[Anetscat66]

Hi There-

I have to do a autobiography for the adoption process and tomorrow is my first meeting with the social worker. I did most of my autobiography but keep going back and deleating parts of it.. Any advice on writing one..Do's and Dont's....What to focus more on and not to focus on!!! Please help, thank you!

[tyiakoum]

Be honest. And stop deleting. It will never be perfect. Just let "you" shine through. Good luck!

Take it from a writer, we are our own worst critics... and we never stop editing! You just have to STOP!

[Vogi2002]

I assume this is for the homestudy...

DO- be extrememly honest with everything about yourself, don't try to hide things.

DO- focus on parenting and personality.

DO- talk about your HARD times (everyone has them) and how you overcame them.

DO-give a story about you and dh (explaining where you grew up, the area, the "lifestyle", your family, etc).

DO - include EVERY member of the immediate family including mom, dad, step mom or dad's, Brothers, sisters, BIL, SIL, neices nephews. EVEN IF YOU DON'T get along with them. Explain your relationship with them.

DO NOT- go deep into vacations or such that you and dh have done or had (extravagant living)...if it is important then YES, but say "We have traveled" not "We went to Antigua and stayed in this hotel for this many days, then went to England, then " I mean, unless that is a BIG part of who you are...

OF course everyone is different and it depends on how much is covered (if you have one) in the questionaire. Relax, be honest and you'll do great. it doesn't have to be award winning, just basically tell your life individually and as a couple (big moves, etc).

Good luck!!

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by anetscat

Hi There-

I have to do a autobiography for the adoption process and tomorrow is my first meeting with the social worker. I did most of my autobiography but keep going back and deleating parts of it.. Any advice on writing one..Do's and Dont's....What to focus more on and not to focus on!!! Please help, thank you!

Be honest. Be yourself. Focus on what you value not what you have (as in $$, possessions). Tell the whole story. And then stop. You could probably write and re-write forever. You'll do great!

[Anetscat66]

Hi Everyone-

Thank you so much for your input and suggestions! I really appreciate it. It is really hard not to go on and on about something, I will just take a deep breath and let everything come from the heart. I will let you know how it goes. Have a wonderful night!

[StorkWatcher]

I just really tried to paint a good picture of our everyday life (even the boring stuff!) and the life we envisioned for our child. Family is a big part of that, so we had a lot of info/photos on our extended families and how excited they were to welcome a new baby!

Good luck - someone out there will be looking for parents just like you to love their child. You'll find each other!

[Anetscat66]

Hi Everyone-

Our first homestudy went really well. Our SW breifly went over my AutoBiography and said that it looked great. My husband still has time to get his done. The next meeting will be on each of us seperatley. Wish Us Luck! Thanks again for all your help & suggestions!

-Annette

[tyiakoum]

Annette, that is wonderful and now you are on your way...

Don't worry about the separate visits, but do go over discipline pov's and family history to make sure that you guys are on the same page w/regard to that prior to the visits. They will definitely ask you about discipline, how you were disciplined and how you plan on disciplining and be prepared to back up what you say.

As for family history, it will be basic questions along the lines of what you put in your autobiography.

Good luck for the next visit,

[Anetscat66]

Thank you so much Tammi, the first was pretty scarey, but our worker was really nice and so I can relax now
Keep in touch and I will do the same. Bye for now and have a wonderful day!

[tyiakoum]

Annette, I can totally relate to what you are going thru having gone thru it... but also, recently we did our profile for parentprofiles. At first, I was going to use the autobio from our homestudy. I soon realized that it would not really give all the info we wanted to share w/an expectant mother who was considering placing her child. So you cannot believe how much editing I did prior to sticking that thing on the site. And then, edited again! You can drive yourself crazy!

Take care and I hope so much that things go quickly and you and an expectant mom connect quickly.