Hi there,
the first time my dh and I adopted we were both still students, young and poor
. We were in fact turned down by several agencys but we persisted and found one that was not only willing to work with us but eager. Almost one year to the day of making the decision to adopt we brough home the first of our four children.
I would advise you to do some research onot only on adoption professionals but on methods of adoption and the kinds of kids available.
I wish we had done that the first time around. Not that we had a bad experience but I felt so "beholdin'" to the agency and if I had done more research and had been a more educated consumer I think I would have felt more empowered in the process. I felt much like you do, that they have all of the power and I would be lucky to be chosen. That is not the case. For every child in need of a forever family there is a family for that child. Our jobs as padoptive families is to look in side ourselves, decide what type of child is right for our family and parenting situation and then get our selves out there (network) using the best adoption professionals and most ethical practices to bring those children home.
lisa