| Your child's adoption story can best be | | | | [5] Try to locate whatever supplies |
| told through scrapbooking an amazing | | | | you'd like to use. When I had a hard |
| album that you can share with one | | | | time finding anything other than a |
| another for many years, all the way to | | | | couple of stickers that mentioned |
| adulthood. As a new mom, however, good | | | | adoption, I finally designed my own 8" x |
| intentions are often put aside just | | | | 8" overlay transparencies. I really like |
| trying to keep up with the daily tasks | | | | overlays because they give one's book |
| of parenthood. Our best keepsakes and | | | | the appearance of class, there is no |
| photos end up stuffed into a closet, as | | | | mess (no glue or tape required) and |
| we wait for the time in our lives when | | | | anyone can use them (no instruction |
| we will have enough of a chunk of hours | | | | required either). |
| to do the story for our child justice. | | | | [6] Keep it simple and don't be tempted |
| Don't postpone your child's adoption | | | | to put every thought you have in the |
| scrapbook any longer. It's important | | | | book. Consider your child's attention |
| that they get to flip through this book | | | | span too. Add more pages later as your |
| and share in the photos long before they | | | | child 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 in | | | | car did my birth mom drive?) You may |
| scrapbooking your child's adoption | | | | also want other things represented, such |
| keepsake book (or a "lifebook" as some | | | | as 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 will | | | | lack information about your child's |
| remember every special moment, but in no | | | | birth or are overwhelmed by writing down |
| time you'll be making loads of memories | | | | all 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 child | | | | not rely on them completely. Quotes are |
| which is appropriate for his or her | | | | nice and can add to the album, but it's |
| little ears. Perhaps you were able to | | | | your own personal thoughts that will be |
| spend some time with the birth mom and | | | | most precious to your child as they get |
| you have some personal reflections on | | | | older. |
| how kind she was. Or maybe you have no | | | | [8] Use child-friendly language. For |
| information at all if your child was | | | | example, don't ever write, "Your birth |
| adopted from an orphanage. It's | | | | mom loved you so much that she gave you |
| important to be honest but it also needs | | | | away." This could scare your child into |
| to be something that you can read from | | | | believing that pretty soon you will love |
| your book to your 5-year-old. If your | | | | him too much and give you away too. Keep |
| child's birth mom has many other | | | | the wording simple: "Miss Clara wanted |
| children which she is still raising, or | | | | you to have both a mommy and a daddy and |
| your child was the result of an abusive | | | | she knew that we were really excited to |
| situation, this isn't appropriate for | | | | be 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, just | | | | include every bath, haircut, smile and |
| the ones that are most important. Are | | | | tear. 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" or | | | | your child, the more time of their |
| 8.5" x 11". The 8" x 8" albums are a | | | | childhood they will reflect on it. |
| nice size for little hands to hold. | | | | |