[BeachChair]

My DH and I are both avid skydivers and are wondering how everyone feels about revealing this in our homestudy. Being an extreme sport we are not sure if this would hurt us. We want to be completely honest but on the other hand we do recognize that this is a misunderstood sport and don't want it to relfect negatively on us. Any suggestions, thoughts, etc would be greatly appreciated.

[Xanny]

I suspect it would depend on the country and the judge. Also on your social worker. One of the points of the homestudy is to ensure that you can keep your children safe, and also to ensure that you are likely to live until the child reaches majority (our doctor had to sign a statement saying that he sees no reason why we won't live another 18 years). Skydiving is a risky sport. But then again, so is adoption! The right social worker will see you as people who aren't afraid to face a challenge: even a very scary one.

I would feel out the SW to see if you think he/she will be receptive. If so, then tell the SW, and ask if it should be put into the homestudy report or not. Our agency read our homestudy draft and told us about anything they thought might present a problem in court (like we said we wanted a child "as healthy as possible," which could have resulted in a judge deciding the child we choose is not healthy enough for us to adopt.)

It seems to me it's most important that you don't lie to your agency. The professionals are good at deciding what is important to put into the homestudy, and what should be left out.

Anyway, skydiving seems like a hard hobby to hide. Don't you have skydiving pictures around the house? I think the stress of lying would be too much for me.

That's just my $0.02.

Xanny

[v_kats]

I would not advise you to lie, either, but talk to your social worker about it and ask her/him whether it is something that could possibly be ommitted from the homestudy report. For example, SW would still get into extensive details of inheritance rights, and who would be appointed guardians of your adopted children in case you die or become disabled; but the reasons for such thoroughness would better be skipped.

Maybe your SW could make two versions of your homestudy -- one for USCIS and one for your dossier.

The reason behind my suggestion is simple: if a SW in U.S. doesn't see you fit to be parents because of sydiving, you can simply turn to another SW or agency. If a judge in Russia (or wherever) doesn't see you fit to be parents because of sydiving, you cannot do a thing.

Just my humble opinion,
Victoria