[tchr_678]

For all of you who have successful brought your children home ... did your families meet you at the airport as a sort of welcome celebration? Did people meet at your house? How did you arrange for people to meet your children? DH and I are trying to arrange these details for our arrival and are just looking for some insight into what others did.

Thanks!!

[VinSue99]

When we arrived home, my sister, my niece and her boyfriend were wiating for us at the airport. When we got home I had another six people wiating for us! Connor did very well, even after the long flight and not knowing anyone.

[DET62]

After the long journey, it's really best to go home quietly, IMHO. I have read extensively and everything points to keeping it very low key.

My daughter was older and I knew all the strnge sights and sounds would be scary to her, and they were.

When my daughter came home I was met at the airport by 1 friend and her son, and we went to a diner for a late dinner, then home to bed. Very casual. No fuss.

One of my cousins wanted to meet me with balloons and signs and a big hullabaloo, and I just said No, sorry, too much. I'm so glad I did.

My daughter had been on planes and in airports for 15 hours and flown across several time zones, and she was exhausted. I was exhausted. I wanted privacy and rest. When we got home, we showered and went to bed and slept for almost 12 hours. Of course my daughter was 13 years old. I think even a baby needs quiet, though.

Save the big celebration for when the jet lag is over. That's what we did. We had friends in a couple of days later and it was nice.

Dee

[angelkisses0102]

It will depend on the child...Arianna did great from day one...Alex was terrified and cranky and miserable...he wanted nothing to do with anyone other than me.

Personally I would keep it as low key as possible...or let your family know how the child is doing while you are in Moscow...and then decide and arrange what would be best for your child.

You will have lots of time for your families to meet your new member...but only this time to help make your child's transition as easy as possible.

[kimber413]

We had a close friend pick us up, and we waited for a couple of days before allowing family to visit. Even then, we limited it to only 2 or 3 members at a time. Otherwise, I think it would have been too much for her to take in. She was 2 when we brought her home.

We also didn't allow grandma or anyone else to do anything for her, such as feed, dress, or change her. We felt like we needed her to know we were the ones to count on for those things in order to help her bond to us.

[klk88]

We had my parents and my MIL waiting for us at the airport. There was no keeping the grandparents away from their little ones! We kept it very low key. We still haven't introduced them to anyone other than the grandparents and neighborhood children. We have been a week now. They will meet my brother and his family this weekend so we will see how that goes.

[britfish]

I guess we were kind of different on this.
We told everyone that asked about meeting the baby to feel free to meet us at the airport. We told them to either meet us at the airport or wait for us to call when we were ready for visitors. It made people happy to greet us and also it wasn't as long of a visit as people hanging out at the house.
I couldn't imagine stepping in to that airport w/ my new baby and not seeing my family.

[SingleMama2B]

Well, it was suppose to be my Sister and her whole family, several friends and their children to be at the airport, and my parents meeting us back at the house. Then the Blizzard hit NY (JFK) and we where delayed leaving Moscow for 2 days, which changed EVERYONE's schedule. It turned out that our agency Rep who lives an hour from JFK, picked up me and my DD, and drove us South in NJ, and 1/2 way, my Mom & Stepdad picked us up, and took us home. ALSO, the day we where to fly out of Moscow (SVO), we had a 7+ hour delay because of "White-Out" conditions. It certainly was NOT what I had imagined for my DD arrival to the US for good, but it was still wonderful to have her on AMERICAN SOIL!!!! No matter anyone tells you, there is NO FEELING LIKE being Home and feet planted firmly on our SOIL!!!!

Remember, no matter what you PLAN, (i.e. small, med. large group(s) at the airport, home, etc.) it will be WONDERFUL!!! Let your family and friends worry about that.... depending on how old your new daughter &/or son will be, you can gently suggest the size, but don't worry about the details. They will enjoy doing this, since the adoption (process, emotions, etc.) they really couldn't get a grasp of.... no one can unless you go through it!

