Wednesday was the second day of our training course. In the morning we had a session on attachment and some of the issues that poor attachment can cause. It was quite eye - opening and a bit daunting if I'm completely honest.
The second season was about the stages in the adoption process. It was good to hear the views and thoughts of the adoptive parents who had been through it all, but I have to admit I'm not sure it was the best use other training time. I think most people on the course had a pretty good idea of all the stages.
The afternoon was spent talking to adopters and hearing their stories. This was definitely the most useful part of the session, although again quite a bit of time was spent talking about the process and the delays and problems they had. I know the LA must be limited in which adopters are able to help on the course, but I did think it would be useful to hear from people who have had adopted children for 10 years or so. The adoption process is obviously important, emotional and stressful but it is only for a limited time. Once it is done we will be adoptive parents for life and I think it would be useful to spend some time thinking about longer term issues.
Overall though, the course was informative and thought provoking. I'm looking forward to the last 2 days next week.
Edit: I'm adding my regular link to the Weekly Adoption Shoutout. The theme for this week is contact - not something I can really comment on at this stage in our journey, but there are some intersting blogs linked to it.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Training course - day 1
Yesterday was the first day of 4 of our preparation course. It was a good day, but there were a few surprises:
There was a bigger range of people on the course than I expected - some of them had almost finished their home study, only a couple had yet to start and one had already adopted (an international adoption)
A large proportion of the people on the course already had birth children. I knew that adoption wasn't just for people who couldn't have their own children but was surprised by how many were there (probably about 50%)
The course wasn't as intense as I expected. I'd heard people saying that I could expect the course to dig into some quite unpleasant topics and that I was likely to find it harrowing. Although we spoke a bit about neglect I didn't find it as shocking as I'd expected, maybe because I was expecting it and because my life experiences have already exposed me to some of the horrific things that life throws at people. That said, quite a few people on the course commented that they would be in bed by 8 o'clock as the course was so exhausting. In contrast we had friends round for a game night (How do you cope with the stress of the course? Decapitating unconscious half ork barbarians. Maybe not the answer a Sw is looking for!)
It wasn't as detailed as I expected - again, this maybe because we have done a fair bit of reading and are already aware of the effects of FAS etc already (at least on paper)
That aside it was a good day - its nice to meet and chat with people in the same way situation a day to share stories of the journey so far and useful, though shocking, to read some of the children's backgrounds.
We are currently on our way to day 2 - I'm sure it will be just as useful and thought provoking
There was a bigger range of people on the course than I expected - some of them had almost finished their home study, only a couple had yet to start and one had already adopted (an international adoption)
A large proportion of the people on the course already had birth children. I knew that adoption wasn't just for people who couldn't have their own children but was surprised by how many were there (probably about 50%)
The course wasn't as intense as I expected. I'd heard people saying that I could expect the course to dig into some quite unpleasant topics and that I was likely to find it harrowing. Although we spoke a bit about neglect I didn't find it as shocking as I'd expected, maybe because I was expecting it and because my life experiences have already exposed me to some of the horrific things that life throws at people. That said, quite a few people on the course commented that they would be in bed by 8 o'clock as the course was so exhausting. In contrast we had friends round for a game night (How do you cope with the stress of the course? Decapitating unconscious half ork barbarians. Maybe not the answer a Sw is looking for!)
It wasn't as detailed as I expected - again, this maybe because we have done a fair bit of reading and are already aware of the effects of FAS etc already (at least on paper)
That aside it was a good day - its nice to meet and chat with people in the same way situation a day to share stories of the journey so far and useful, though shocking, to read some of the children's backgrounds.
We are currently on our way to day 2 - I'm sure it will be just as useful and thought provoking
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Don't walk too fast
It seems strange writing this post, given that it's only a few weeks ago I was complaining about how slowly the process was going. Patchwork had a meeting with our SW this week and she mentioned that she would like to try and get us to panel by the middle of June! I have one week over the Easter break when we are in the country - during that week our SW wants to do an interview with both of us and 2 more interviews with just me. I must admit I've got slightly mixed feelings about this. On one hand it's great that she wants to move things on quickly, especially as we had so many delays to start with. On the other hand though, I am slightly worried that it may be taking things too quickly and that we will both need time to process all of the information we get from the training and preparation discussions.
