[indeed]

I am just wondering what everyone does to relax from the stress of the adoption process. There are so many new members, maybe we can help each other by offering some ideas on stress relief. Before my daughter came home my main form of relaxation was to walk my dog around the town and imagine the day I would be pushing a stroller!!! It was always a mood lifter! Ellen

[Devora]

Besides the things I normally do to relax (bicycling, gardening, reading, etc.), I have three projects I'm working on that really help to offset the paperwork:

(1) I've started a journal that I'm writing to our someday child telling about the process, reactions of family and friends, etc. I'll share it with our child when s/he is older.

(2) I'm putting together a photo album with pictures of us, our house, and our child's grandparents. Along with it I've written captions (in Spanish) that make it read like a storybook. I'll take the book when we go to visit and leave it with the foster family to read to our child.

(3) I'll soon be making a babybook/lifebook. I expect that to be a big project.

These things really make a big difference for me. We're in the final stages of homestudy and dossier preparation and I find that sometimes it all seems like paperwork that's unrelated to actually being a parent, so I have to balance it off with something more "real." I'm hoping it also helps during the waiting process once we have a referral.

[Belenbaby]

I found the biggest stress buster during those tense waiting days was to chat with my friends here and on other forums...without that I would have been a lunie...remember my eyes!!!!!!!!

[lisagonz2001]

Shopping for baby helped me relax and stay positive during our long wait to bring our little boy home. I also enjoyed going out to dinner and having a few drinks with my hubby. Nothing like a glass of wine to get me relaxed.

Lisa
Home w/ Joey 12/03

[okstategrads]

I am a teacher and now that school is out, I have all the time in the world to sit around and stress/wonder what is going on . I do spend my time by the pool and going to the movies with a group of friends. I also ejoy reading. Has anybody read any good books lately - both adoption and non adoption related?

[indeed]

I recently read "The Secret Life of Bees" and really enjoyed it.

[Bassette]

Shopping, shopping, shopping! Especially on Ebay!

I went to Greece for a honeymoon and fell in love with Greek Brandy. There is a Greek import called Metaxa and it comes in 2 diff strengths. Metaxa3 for lightweights like myself and Metaxa5 for those who want a real good whoopin'. You can find it here in the states. Try it, you might likey!

[rlf0504]

Shopping was a favorite of mine. I was actually in Babies-R-Us when I got the call asking if I could travel for Isabella's pick-up trip in five days. I had to sit down on one of their benches. It was much sooner than we had expected.
Starting the scrapbooks was a good idea.
And as someone mentioned on another thread, getting those announcements ready to print with all but the "Family Day" date is good too.
At least it's summer now, it seems to be easier to find things to do this time of year in the midwest.
Take care,
Rhonda

[twcw]

My wife and I both teach so we are out for the summer as well. I pass the time by checking my email 55 times a day. I also read the forums like an addict. To break the cycle I start new threads just for fun.

Seriously,

I love to watch movies, cook, grill on the bbq, work with wood (suck at it, but enjoy it), golf (suck at it as well), play games on the computer, study the Civil War, and of course fantasy baseball (passes the time till fantasy FOOTBALL SEASON).

[kady2004]

Lets see -: When I am not on the forum I try to relax, I just joined a yoga studio and am learning the relaxing art of, well, relaxing - through meditation and the practice of yoga - its nice because the the lessons are 1 1/2 hours each and with travel that takes at least 2 hours out of my day where I am not focused totally on the adoption. I have also started a life book for Will, but have been sidetracked by rubber stamping which then led to an EBay addiction which also fills several hours of my day....however that then leads to looking at Baby stuff on EBay which leads me back to my adoption addiction and back to this board.... so basically if I am not doing Yoga I am here.....

[lisainatlanta]

Major projects around the house - working on getting a retaining wall built in the back yard with a fire pit - for get togethers!

Love Golf! Just played 18 holes the other day - but was very distracted because I knew Ronald Reagan was being flown in to Washington and wanted to see Nancy - Not talking politics - but I love the Reagans Love Story!!!! Today esp. I just love Nancy!

I have recently started playing Tennis (dont laugh Becky!) - and I love it.

I'm also a coach at the school - so being active is a must!

Working on my Lesson Plans these days because I'm taking time off when Baby Will gets here!

That's it! ........................... anyone want to buy a boat?

[becky]

It's interesting how many of you have such strong feelings about "Brandy"...I'm sure our super-moderator will get a real kick out of this thread.

Now on to the real point of this thread...how to keep your mind off things while waiting:

Do everything you won't be able to do once a baby comes into your life...go to movies, go out to dinner with friends, read a book in peace and quiet. You will be surprised at how little free time you have, so do what you can now, because shortly everything will be very different!

[SummerV]

Read! REad and REad some more!
I also am a writer although not published yet, so I try to take this time to write.
I also am moving back to South Dakota so this time around I am also trying to pack before little Natalie comes home.
something I found that was a wonderful stress breaker was to declutter my home. Yea I know not something one jumps up and down to do, but it is time consuming and it cleans up the home for more fun things like baby things. Also if you live in town have a rummage sale. That way the stress is taken off of the adoption, because your so busy gathering items, getting them out for sale...plus the big bonus, money to shop for baby with.
It has been fun reading the other ideas.
Great thread by the way!
Summer

Someone asked if anyone had read any good books lately. Two I can't help but recommend are "Good in Bed" and "In Her Shoes" by Jennifer Weiner. She's a Philadelphia author (I work in Philly), and it was so cool to know that I'd been exactly where she was talking about. Also, Good in Bed is being made into an HBO movie/series. I couldn't put either of the books down.

Also, find something that you've always wanted to do and teach yourself how to do it. I did that with counted cross stitch and even went so far as to start doing the counted on linen (talk about eye challenges). Also, I LOVE doing homemade gifts for baby showers. I started making the Baby Diaper Cakes (PM me if you want instructions) and have since taken to going to Craft Shows to find different examples of how other people do them.

I'll post a picture later, the diaper cakes are REALLY fun to make, just start telling friends and family to save their T.P. and papertowel emptly rolls for you!

[Bitsy]

You crack me up Becky!
As for what helped me....
Reading, scrapbooking, shopping, going out with friends, organizing around the house and shopping (did I mention that already?)

Hope this helps......