[taramayrn]

Did you know that November is National Adoption Awareness Month? It is a month devoted to raising awareness of adoption from foster care, however I believe that we can stretch the realms of National Adoption Awareness Month to raise awareness on all kinds of adoption.

So what will you do to raise awareness?

[belleinblue1978]

I write letters to the editors of papers all over the state encouraging people to press our lawmakers to open records in our state. No more court orders and a judge deciding who is worthy of knowing and who isn't.

[taramayrn]

Good for you Belle. How long have you been doing this?

[belleinblue1978]

Probably about six or seven years now. Someone helped me find my voice and now I'm loud about it.

[taramayrn]

That's what our voice is for - making a difference!!

[thanksgivingmom]

I've only been through one November as a firstmom and sometimes I feel like I'm doing all that I can emotionally to create awareness in the adoption community.....I read that and it makes me angry like it's a cop out that I'm not doing more, but selfishly, I deal with me right now so that I'm strong enough to deal with everyone else.

I think that's especially true with coming to terms with how I placed and what that means....I take a lot of heat for it a lot of times (not here, but elsewhere or privately) and sometimes I'm just working on finding my balance before I start kicking butt and taking names.


This year, I'll definitely blog about different parts of adoption and try to dispell some myths....but then again, that's what I try to do year round

[belleinblue1978]

TGM,

Don't feel bad, I've been doing this for 30 years. It still kills me when people ask how I am going to "celebrate" Adoption Awareness month. Ummmm, not something to celebrate. October is Breast Cancer awareness month, pretty sure I don't ask the lady at work whose sister died of it how she will celebrate.

We all do our little part and if you change ONE person's mind, then you've done your part.

[taramayrn]

I don't think you should feel bad either TGM. I have been living open adoption for almost 9 years and haven't done much either to promote awareness to National Adoption Month or to issues in adoption. Well I have done some to promote awareness but not in the month of November.
I think it's also hard like you said because of the circumstances of your placement. It is often hard to step out into the public forum when you aren't "out" as a birth/firstmom. But I think you can do your part without advertising who you are. Like you said your blog, I think that's a great way to promote awareness.
Like I said normally I have not done anything for National Adoption Month, but this year I have been asked to take part in a video produced by my adoption agency to promote and educate about open adoption. So that's exciting.

[thanksgivingmom]

Thanks

I'll find my footing eventually. Just working on being okay with realizing that I don't have to go straight to the deep end! I can ease my way in I suppose.

[feelingreyt]

I'm not really sure what I can do to promote Adoption Awareness. I would love some ideas!
I know I will be celebrating the finalization of our son's adoption in Nov. Not a big party or anything like that, but more like an internal celebration. I will enjoy a private special moment holding my son and telling him how special the day is to our family. He'll only be 15 months old, he won't understand, but I will tell him anyway!

[lahdh4]

TGM - I am just starting to get my footing. I am finally finding my voice. It took me awhile but I am getting there. Sometimes it is a hard road to get to the point where you can find your voice.
Not really sure what I am going to be doing. Guess just speaking about Supergirl more and more.

[feelingreyt]

This isn't much, but Sunday morning when asked if we had any announcements to be made I asked if I could make one.
I told everyone how Nov. is National Adoption Awareness Month. I honestly can't remember everything I said, it wasn't really planned out! I told them that it was primarily promoting adoption through foster care. I reminded everyone that God tells us to take care of the orphans. I said that if anyone felt lead to open their homes to a child in need that would be wonderful because there are so many children that are in foster care. So many children need love, guidance and a safe home. Not all in that order or exact words, but anyway, I need raise awarenes in my Church. It wasn't easy and I wish I would have written something down instead of just flying by the seat of pants, but oh well, thats just me. I start talking and there it is, LOL!

[taramayrn]

Good for you feeling - that is an awesome way to promote awareness!!

[feelingreyt]

Originally Posted by taramayrn

Good for you feeling - that is an awesome way to promote awareness!!

Thanks Tara! I just wish I would have been more prepared. I may touch on the subject again in a week or so.
I need to do some research to find out how many children in our County alone are in need of a home. Any ideas how I can obtain those numbers? I have a friend at DCS, but I really don't want to ask her. I always feel like I'm putting her in a weird position when I start asking questions about The System!