| As a mother of six adopted children | | | | dog down there. She never even went into |
| (both babies and older children) I know | | | | the basement! You will want to know what |
| how confusing adoption can be, and how | | | | to expect from the home study. |
| many questions you might have. It is | | | | If you are considering adopting older |
| like taking on an entirely new journey | | | | children, you must realize this is an |
| with no one to show you. the way You | | | | entirely different situation than |
| are excited, but anxious and | | | | adopting a baby. I noticed my girls |
| apprehensive as to what is coming next. | | | | (three of them) had some antagonism |
| You need information first on where to | | | | toward me, which was lacking in the |
| go. There are many agencies across the | | | | boys. The adoption worker told me that |
| country , and some even cover | | | | this is very common. Possibly because |
| international adoptions. We got three of | | | | boys lack the "maternal instinct" and |
| our children from the state adoption | | | | don't feel as strongly as girls do about |
| agency in Massachusetts and two from the | | | | their mothers' having placed them for |
| Catholic Charitable Bureau. You want to | | | | adoption. So they have less resentment |
| find out what agency you should go to. | | | | toward the "mother figure" in their new |
| Some charge more than others, promise | | | | family. |
| you the world, and put you through a | | | | If you are interested in international |
| third degree. You don't want to have to | | | | adoptions, chances are you will have |
| put up with the added aggravation, so | | | | more questions, including travel |
| agency selection is important. You want | | | | requirements, what to pack, exactly what |
| to be able to evaluate different | | | | this "journey of a lifetime" requires. |
| agencies, and make your own decisions. | | | | An experienced agency should know what |
| You want to find the states with | | | | to tell you in this regard. |
| agencies which are the most "adoption | | | | I often thought it would be nice to have |
| friendly". | | | | someone leading us by the hand. |
| You need to understand the application | | | | Someone who has "been there and done |
| process, and how the home study works. I | | | | that", combined with other professionals |
| remember the first home study we had, we | | | | who could answer all of our questions. |
| had a small house with a basement which | | | | Wouldn't it be great to have a network |
| was prone to flooding. The day before it | | | | so you wouldn't feel so isolated? Our |
| had rained continually, so the basement | | | | first adopted child was a five months |
| was covered with water. We thought we | | | | old boy, and we waited nine months for |
| would never pass the home study under | | | | him. (I couldn't have done better |
| those conditions! We borrowed two or | | | | myself!) |
| three fans and let them run all night, | | | | The very best of luck in your adoption |
| hoping against hope the basement would | | | | journey. It is an experience like no |
| dry out. Luckily the home study worker | | | | other, and I am so glad I completed that |
| was afraid of dogs, and we had put our | | | | journey six times! |