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