Tony and I just got home from our VERY FIRST adoption party.
If you are not adopting through the foster care system, this will more than likely not apply to you, however, it is very interesting to learn about.
The scene: Skating Rink about 100 miles away (for convenience to all families).
The time: 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
The children: 100 children, ages 7 and up, individuals and siblings.
We got there at 9:30 a.m., and were right on time. There were already about 20 different families inside.
We were given books to review that had the profiles of all the children expected to be at the party, and a little “grab bag” of free goodies.
Quite a few adoptive families had already adopted.
We looked through the profiles in the book and found the children we were interested in (and had already been submitted for at staffing), which are a group of 2 boys (ages 15 and 10), and a group of 3 boys and 1 girl (ages 9,8,6, and 4).
The former group were late, and while we were waiting for them to arrive, my husband and I bonded VERY well with the group of 4, and the oldest boy, R, made it VERY obvious that he wanted Tony and me to adopt them! LOL
I had to answer his questions vaguely, so as not to raise hopes, but the match, IMO, was VERY good.
The other 2, I know the younger child from hosting an after school reading club he was in, were also great. The 15 year old was kind of indifferent… a very kind, good boy, but you could tell he was either distracted, or not wanting to show much emotion.
So, we skated and participated in the hokey pokey, etc. It was a fun day. And yes, I DID skate with them! LOL My social worker says they’d rather see the families TRY to participate than to act like they’re too good to participate.
Then, as the party ended (it ended early because a small explosive was found across the street in a grocery store dumpster), R came up and HUGGED me right in front of his social worker and said bye to us.
I HOPE that scored brownie points with their worker, because Tony and I REALLY loved that group!
Then, we submitted the form that indicated our interests (children) and now we wait and see if we get any calls next week. ***EXCITED WIGGLE***
Until Tonight,
Storm
Oh, that really is exciting storm. I know a lot of people take issue with adoption/match parties and I think I understand their perspective. But, it frustrates me when they don’t try to understand mine. For some adoptive parents and their children this is another part of their “the day we met you” adoption story and it can be very moving. I was very disappointed that I missed the match party that our girls attended. I can’t even remember what happened, I think by the time we saw the picture the match party had already taken place. In fact, the first picture that I got of them was taken AT the match party and they are cute as buttons. I reallly, really wish we had been there. Instead, our first introduction was at a McDonalds (argh!). Not ideal, but, it was our reality and we’ve made that a part of our family narrative. Good luck to you, I know how excited you must be. And how wonderful that you are being considered for a sibling group of four. That will be so much work, so much love, and…so much FUN!
Thanks! We went down there to mingle with all the kids, but we were there specifically to meet a group of 2, ages 15 and 10.
Even though we’d been submitted for both groups, we ended up falling in love with the group of 4.
Do you think that their social worker will take into account that the kids actually verbalized they wanted US to adopt them, as well as hug us when they left?
I’m trying to not let my heart get involved, but at this point, it’s already gone. LOL