I'm sure our SW won't move us on faster than we can deal with but it does seem a bit odd to be thinking about a possible panel date before we have even started the training course.
I'm sure our SW won't move us on faster than we can deal with but it does seem a bit odd to be thinking about a possible panel date before we have even started the training course.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Looking back at where you've been
It's been a busy couple of weeks on the adoption front (as well as with work stuff)
I spent a lot of time over the half term break sorting paperwork for the LA. They've asked us to provide 6 non-family members each to act as referees, but want people who have known us over various stages in our lives and in different capacities - not an easy task, but I think we have both managed it.
We've had to produce chronologies of all the key events that have happened in our lives since birth, including schools, addresses, key relationship events, employment etc. It took a while to collect all the information together but even if now I have sent it off, new minor things keep popping into my mind that I missed off.
We've also had to produce family trees for our immediate relations. These are complicated enough to start with, but when you start having to include ex - partners of current partners of step-siblings it gets a bit silly. They need to be in there though as they are parents of children we have contact with. The final tree is too large to print out, even on A3 paper, so i'm going to have to do some reformatting of it at some point!
On a side note, producing the close family tree has inspired me to do some more research on the family tree that my dad started a few years ago. With the help of Ancestry.co.uk I've tracked my paternal line back to 1780 - I think that's a bit more detail than the SW needs though!
All of this paperwork formed the starting point for my first preparation interview with our SW, which took place last Friday. Although the SW was supportive throughout the interview, I found it quite grueling from an emotional point of view. The purpose of the meeting was to look into how my life experiences might help me cope with the demands of parenting an adopted child and help guide them through the difficulties they are likely to face. For understandable reasons a lot of the time was spent talking about some of the more difficult aspects of my life - being bullied, divorce as well reflections of my time spent working in the institutes in Romania. It was a very intense hour and half to say the least, but generally very positive.
For any readers who are reading this blog for hints and advice, the main hint I would give is to give yourself time after the interview before having to do anything significant. My interview took place at work (it was more convenient for me and the SW) but I was glad that I had a lunch break to collect my thoughts - I don't think I could have walked straight from the meeting into the classroom.
I spent a lot of time over the half term break sorting paperwork for the LA. They've asked us to provide 6 non-family members each to act as referees, but want people who have known us over various stages in our lives and in different capacities - not an easy task, but I think we have both managed it.
 |
| I know its a chronometer, but there aren't any good images for chronologies! |
We've had to produce chronologies of all the key events that have happened in our lives since birth, including schools, addresses, key relationship events, employment etc. It took a while to collect all the information together but even if now I have sent it off, new minor things keep popping into my mind that I missed off.
 |
| I thought the wonderful thing about Tigger was that he was the only one. |
On a side note, producing the close family tree has inspired me to do some more research on the family tree that my dad started a few years ago. With the help of Ancestry.co.uk I've tracked my paternal line back to 1780 - I think that's a bit more detail than the SW needs though!
All of this paperwork formed the starting point for my first preparation interview with our SW, which took place last Friday. Although the SW was supportive throughout the interview, I found it quite grueling from an emotional point of view. The purpose of the meeting was to look into how my life experiences might help me cope with the demands of parenting an adopted child and help guide them through the difficulties they are likely to face. For understandable reasons a lot of the time was spent talking about some of the more difficult aspects of my life - being bullied, divorce as well reflections of my time spent working in the institutes in Romania. It was a very intense hour and half to say the least, but generally very positive.
For any readers who are reading this blog for hints and advice, the main hint I would give is to give yourself time after the interview before having to do anything significant. My interview took place at work (it was more convenient for me and the SW) but I was glad that I had a lunch break to collect my thoughts - I don't think I could have walked straight from the meeting into the classroom.
