[FostAdoptMoms]

It has been a long road, but it appears that we are making progress on our path to adopt a 15 year old girl we met at an adoption event a year ago. After meeting with her social worker last week, it appears she may even be home for the holidays!

Although we are VERY excited, we want to prepare ourselves as best we can to parent a teenager. We have two girls now (age 8 & 12) but have no experience with teenagers. Any of you who have experience - we would love your input.

She is a junior in highschool with excellent grades, a love for writing poetry, reading, and running. We know she is interested in going to college in a couple of years but outside of that, we don't know much.

What can we do to make her feel special and welcome in our home? What are 15 (almost 16) year olds into these days? (I feel so OLD asking that question).

Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!

S & K
Long Beach, CA

[DET62]

My daughter is 15, and I adopted her two years ago from Russia. Emotionally, she is more like about 11 years old.

Just try not to have too many expectations of your new daughter. Let her show you what she likes.

Some kids at school told my daughter last year that playing with Barbies was too childish and she put them away. I told her recently to get them out and PLAY. When she was in the orphanage [6 years] she never had a Barbie - or any other toy, all her own. There were almost no toys there. So she missed important play time. I told her it's OK to play with her dolls, and grow up at her own pace.

I don't know about domestic adoption. However, I have heard all kids in foster care or orphanages experience some delays.

Good luck!

[FostAdoptMoms]

Good for you for adopting an older child from Russia! Our expectations are definately limited however, having met T, we know that she is bright an articulate. She seems to be on track but we know that she had her best "game face" on as it was an adoption event. We will see how things go when the honeymoon period is over.

Thank you for your input and congratulations on your adoption!