If you’re reading this, you already know that your adoption profile is an essential part of how you present yourselves to birth mothers. It’s the first impression she gets of you, your lives, and what you have to offer her child. Last week, we shared how to harness the power of your adoption profile.
Today, Lifetime shares adoption profile tips about what to avoid putting in your profile. Keep reading to learn the top 4 profile don’ts!
1. Making Assumptions
It’s important to avoid writing anything in your profile which assumes you know what the birth mother is going through right now. Examples of using assuming language in your adoption profile include “We understand you’re going through a very difficult time right now,” or “You are so courageous in making such a selfless decision.”
2. Revealing Identifying Information
Security is important in the adoption process, and we’re not saying it’s because birth parents are corrupt. The fact is, the information you’re putting out there is very public. If you’re hoping to adopt, you have to put yourself out there online. That means you’ll have to be fine with the fact that other people can see your profile.
So don’t include items in your adoption profile such as your employer, the town you live in, or your alma mater. The photos you show shouldn’t identify anything about you either. So you’ll want to avoid photos that show your place of work, for example.
These are all things that can be used to find you. We recommend that you describe your lives in general terms such as “I work as an engineer at a local construction firm.”
3. Living in the Past
Avoid sharing elaborate stories and details about what you used to do and about your past. Some hopeful adoptive couples are tempted to tell long and romantic stories about how they met. However, your profile should focus on your family in the present and the future. Birth mothers are hoping to see what kind of life you have right now and what kind of life her child would have with you!
4. Choosing Inappropriate Pictures
It is important to show current photos so that potential birth moms aren’t confused who is in the photos. And it should go without saying that you should avoid showing the types of photos that would be better on a dating site! Select photos where you’re appropriately covered up because birth parents don’t need to see you in a bikini or with your shirt off. And finally, take a look at the background of your photos to make sure there are no alcoholic beverages.
Lifetime adoptive families receive adoption profile tips, one-on-one guidance, advice, and suggestions from a dedicated Profile Coordinator.
Do you have questions about adopting through Lifetime or how we can help you create an effective adoption profile? Send us an email or call us at 530-271-1740.
Heidi Keefer is a Content Creator for Lifetime Adoption and has over 15 years of experience in the field of adoption. An author of thousands of articles and social media posts over the years, Heidi enjoys finding new ways to educate and captivate Lifetime’s ever-growing list of subscribers.
Heidi has a keen eye for misplaced apostrophes, comma splices, and well-turned sentences, which she has put to good use as a contributor to Lifetime’s award-winning blogs. She has written and published hundreds of adoption articles which explore the various facets of domestic infant adoption today.
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