Friday, February 15, 2013
A letter in a cache
I thought I'd try something a bit different for this blog post - an open letter to our adoptive child. If I'm organised enough to keep this safe and accessible somewhere, I'm hoping that at some point in the future we can sit down and read this (and other future letters) together as we explore our life stories.
On a side note before I start, I'm also going to flag up the weekly adoption shout out scheme I have just come across
Hey kiddo,
24 hours after hearing the news from the LA that they will train us as prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) and I'm still catching myself smiling happily just because the journey has finally started. The reality is finally starting to sink in a bit though, in a way that it hadn't before yesterday.
Reality 1 - I'm going to be a Dad. It's something I've always wanted and over the last few months its something I've had to start working hard towards but suddenly it seems daunting. its no longer just a vague 'I'm going to be a Dad at some point' to 'I'm going to be a Dad at some point in the near future'. All the thoughts that my male friends are telling me are starting to surface , "Am I going to be able to cook food you'll want to eat?", "Will I master the art of putting clothing on a wriggling child?" "Will we have a good relationship?", "How much will you moan when I try to get you to come walking with me?", "Are you going to want to watch cricket matches with me without saying 'Dad, can we go yet? I'm bored' all day?", "How am I going to pay for all the things you need and some of the things you want?", "Will you understand that there is a difference between those two categories?", "Will I be a good role model?" - basically "Will I cope?". In my heart I'm sure I will, but that doesn't stop the doubts.
Reality 2 - I'm going to be a Dad at some point in the near future - that sentence has a vagueness than birth parents don't really have to face. If things go quickly and smoothly, you could be with us in 6 months time. Alternatively, I could still be wondering when you are going to turn up in a years time. I got an email from the local theatre advertising the Christmas panto - I was thinking of taking K. and L. but I don't know if you'll need a ticket or not yet. There's even an outside chance you might be here to watch Hampshire win the t20 championship for the 3rd time in 4 years!
Reality 3 - The chances are you are already out there somewhere, maybe with your birth family, maybe with foster carers or some other situation. I don't know what you are going through right now but I hope that you are safe and looked after, that someone is taking care of you properly. I hope for all that, but I know that the reality could well be different. At best you are probably with foster carers, well-fed, properly clothed, a warm bed, toys to play with, getting the medical care you need and the attention you deserve. At worst....at worst the odds are that you weren't getting all of that. I know that bad things happen to people who don't deserve it, for all sorts of reasons. Hearing stories about neglect, abuse and all the other horrific things that are out there is hard enough when it happens to a stranger. You aren't a stranger, you are my child. And to make things worse, there's nothing I can do to protect you right now. That makes me angry and furious in a way that I've never felt before. It sounds silly - getting angry and furious over something that may not even be happening, feeling it is personal when I know nothing about who you are yet. It certainly sounds irrational, but then when has parental love and concern ever been rational?
Reality 4 - At this stage your mum and I know nothing about you - What's your name? Are you male or female? How old are you? What colour are your eyes and hair? What's your favourite colour/toy/food? and a thousand other similar questions. Every prospective parent is just as ignorant at the start, but I find it a bit bizarre to think that there are people out there who do know these things.
It seems wrong to end a letter with 'I love you' when you don't know the first thing about the recipient, but it seems just as wrong to write a letter to my child and not say it. How about this as a compromise?
I will love you,
Dad
On a side note before I start, I'm also going to flag up the weekly adoption shout out scheme I have just come across
My classroom
15th Feb 2103
24 hours after hearing the news from the LA that they will train us as prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) and I'm still catching myself smiling happily just because the journey has finally started. The reality is finally starting to sink in a bit though, in a way that it hadn't before yesterday.
