Note to readers: since I wrote this blog I've done a little research into this book and the controversy that surrounds it. I still think that the techniques that Burns suggests for advertising (which is what I'm profiling in this blog and the next two entries) are valid, but I also suggest you read this review before you purchase it. I think that the review on The Whole Mom's webpage gives prospective adoptive parents a lot to think about.

Okay, that said, here's some of what I found useful about Fast Track Adoption... ... more

When we were trying to decide how/where/who to adopt, the costs involved in adopting were one important factor. We were lucky because we had some money put aside (for our older son's college....sorry son, no college for you!) so we were actually able to consider multiple options for adoption: foster-to-adopt, private adoption (domestic) and various country programs.

Once we chose Russian adoption as the way we wanted to grow our family we found that costs varied between agencies as well as within the agency. Our agency charged lower fees for the adoption of older children,... more

When you first apply for adoption, you will notice that you have begun a very demanding process.

There are questions in the adoption application that will throw you off guard, in addition to the common questions that you would EXPECT to be asked.

Such questions are in there to give the social worker an idea of your family makeup, and identify any potential trends in your family across the ages.

Some of the questions you will see are:

"Do you have a history of mental illness in your family?" "Have you ever had a child? If NO, why not?"... more

Ok...bear with me. haha

While we've been waiting, actually, before we we've been waiting, our whole adoption process from application to now has been totally taken up with taking care of my 89 year old grandmother.

LITERALLY.

She fell and broke her hip and tore her leg (which led to an amputation 1.5 months later) 2 hours, yes HOURS, after our social worker came over and did our home inspection (she came out and told us what/if anything was an issue to correct before the REAL homestudy) and picked up our adoption application.

Being I've been living... more

Question: Do I have to be married to adopt? Answer: In most cases, you do not have to be married to adopt. I am unaware of certain specific situations where you would have to be married, so that is why I say "most cases". I have never heard of a single person being denied the chance to adopt unless they did not have adequate resources to provide their potential child.

Question: Is there an age limit to adoption? Answer: This depends upon the agency. If you're adopting through the state, MOST generally, you can be no younger than 18 and no older than 55, and if you're married, some states even have a "combined age" that you have to fall under. Most older folks (ages... more

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate the season, and to anyone who doesn't...I hope this finds you having a GREAT day!!!

I thought I would take the time to reflect on the whole process of waiting and when I think about it...I get more and more anxious. LOL

It is difficult to have to wait for someone to choose you...and not even have a chance to meet the person and "sell yourself".

I know the homestudy is supposed to do that...but what about people like me? The rare ones that have had a bad experience with their HS worker?

Part of me feels that her negativity is being read out in my homestudy...but then, I read through the homestudy, and except for... more

You've just made the decision to adopt. However, maybe you don't know anyone who has been touched by adoption to know what it is like.

You have questions. No one really seems to have answers, and the pursuit of those answers have led you here.

Now, keep in mind, I am by no means an "expert". This is my first time. We're adopting a certain way (through DHS). However, in this blog, I will answer some of the FAQs that I seem to find in the different adoption related groups I am part of.

This will be a series of posts dedicated to answering your questions you... more

It's almost time for the homestudy. Your nerves are on edge.

You keep checking, checking, and triple checking every little spot of dust in the corners of your house.

Your toothbrushes have been new, 3 times now, because of using the other ones for scrubbing.

You could eat soup out of your toilet bowl.

Sound like you? Well, STOP IT!!! Relax, take a breath, and definitely sit down. No one wants to interview a worn out mom and dad. *smiles*

I've been asking my friends online what they have gone through with their homestudies, to compare to... more

Tomorrow is staffing day in my state.

For those of you that do not know what that means, it means the day our social worker takes our homestudy to the monthly state meeting.

Children that have now gone into a permanency plan that includes adoption are on there, as well as children that did not get matched from previous months.

It is a very exciting time...who knows if our social worker will find our children this month?!?

We have already had our homestudy submitted for 3 different sibling groups, however, we have received no news, and don't hold out much hope, because our homestudy was submitted 2 weeks after staffing had occurred.

One thing that I have... more

My husband and I, at the time of our homestudy, had 8 cats, 1 dog, and 4 parakeets.

We had a cat, who was only 2, that died a few months prior from renal failure, and apparently, he had been marking our home, and being we lived in it all the time, didn't smell it.

So, our homestudy worker, upon completion of the first visit, said that the cat smell was her only concern regarding the adoption, and then she left.

We immediately were relieved because our social worker actually came to our home to pick up our homestudy and had just said to work on the smell, which we had been doing.

The next day, she had contacted our social worker, and said that the cat urine... more