[lemonlavender]

So, I've done all my paperwork, signed up for my classes, completed my fingerprinting....and now what?

I'm feeling a little down, because my age range is such that I don't know whether I should be assembling a crib or building a toddler bed. Same with toys and decorating the room. I wanted to wait until the little peanut arrives so I can decorate the room with a theme he/she loves.

This process of waiting is harder not knowing what age or gender I should be preparing for. What have others done to feel like they are still getting ready but not wasting time?

[DannieAS]

if you like to read, I'd read all the information I can...I've read about 6 different books, some adoption related, some discipline related.

There was a time where I would obsess and just waste my time over analyzing everything.

If you have any faith....be it in God, the universe, karma, meditation, whatever....practice it!

I used to do marathons, so I joined the running group again, I have co-workers that I run 2x/week and my running group on the weekends and I just pray and meditate.

The waiting is hard....right now I'm specifically waiting on a disclosure meeting so every hour is excruciating.

[Lauriesmom]

We've only been approved for two months but I'm having a tough time waiting as well. There was one week that we got three calls...none of which actually happened and now it's even harder to wait! I'm trying to do things and projects that I know I can't do when I have a little one to take care of and run to visits, appointments, etc. Good luck with the wait....some days it drives me nuts waiting for the phone to ring again!

[Prettyboicris]

Originally Posted by lemonlavender

So, I've done all my paperwork, signed up for my classes, completed my fingerprinting....and now what?

I'm feeling a little down, because my age range is such that I don't know whether I should be assembling a crib or building a toddler bed. Same with toys and decorating the room. I wanted to wait until the little peanut arrives so I can decorate the room with a theme he/she loves.

This process of waiting is harder not knowing what age or gender I should be preparing for. What have others done to feel like they are still getting ready but not wasting time?

I am in the same position. Thanks for posting this.

[hcg]

Check out thrift stores and yard sales to build a stash of toys and clothes for the ages you'll take.

Make sure you have everything else you need (like a crib, fire extinguishers) before the last minute. Keep an eye on sales so you can get the best price.

We didn't need the room set up till our final home inspection, but it doesn't hurt to do it sooner - that way you can see what else you need to do (move/remove blinds/curtains/lamps/fans, get baby gates, or whatever).

Make a list of fun, and cheap, places to go with each age group. Also check which restaurants let kids eat free

[cottonlily]

We haven't been approved yet but I'm wondering about the wait too. Our age range is 0-8, any gender so I'm clueless about the room, except we have furniture. I'm pretty busy though. I work FT and take some online classes. I will just keep doing what I love - gardening, camping, playing with pets, home improvements - to keep my mind occupied. As far as getting ready for the placement, I have a few adoption books I read and I baby-sit my nephew (good practice!). It's practically impossible to find things for such a wide range of possibilities now but I'll be looking for books to make a child's collection.

[chloroxsis]

Since you have not completed your classes yet, it may actually be longer than you think. Try to get a realistic timeline of how long it will take from your agency worker or state worker. Then do something else! After working on that room for more than a year, and reading probably 20 books, and going to adoption support type meetings, I finally just burst from frustration! So you have to pace yourself. Do all your paperwork when asked. I started keeping a journal for my child so she would always know she was wanted and loved. I talk about the wait and anything I did as a step to getting her. But I think I would have benefited some from doing other things too. Keep the room generic because you may change your age range when you see the "right" child for you. Good luck! It's nerve wrecking, but everything worth anything is worth waiting for!