[ROSAMARIE]

Hi all

My Husband and I are attending our first adoption seminar on Saturday we are both excited and a little nervous. Any suggestions what we should be asking.We are a little nervous that we are goning to hear a lot of great stories that tug at our heart strings and then we will forget to be objective LOL.

Rosamarie

[tobeafamily]

Rosemarie,

I remember my first seminars too! Very nervous and exciting time. After every one, I just wanted to be a mom right there and then!

First, I'd recommend you think about all avenues of adoption. There are three main ones - International, Domestic Parental Placement and Domestic US Waiting Child/Foster Care. Each has benefits, each has risks. There is no one 'best way' to adopt, only a best way for you.

When talking with each other about your plans, ask yourselves these kinds of questions:

1. How important is it that your child share your ethnic heritage?
2. How important is it that your child be a newborn at time of placement?
3. How willing/able are you to travel, with or without notice?
4. How much are you comfortable spending in fees and expenses?
5. How prepared do you feel parenting a child who may have been exposed to abuse/neglect/institutionalization, known or unknown at time of placement?
6. How comfortable do you feel sharing your lifestyle, beliefs, values with strangers or people you don't know well?

I think once you've gone through this, you'll feel more confident in your choices. The heartstrings may still tug, of course. You'll just be more able to respond to them with clarity when they do.

HTH, best of luck.

Regina

[ALI143]

If your adopting through your state foster care system.....

I didn't find they gave too many stories at first. I think it was around the 3rd of 6 weeks into training and we watched a video of foster teens telling their stories. The instructor did give examples of things that happened in her 25 years. Besides if your state is like Oregon they will give you a big notebook and a small packet of written materials and every week (or during one long weekend) you'll get another packet of reading materials till it's hard to lug that thing around. In other words they'll accurately warn you and if they don't you've always got this group!

Where are you thinking of adopting through? International, domestic newborn, fostercare ???

[ROSAMARIE]

Hi and thank you

We are leaning towards international adoption but we have not made any decision about anything as of yet. What was your experience like?

Rosamarie

[tobeafamily]

Rosamarie,

Not sure if you addressed this to Ali or to myself?

Regina

[purplekelli]

Rosamarie,

We went to our first orientation seminar a few months ago. I was terrified, but we sure learned a lot. We've been to two orientations so far and have finally picked an agency to work with. So I guess now it's official. Our adoption journey has begun! How did the orientation go for you?

Kelli