When you adopt your child, what changes will your family make to your work schedules? If you are both currently working fulltime outside of the home, then you are going to have to make some adjustments. One of you is going to have to stay at home for at least a few weeks when the child arrives. (See Deciding to Adopt a Child: Taking Time Off Work.) And then one of you is going to have to be available whenever the child is sick, has to go to the doctor, or has other needs that arise during a 40-hour work week.

Many couples choose to make work changes to accommodate a new child in the home. Some couples do this by having one partner resign and stay at home with the child. Other couples decide to have one spouse cut down to part-time hours. Still other couples work out an arrangement in which one of them can work from home. You can do many things so that one of you is more available to tend to the child's needs during the workday.

Even couples who have a nanny or a relative watching the child during the workday will sometimes need to take some time off work to tend to a child's needs. If a child has a fever or vomits, he will not be allowed to go to school or daycare for 24 hours. If your child contracts a contagious illness, such as the chicken pox, your nanny or relative might not be willing to watch him for you. Also, your child might just need his mommy when he is feeling very sick. You will also need to arrange to take care of your child if your nanny or relative is sick or late and cannot take care of the child.

Which of you is going to take care of those needs as they arise? Will one of you be responsible for these times, or will you alternate who leaves work to tend to the child? These are issues that you will need to work out before you adopt. You will also need to be ready to answer these questions as part of the home study process.

Related Topics:

• Going Back to Work After Adoption



• Adoptive Parenting: Remaining Successful with an Outside Job

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