Choosing to grow your family through adoption is a decision that you most likely did not choose lightly. Adoption is a process and the journey cannot guarantee that a child will one day take your last name. One of the trickiest parts of announcing you are hoping to adopt is how to present it to your family and friends. Here are 4 things to prepare for when announcing your adoption plans to the world:
Understand the Shock
You may be surprised at how your parents, siblings, and other family members and friends react to your announcement that you are hoping to adopt. As a hopeful adoptive parent, you may dream of getting the same reaction that you would if you announced that you were pregnant. While this may be the case for some families, it may not be the reaction that you will receive. Adoption comes with an added weight of legal and financial issues that may worry those closest to you. Be prepared that some family members and friends may appear less excited than you had hoped for upon hearing the news.
Anticipate Questions
There are many more questions to consider when announcing that you are hoping to adopt. Many people struggle to understand the process of adoption and may ask you many questions about the laws, birth parent situations, and possibilities that may arise. Consider thinking through these questions before your announcement and anticipate how you will answer them. People are naturally curious about the adoption process and may not even understand that some questions should be off limits. Give grace to those who bombard you with questions and answer them as honestly as possible. If there are questions that you do not know the answer to, be comfortable with stating you do not know.
Guard Your Heart
There will probably be a few family members and friends who choose to tell you how they really feel about your adoption plans. There are many different adoption experiences, and it is common for hopeful adoptive parents to hear story after story about what could go wrong. Make sure to guard your heart when announcing your plans and understand that most people are trying to help even though it may not sound like it at first. Help those questioning your decision to understand that this is something that you feel strongly about and that you ask for respect even if they do not agree.
Spread the Word
Announcing that you are hoping to adopt is a scary thing to do for any hopeful adoptive parent. It feels that you are jumping off a cliff and have no way of turning back if the process does not go as planned. Despite this feeling, make sure to spread the word that you are hoping to adopt. Oftentimes adoptions occur in the most unique ways and do not always come from an agency. Make sure that other people in your circle of friends know your plans to adopt and keep an eye out for anyone that might be considering adoption for their child. It is not unusual for children to be placed in their forever home because a friend or family member knew someone who was hoping to adopt.
Choosing to announce that you are hoping to adopt, or are in the process of an adoption, can be a scary thing to do. However, there are ways to prepare for this big turning point in your life in order to make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Make sure to consider these 4 things to prepare for when announcing your adoption plans.