When you’re thinking about adoption it can often be difficult to know where to start and how the process works. Aside from all the practical steps to find out about, the emotional aspects of getting to this stage and imagining yourself as a parent through adoption can be difficult to get your head around.
There are a lot of myths around about adoption – who can adopt, how old children are when they are placed with a family etc etc. It’s important not to be influenced by out of date or incorrect information.
These tips featured in a blog post I wrote for National Adoption Week 2011:
- Do a bit of research around adoption in your area – the different types of adoption (e.g. domestic, overseas), eligibility criteria, the children placed for adoption, post-placement support.
- Separate the practical from the emotional – find out what you need to do to adopt – who do you need to phone, what paperwork do you have to complete, etc etc. This means that when and if you decide to adopt you can move a whole lot faster.
- Give yourself time and space to think about the emotional side of adoption – if you’re adopting as a couple, take time to talk to each other about what adoption means to you and how you feel about the process.
- Talk to someone who’s been through adoption or to a professional working in adoption. A lot of agencies now have open evenings or drop in sessions – take the opportunity to go along and ask a few questions and find out more.
Making the decision to adopt is something unique to you and your situation. For some, it can be a relatively straightforward or even easy decision to make, for others it can mean leaving behind hopes and dreams of giving birth to your baby. It’s important to recognise any loss or grief and again give yourself time before taking the next steps.
Next steps
Download the free report Is Adoption for Me? for more information and answers to your questions.
Book some one-to-one time with Fiona to talk through any concerns and work out key steps to take you to the next stage in adoption
From the archives
National Adoption Week in the UK and National Adoption Month in the US have great information pages that you can access all year round.
