To find an adoption agency, I figured that the first step was to get out the yellow pages and look under “A.” How else would you adopt a baby? I had never heard of private adoptions or newborn foster care adoptions. The little I knew came from watching TV shows where birthfamilies always seemed to be popping up to reconnect with their long lost birth relatives who had been placed for adoption years ago. There were not that many places listed under “Adoption Agencies,” and I did not have a clue how to even get started.

Fortunately, a co-worker... more

If you’re like most people, once you decide to adopt, you are eager to get going on the paperwork. But many people get overwhelmed quickly once they see the list of things required by the adoption agency to get the homestudy started. Here are some tips to help your homestudy go smoothly.

1. Read the Directions!

First, read every detail of the homestudy package that is supplied you by your agency. Plan to follow the instructions down to the last letter. Detail and precision is extremely important. If you don’t understand something, ask. Clarifying everything up front can literally save weeks of time. If you get things right the first time, your agency won’t have to return... more

I was just clicking around on the adoption.com website, trying to think of something to write about, when I saw an ad with the words "Find the perfect family for your child." I didn't click on the link, but I think it's a reasonable assumption that the ad was directed towards pregnant women who are considering adoption.

It made me wonder: what is the perfect family?

If you are hoping to adopt and have chosen to do so privately and domestically, you probably spend a lot of time wondering this, too. Is my family perfect, at least in the eyes of someone who is looking... more

This morning I have a job interview. Wish me luck! I really want this job but at the same time I've not been working (full time) outside the home for the past 7 1/2 years so I'm also somewhat nervous. Upsetting the apple cart could have good results...or could have bad results. Hopefully good. Financially good, at least! Getting a job outside my home will probably also cure my of my alarming tendency to jabber nonstop at anyone who happens to interrupt me during my normal solitude-filled day. Watch out, Fedex lady! Work-at-home mom on the loose!

Thinking about this job interview... more

So, you've decided to adopt.

Now what?

Well, let's say you've decided to go domestic. And you've decided you'd really like the assistance of an agency. How to choose? What to ask?

This article on the adoption.com website is quite thorough. First, here's their main advice: "Experienced adoptive parents strongly recommend keeping two things in mind: You are the potential client and your comfort level is top priority. Trust your instincts. If something doesn't seem "quite right," look elsewhere"

Excellent advice, IMHO. My husband and I were given the name of a very respected... more

I am conducting a very unscientific survey here on my blog today. I'd like to know how much it cost to do your domestic, private adoption.

Please let me know if you used and agency or not, and if you can breakdown the costs (like attorney fee, agency fee, medical expenses, etc) that would be great.

The reason I ask is that 3 1/2 years ago when we were looking into domestic adoption we were told that it would costs upwards of $20,000...so we might as well consider going international. But I've been looking around and I see numbers a lot less than that...as well... more

After you make your "Hoping to Adopt" website it's important to publicize and link the site so that prospective birth parents can find it.

I have not made a website (yet) about my family hoping to adop (waiting on the hubby to come around) BUT I am the owner of 2 current on-line businesses (www.drtpress.com and www.cipblock.com) and have run a sucessful one in the past, so I know a little bit about on-line marketing on the cheap. That's what you'll be doing, essentially - marketing your... more

One of the ways potential adoptive parents contact potential birth parents is through a website. To be most effective this website should be linked to other websites (more on that later), but first you need to start with an informative, interesting, and honest site with an accessible design.

Hoping to Adopt websites don't need to be fancy and they can easily be made by the couple or individual who is hoping to adopt. I found several websites that I think could serve as good examples:

Gary and Mandi's site

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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...

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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