Blessings.......................A in NJ

[waitinginnj]

I was met by my mom, dad, sister's three sons and brother-in-law. There were a few signs and a few balloons. I NEEDED IT!

My daughter was in my arms and she stayed there, but it was such a relief to be home and have friendly faces there.

We drove home from the airport and then had a family dinner. Then everyone left. It was that point that I was home with my daughter and I didn't have any visitors for the first two weeks, other than my mom and dad.

My daughter was two. She was tired and slept in the car and then really enjoyed everyone for an hour or so, before they went home.

It is a personal decision. In my opinion, at that point it isn't about the child - it is for the parents. The child has gone through so much a few greetings at the airport make little difference.

[swmphoto]

We are not home yet but all my friends and family are
planning to meet us at the airport. I am so excited about seeing everyone and letting them get a sneak peak at our new son. I figure it is a good place to have everyone because we can't really hang around an airport and there are already a few hundred people around that are strangers, so what's 20 more. My husband, myself, my two daughters and our new son will travel home in one car together and then we will focus on family time. Anyone not at the airport can wait a while to visit. Our social worker suggeted to have company visit while the baby napped. That way they can see him but not overwhelm the baby. I thought that was a good idea nothing like the sweet site of a sleeping child.

[Pinkie]

Good question and one I've been pondering over. I have no family here in Spain so that rules out any big decision making.

My best friend and her 3 year old son will collect us at the airport and two other friends have specificially asked if they can come and meet us for a few minutes. I don't see the harm, as a previous poster said, a few extra people at the airport isn't going to make any difference.

I want quiet time with my new daughter for at least a week. Having said that I am part of an adoption organisation here in mallorca and every year we have a big christmas lunch for all the kids with santa claus and all the trimmings. I'm going to buy tickets for us and would like to go - the only snag is that its 4 days after we arrive home!!

To the original poster, good luck with your decision and to the rest, thank you for the insight.

[RBSVARCHER]

No, we had everything arranged quietly. We were so tired once we finally arrived at the airport - I am glad I didn't have to carry on a conversation.

Our family came the day we arrived and left food - hung bows & banners and left before we got home.

I've found the simpler we keep things - the smoother everything runs. But to each his own - others have done just the opposite and loved it!

Susan
Bham AL

[waitinginnj]

I wish I had changed into a fresh shirt on the plane. That is my word of advice if you are being met by folks. I looked gross and a fresh shirt would have done wonders.

[JackandJane]

Back in 1995 a local TV station was doing a story on infertillity and got our names because we fascillatated a support group. At the time we had just stopped with the infertillity treatments and had begun the adoption process. Their story had 3 couples, 1 going through inertillity treatments, 1 who was successful and had triplets and us who were now adopting. At the end of all that the reporter(now news anchor) asked if we would call her when we adopted. 3 years later I called her and told her we were going to Russia. She couldnt get approval from her station to go with but came out several times before we left and met us at the airport with about 50 other friends and family. We were exhausted when we got off the airplane but it was nice to see everyone. We had friends offer to spend the night the 1st night so we could sleep. That was a blessing as Jordan woke up at 9PM after sleeping the whole flight home and was up for the night. For us we enjoy having family and friends around and the big group didnt bother us. Jordan was smiling and loving all the attention.

The story ran 4 nights on the news and prompted several couples in the area to adopt internationally after seeing it. We know run an adoption support group locally and have 20 families in it.

A year and a half later when Jordan got his citizenship the same reporter came back and did a small story on that.

I think we have had our 15 minutes of fame.

[LilyMoon]

We had my mother and my son meet us at the airport. It was a nice small welcoming party. I agree with the posters above that said to keep things calm and small. The children have been through so much by this point that the last thing they need is a huge welcome party to overwhelm them. I know it might be hard to tell family and friends to wait to meet the new addtition, but it really is the best thing for the child.

LilyMoon