[scrapper]

Hello. I am not a birth parent and I am not a potential adoptive parent. I am a scrapbooker and I was approached by someone who needs to put a scrapbook together for an agency to show to potential birth parents. I am respectfully writing to gain a little knowledge or insight into this type of book.

I know that I cannot change, nor would I, the family's hobbies, interest, religion etc. But what I was curious about was if there were things that birth parents like to see more than something else; things they wished weren't in the books but tend to show up anyways.

If you have any thoughts and are able to share I would greatly appreciate it. If you feel, instead, that this is inappropriate for this forum then I apologize and will not bother you anymore.

Thank you for your insights and wishing you all the best.

Scrapper

[SchmennaLeigh]

I didn't care about the size of their house, what their clothes looked like or their formal wedding portraits. J&D's profile showed them as REAL people. Candids, pets and family members included.

[scrapper]

Thank you for your honesty. Are there area's of their life, in addition you what you mentioned, that you wished you saw more of? Like do you wish the books spent more time on extended family and friends or outtings, etc?

Scrapper

[scrapper]

I had another related question if that is okay: when putting together a scrap book it can be as simple or exquisite as one chooses. How much does the actual look of the album play in a birth family considering an adoptive family? Do you think it could work against a potential family if the album has more "little extra's" in it than one that is more simple?

Thank you so much for your comments - if you have any to offer.

With much respect,

Scrapper

[Rifilanna]

I went for the most "honest" profiles. No offical portraits, just family shots. Everything was handwritten. dd's family is an extended family (g-parents live with and next door) so they were included. I liked that, it seemed as though no one else had family.

[scrapper]

thank you for your thoughts. i appreciate the time.

scrapper