[Shoshana]

Hi - I was adopted at 14 days from Catholic Charities in Indianapolis, found my bio mother & family a long time ago (and have a great relationship to this day), AND adopted a baby girl from Guatemala.

I also agree that open adoption would be best but that wasn't a clear option when I was beginning the adoption process. I'm single and it's unlikely I'd have been chosen by a potential birth mother so I selected Guatemala. My daughter was 3 months when I brought her home.

You can learn much about Guatemalan adoptions through the Guatemalan forum on this site. Also, guatadopt.com has a very detailed explanation of the process. There is a listserve called 'the big list' (directions for joining are on guatadopt). I know that there are quite a few a-parents in the US who varying levels of contact with biomothers/families in Guatemala.

I am going to do my best to be sure my daughter is bilingual. I also have a photo album and am getting ready to send letters/pictures to my daughter's first mother.

Best wishes - let me know if you have any more questions...