|
If I am out with my kids, and see another parent at the park who 'may fit the profile', after a while, I try to nicely engage them in conversation, keeping it light. If they are friendly, I make my approach about my family. I would only ask 'are you an adoptive family LIKE ME?" Giving a stranger an opening like that is very low key and lets them decide if they wish to pick up the ball. I would never ask someone if they adopted their children, it's too blunt. For every mother at the park I approach, there is one who I don't ask. But it sure is great to meet someone who shares our experiences. I've been doing this for several years and only had one bad experience. A mother I met at a neighborhood festival was having a rough day and resented any inference about her family. My son made one of his best friends due to my approach. It's not every day I meet another mother parenting a child with adhd the same age as my son. The connection we made that day paid off because I took a risk.
|