birth mom loved you so much that
your child was adopted from an orphanage. It'sshe gave you away." This could scare your child into
important to be honest but it also needs to bebelieving that pretty soon you will love him too much
something that you can read from your book toand give you away too. Keep the wording simple:
your 5-year-old. If your child's birth mom has many"Miss Clara wanted you to have both a mommy and
other children which she is still raising, or your childa daddy and she knew that we were really excited
was the result of an abusive situation, this isn'tto be your parents."
appropriate for the book.Too often we get caught up in creating a
[3] Layout the photos you want to use. You don'tmasterpiece of a baby album that will include every
have to use all of them, just the ones that are mostbath, haircut, smile and tear. Instead, focus on just
important. Are you arranging the bookthe adoption story for this small book and put a lot
chronologically? Make sure everything is in order.of the baby or family pages in other books. The
[4] Decide what size of album to use. They aresooner it's ready for your child, the more time of
typically 8" x 8", 12" x 12" or 8.5" x 11". The 8" x 8"their childhood they will reflect on it.
albums are a nice size for little hands to hold.