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?"
"Why do you want to adopt a child if you can have your own?"

Of course, these type of questions vary from state to state, organization to organization.

But, as a hopeful adoptive parent, one thing to consider is that you better be prepared to divulge more information to these "strangers" than you'd EVEN begin to think of to a stranger in a supermarket.

When Tony and I were filling out our application, as well as our first meeting with our homestudy worker...we felt...well, violated was a good word.

Why did THEY care if there was any mental illness in our family? Neither of us are!

Why did THEY care if anyone in our family had substance abuse problems (which if there are, they're unknown to us), it's not like we'd leave our children around them if they did!

Well, all of this information is to profile the prospective adoptive parents and give them an idea of potential risks and also, if things like that WERE in the family...to give them an idea of how you cope in the face of adversity.

But, I do say, even though you don't feel like how many miscarriages you've had is anyone's business...it really is. Some people have found during these applications that they still have unresolved issues, so it can actually be a good thing.

So, long story short, even though it's intrusive...stick through it...it's a hurdle, for sure, but WELL worth it in the end!

Until Tonight,
Storm