1.) How are you connected to adoption?
Hoping to adopt a child
2.) Do you do anything special to celebrate national adoption month (Nov.)?
Had never heard of it before this year. Hoping to have the guts to tell our whole family we are adopting during our Thanksgiving meal, in celebration of National Adoption Month.
3.) When growing up, did you know anyone connected to adoption?
A neighbor who lived next door to me in my childhood.
4.) If you can remember, when did you first learn about adoption as a child?
My mother told me that the previously mentioned next-door neighbor was adopted, and that is my first recollection about adoption. I thought of it as positive, and I remember how much the family doted on that little girl and loved her. She had two brothers who were her aparents' biological children. Unfortunately, when we were both around 7, I may have been the one who told her she was adopted. We were playing and I said something about it and then her brother socked me really hard and all of the parents on the street were up in arms.
5.) In high school, did you know anyone who had a baby and placed?
My best friend. She placed twin boys.
4.) Anyone in your family, other than you, connected to adoption?
One of my nieces is adopted.
5.) When adopting or placing your child, did anyone say rude/ignorant comments? What were they?
Mostly, people to whom I am close are nothing but supportive. Those who I have made the mistake of telling who are not as close to me respond with pity. This has always confounded me because I have always communicated positively about adoption and have only communicated to my best friend any sadness about our infertility (I think that will be best for our child in that I don't want anyone to ignorantly communicate to him or her that s/he was a consolation prize when s/he was exactly who we wanted). So, now throughout our homestudy process I have been completely silent about us moving forward, except with close friends and relatives. It's stressful enough without the drama of others' misconceptions.
6.) If you had to do things all over again with either placing your child or adopting, what things - small or large - would you do differently?
It remains to be seen. I'm still learning. Despite my self-imposed stress, things have gone pretty smoothly thus far.
7.) How has placing/adopting your child changed you?
n/a
8.) How has your views changed on adoption since placing or adopting your child?
n/a
9.) Do you have a closed, semi-open, or fully open adoption?
n/a
10.) If you have an open adoption, what has been the toughest thing about it?
n/a
11.) If you have an open adoption, what has been the best thing about it?
n/a
12.) What has been the greatest lesson you've learned about the other side of the triad? (example: If you're an aMom, what have you learned about bMoms)
Hmmm. I think it's more about having smatterings of information about all sides of the triad and learning more. Nothing specific stands out.
13.) Name your biggest pet peeve in the adoption world?
Sorry to break the rules 
but I have three:
a) When desperate adoptive parents promise ongoing contact to birthparents and then disappear. That is just plain horrible, and it breaks my heart.
b) When adoptees who are placed by birthparents are referred to as orphans. I'm not one to get hung up on titles (PAP [prospective adoptive parent] is one of the funniest things I have ever heard) but for some reason that sends chills up and down my spine. Makes me think of "Oliver." Another is when they are treated as though they should feel miserable because they are adopted, and as though they are in denial if they don't. Just in general, the whole thing of not respecting adoptees as individuals, but as a group that all thinks the same.
c) When adoptive parents are treated like second-class citizens and beggars not worthy of the same amount of compassion and respect accorded to all members of the triad. I have found this with some adoption agencies that we have walked away from and, I'm sorry to say, from some in these forums and other newsgroups. I know that many more members of the triad have respect for each other than don't, especially nowadays, and I am always encouraged when I read stories of all members of the triad helping each other through our losses with mutual respect and concern.
14.) If you are a birthmom, would you ever consider adopting a child? Why or why not?
n/a
15.) Are you satisfied with the adoption agency you placed/adopted through? Why or why not?
Thus far, yes. They have been very efficient and they have moved quickly on everything we have requested.
16.) Do you currently attend a support group or receive any counselling through an agency?
Just finished four weeks of pre-adoptive classes. I wish to find a support group nearby, and I believe our Resolve chapter offers them.
17.) Name a disappointment you've felt after placing/adopting:
n/a
18.) Name a misconception people (family,strangers) have about you being an adoptive mom or birthmom or adoptee:
That adoption is a "last resort" for us, and/or that our children will be lucky that we "saved" them.
19.) What books, magazines, websites, articles, links, etc ...have you found most helpful after placing/adopting?
Before adopting: "Adoption after Infertility," "Adopting in California"
20.) Write anything you wish here:
Thanks, Skye! As usual, here you are again working to help all members of the triad understand one another, and I appreciate you! 