It’s the time of year when everyone makes New Year’s resolutions. There are things we’re all going to promise ourselves we’ll do in 2017, such as to drink more water, get more sleep, eat healthy foods, and exercise more. But, the reality is, most people fail to stick to their resolution.
So today, Lifetime Adoption is giving you 5 tips that will help you follow through with your resolution to adopt a baby in 2017!
1. Study What’s Worked for Those Successful in Adoption
Make sure you’re taking advice only from those who have “been there, done that.” Take time to visit Lifetime Adoption’s treasure trove of articles and resources for hopeful adoptive parents. Plenty of people can give you their opinions, but they don’t have in-the-trenches experience in infant adoption. Following the advice of those people can be a waste of your time (or even worse, it could lead you down the wrong path.)
You may find that often, people who haven’t adopted are downers. Don’t let them give you a negative attitude! Some people are simply uneducated about adoption, and all they know about it is from what they see in the media. In reality, most adoptions go very well and without issues. The media portrays adoption with fear and drama because it sells.
2. Listen, Read, and Watch Actively
As you read books about adoption or listen to adoption webinars, remember to ask yourself: “How can I use this in my adoption journey?” Make sure to take notes so you can apply what you learn. Educating yourself on adoption saves you money in the long run. The time you put in now to hearing adoption webinars and reading books will save you tons in legal costs, mistakes in decision making, and in spotting red flags in an adoption. At the end of your adoption journey, you’ll be able to look at the time you spent on learning about adoption and see how much value you attained for the money.
Lifetime has noticed that adoptive families who are well-informed make better adoption decisions, are less stressed, and communicate more effectively with birth parents. Overall, they have a much better grasp of infant adoption than those who didn’t do much to understand the adoption process. Consider your self-education on adoption to be an amazing investment in the future of your family!
3. Assign Time Every Week to Learn About Adoption
Set aside time in your busy schedule to study adoption; it’s the key to your success. For example, being aware of basic adoption terminology and the laws in your state helps prevent you from paying your adoption attorney to explain simple terms. As you learn about adoption, also make sure to create your adoption budget and learn about adoption financing.
4. Don’t Try to Be Flawless
Don’t pressure yourself to learn everything there is to know about adoption all at once. You might begin with adoption terms and then move to reading about how to afford adoption. As you find items you have questions about, write them down, research them, and ask the adoption experts. You don’t need to be perfect! Just take things one step at a time.
5. Start Creating a Fantastic Profile
Get started on your adoption profile today! Even if you haven’t signed on with an adoption professional yet, you can still start creating a dynamic profile. In infant adoption, you’ll need a profile that shows what a great life you have, and how well you’re able to provide for a baby. Start taking photos of each other today. You can also begin writing what you’ll need to share with birth mothers, including where you live, how long you’ve been married, what you do for a living, and what you’re excited to share with your future baby!
As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.
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