[MkMw]

Hi there!

A few years ago, you could have been me. I wanted to be a parent, discovered we had "IF issues", and decided it just wasn't in the cards, and was happy for years. After babysitting my nephew and niece (then 4 and 2) for 10 days, I changed my mind again - and here we are today (I'm 37).

I had no "void" to fill in my life. But my children have added a dimension to it that I can't imagine not having. Fortunately I knew and (because I have a big mouth) met many people who were adopted, had placed children, and had adopted (in real life not online) they gave me a realistic picture of what to expect. There are some adoptees here who do talk (and talk kindly) about their adoptive families. I'm sure they'll speak up!

I think the biggest thing to remember is that while an adoptive family has some different and/or additional issues to keep in mind, we are in every sense a real family, and that means we need to know how to handle those issues when/if they come up.

Learning from those who placed, adopted and were adopted is important, but there is alot more negativity online than *I* have found in life. And READ, READ, READ.... I found more books online than in book stores...I must have 20 books (or more!)