[spencerspar]

Hello everyone!

I don't know about you, but the worse part of the adoption process for me was waiting for the phone call that would change my life. It was very stressful and led to so many negative emotions such as doubt, fear, stress and plain old fatigue.

I finally figured out that I had to do activities that I had control over. My husband and I remodeled a beautiful baby nursery, got a baby bag created and ready to go, reached out to other families in waiting, and when I felt especially sad, I would buy a baby outfit or toy.

This helped me keep my sanity, and it helped so much. By touching tangible things, my baby was not just a "wish in my head", but was soon to be a reality.

What about you? What things have you done, or are doing, to lessen the stress of waiting?

We finally received our brand spanking new baby girl, and let me tell you, the wait was so worth it So never give up!

[HoustonTexas]

I like your post and I loved that it had a happy ending!

We haven't bought anything yet... I thought it may make it tougher; being ready for the baby but there's no baby. We are ready in our hearts and minds of course, but just waiting for the right baby to find us :-)

We decided to take a break for 2 months. We are very busy with work until April; that being the main reason and the 2nd reason; it's an emotional roller coaster. You almost get consumed by it... waiting for the e-mail... We have had 'opportunities', but they weren't meant to be.

Now that we have decided to go active again in April, it somehow is less consuming yet I realize the utter need we have to become parents! I wish we could see into the future :-)

I need to work on my patience and you need a lot for this process! I do trust the process and have to remind myself of that :-)

[spencerspar]

Dear Houston:

Thanks for your response.

I think it's an excellent idea to take a "break" for a little while. In fact, we did the same thing for a bit. Sometimes you just need a breather and a chance to just get away from it all because, like you said, it's an emotional roller coaster.

Sometimes you are afraid to even "hope" because so many things can lead to disappoinment, things you have no control over.

As humans, we have the amazing ability to, once we know we want and need something, to immediately start devising a plan to make it happen. The human will is strong, and especially when we want to help another person.

Never give up! It took us way longer than we ever anticipated to get that phone call, but I came out a stronger person. I always kid my husband when I say I was in "labor" as we waited for our little one. For adoptive parent(s), that waiting period is in many ways, harder than physical labor. Of course, a woman who has given birth may beg to differ with me (LOL)!

But, do what feels right for you, and when you're ready, start taking practical steps to prepare. That may prove very empowering for you, as it was for me.

Stay positive :-)

[HoustonTexas]

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your kind words.
I agree with you 100%.
Have a lovely day!