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How to Design an Adoption Scrapbook for Your Child

Your child's adoption story can best be[5] Try to locate whatever supplies
told through scrapbooking an amazingyou'd like to use. When I had a hard
album that you can share with onetime finding anything other than a
another for many years, all the way tocouple of stickers that mentioned
adulthood. As a new mom, however, goodadoption, I finally designed my own 8" x
intentions are often put aside just8" overlay transparencies. I really like
trying to keep up with the daily tasksoverlays because they give one's book
of parenthood. Our best keepsakes andthe appearance of class, there is no
photos end up stuffed into a closet, asmess (no glue or tape required) and
we wait for the time in our lives whenanyone can use them (no instruction
we will have enough of a chunk of hoursrequired either).
to do the story for our child justice.[6] Keep it simple and don't be tempted
Don't postpone your child's adoptionto put every thought you have in the
scrapbook any longer. It's importantbook. Consider your child's attention
that they get to flip through this bookspan too. Add more pages later as your
and share in the photos long before theychild asks questions and you want to
go off to the university.answer them in the book (what kind of
Here are a few ideas to guide you incar did my birth mom drive?) You may
scrapbooking your child's adoptionalso want other things represented, such
keepsake book (or a "lifebook" as someas your child's country (or even city)
call it):or birth.
[1] Write everything down. As a new[7] Add some poems and quotes. When you
parent it's easy to believe you willlack information about your child's
remember every special moment, but in nobirth or are overwhelmed by writing down
time you'll be making loads of memoriesall your thoughts, it's a nice touch to
and some of your favorites will fade.add a few adoption quotes. But be sue to
[2] Record what you know for your childnot rely on them completely. Quotes are
which is appropriate for his or hernice and can add to the album, but it's
little ears. Perhaps you were able toyour own personal thoughts that will be
spend some time with the birth mom andmost precious to your child as they get
you have some personal reflections onolder.
how kind she was. Or maybe you have no[8] Use child-friendly language. For
information at all if your child wasexample, don't ever write, "Your birth
adopted from an orphanage. It'smom loved you so much that she gave you
important to be honest but it also needsaway." This could scare your child into
to be something that you can read frombelieving that pretty soon you will love
your book to your 5-year-old. If yourhim too much and give you away too. Keep
child's birth mom has many otherthe wording simple: "Miss Clara wanted
children which she is still raising, oryou to have both a mommy and a daddy and
your child was the result of an abusiveshe knew that we were really excited to
situation, this isn't appropriate forbe your parents."
the book.Too often we get caught up in creating a
[3] Layout the photos you want to use.masterpiece of a baby album that will
You don't have to use all of them, justinclude every bath, haircut, smile and
the ones that are most important. Aretear. Instead, focus on just the
you arranging the book chronologically?adoption story for this small book and
Make sure everything is in order.put a lot of the baby or family pages in
[4] Decide what size of album to use.other books. The sooner it's ready for
They are typically 8" x 8", 12" x 12" oryour child, the more time of their
8.5" x 11". The 8" x 8" albums are achildhood they will reflect on it.
nice size for little hands to hold.



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