[mommamarci]

We should have done more. My two main criteria were estimated wait time and cost. I talked to references, I looked at the website, I asked questions, but I was so naive then. Now, I would still say cost and estimated wait time would be important, but treatment of expectant parents would be even more so. (The agency we chose insisted on calling them birth parents even before giving birth and required all letters to be addressed Dear Birth Mom. Yuck!!) I also think agencies should require training or education for some people. My husband and I do not have a single friend or family member (outside of the ones I have met online and become close to!!) who has been touched by adoption and definitely no one that has been touched by transracial issues. Our agency did not even reccomend we read books or anything. Looking back I feel like as long as we were willing to pay them, they did not care and would give us a baby. How did they know we were prepared for transracial adoption issues?

I would like to say next time we will be so much pickier, but cost will still have to play a huge role...