Plodding along
Buenas Noches! Entiende Espanol? I'm sure I'm not spelling the words right or putting the right punctuation, but I am trying to learn Spanish by CD. My manager at work had some CDs that she had used before she on vacation to Spain, and she graciously gave them to me so we could learn a little of the language.
Since we've kind of been in a holding pattern waiting for the various documents in our dossier to be returned, I've been surfing the net and searching adoption forums to pass the time. One of the topics on a forum I frequently lurk is Lifebooks. I added a link to a webpage discussing them if you would like to read about it. As the name implies, the Lifebook will tell our adopted child's life story, particularly that life before they came to live with us. Luckily, once we receive our referral, we will receive regular updates about the child, and I want to make sure we are diligent in documenting what information we get. We will be able to send down disposable cameras, so hopefully the foster parents will take many pictures for us. I also hope we can communicate by letter or possibly email during that time, and hopefully even after we bring the baby home. Obviously, I'll need some translation help, but I'm sure there are services available.
All of us are curious about when we were babies at some point in time, but for an adoptive child, we are obviously not always able to provide a complete picture of what that time was like. The really cool thing about the Lifebook is that it can then be one of the books we read our child as they grow up. That way, we will always be comfortable talking about adoption, and our child will know they are free to talk about it without fear it will upset us. Not that either the Lifebook or we will have all the answers, but I'm hopeful that it will be helpful.
I've also been reading a book called "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew" by Sherrie Eldridge. It's kind of a tough read, but I think it'll be great to understand the loss a child has suffered when being separated from their birth family. Hopefully by having that understanding, we can help our child cope with any grief they may feel as a result in a healthy manner.
Since we've kind of been in a holding pattern waiting for the various documents in our dossier to be returned, I've been surfing the net and searching adoption forums to pass the time. One of the topics on a forum I frequently lurk is Lifebooks. I added a link to a webpage discussing them if you would like to read about it. As the name implies, the Lifebook will tell our adopted child's life story, particularly that life before they came to live with us. Luckily, once we receive our referral, we will receive regular updates about the child, and I want to make sure we are diligent in documenting what information we get. We will be able to send down disposable cameras, so hopefully the foster parents will take many pictures for us. I also hope we can communicate by letter or possibly email during that time, and hopefully even after we bring the baby home. Obviously, I'll need some translation help, but I'm sure there are services available.
All of us are curious about when we were babies at some point in time, but for an adoptive child, we are obviously not always able to provide a complete picture of what that time was like. The really cool thing about the Lifebook is that it can then be one of the books we read our child as they grow up. That way, we will always be comfortable talking about adoption, and our child will know they are free to talk about it without fear it will upset us. Not that either the Lifebook or we will have all the answers, but I'm hopeful that it will be helpful.
I've also been reading a book called "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew" by Sherrie Eldridge. It's kind of a tough read, but I think it'll be great to understand the loss a child has suffered when being separated from their birth family. Hopefully by having that understanding, we can help our child cope with any grief they may feel as a result in a healthy manner.
posted by Jill | 6:09 PM
1 Comments:
Jill, it's great that you're reading those tough books and working so hard toward making your soon-to-be baby as happy as possible. you are going to be a great mom.
taz
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