Reality 1 - I'm going to be a Dad. It's something I've always wanted and over the last few months its something I've had to start working hard towards but suddenly it seems daunting. its no longer just a vague 'I'm going to be a Dad at some point' to 'I'm going to be a Dad at some point in the near future'. All the thoughts that my male friends are telling me are starting to surface , "Am I going to be able to cook food you'll want to eat?", "Will I master the art of putting clothing on a wriggling child?" "Will we have a good relationship?", "How much will you moan when I try to get you to come walking with me?", "Are you going to want to watch cricket matches with me without saying 'Dad, can we go yet? I'm bored' all day?", "How am I going to pay for all the things you need and some of the things you want?", "Will you understand that there is a difference between those two categories?", "Will I be a good role model?" - basically "Will I cope?". In my heart I'm sure I will, but that doesn't stop the doubts.
Reality 2 - I'm going to be a Dad at some point in the near future - that sentence has a vagueness than birth parents don't really have to face. If things go quickly and smoothly, you could be with us in 6 months time. Alternatively, I could still be wondering when you are going to turn up in a years time. I got an email from the local theatre advertising the Christmas panto - I was thinking of taking K. and L. but I don't know if you'll need a ticket or not yet. There's even an outside chance you might be here to watch Hampshire win the t20 championship for the 3rd time in 4 years!
Reality 3 - The chances are you are already out there somewhere, maybe with your birth family, maybe with foster carers or some other situation. I don't know what you are going through right now but I hope that you are safe and looked after, that someone is taking care of you properly. I hope for all that, but I know that the reality could well be different. At best you are probably with foster carers, well-fed, properly clothed, a warm bed, toys to play with, getting the medical care you need and the attention you deserve. At worst....at worst the odds are that you weren't getting all of that. I know that bad things happen to people who don't deserve it, for all sorts of reasons. Hearing stories about neglect, abuse and all the other horrific things that are out there is hard enough when it happens to a stranger. You aren't a stranger, you are my child. And to make things worse, there's nothing I can do to protect you right now. That makes me angry and furious in a way that I've never felt before. It sounds silly - getting angry and furious over something that may not even be happening, feeling it is personal when I know nothing about who you are yet. It certainly sounds irrational, but then when has parental love and concern ever been rational?
Reality 4 - At this stage your mum and I know nothing about you - What's your name? Are you male or female? How old are you? What colour are your eyes and hair? What's your favourite colour/toy/food? and a thousand other similar questions. Every prospective parent is just as ignorant at the start, but I find it a bit bizarre to think that there are people out there who do know these things.
It seems wrong to end a letter with 'I love you' when you don't know the first thing about the recipient, but it seems just as wrong to write a letter to my child and not say it. How about this as a compromise?
I will love you,
Dad
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The view from the top makes the climb worth it.
Often when I am taking Silver DofE groups out into the mountains for the first time, they struggle with walking up some of the steeper climbs 'Keep going' I tell them 'The view from the top is worth it'. They sound like hollow words when you climbing up a steep slope, heavy pack on your back and feet aching, but those who have experienced it no there is no feeling quite like that of getting to the top of a ridge and suddenly seeing the world open up beneath you as look across the green land beyond, sunlight dancing off distant rivers and lakes. It's a feeling that I thought could only come when you are outside, enjoying the beauty of the world we live in. Seems I was wrong...
We had the meeting with the SW from the LA to the west of us this morning. This afternoon she phoned back to say they will take us on as prospective adopters
Our training course is in the middle of March - It took 3 months from the initial contact for our home LA to come to the decision not to take us on. With this LA it will take less than half that time to go from initial decision to completing the training. I always tell my DofE groups that they have to walk at the speed of the slowest person, but between you and me - it's good to be able to stride out now and then :)
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| A camera can never really capture the true magic of the view beyond |
We had the meeting with the SW from the LA to the west of us this morning. This afternoon she phoned back to say they will take us on as prospective adopters
Our training course is in the middle of March - It took 3 months from the initial contact for our home LA to come to the decision not to take us on. With this LA it will take less than half that time to go from initial decision to completing the training. I always tell my DofE groups that they have to walk at the speed of the slowest person, but between you and me - it's good to be able to stride out now and then :)
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Keep on walking.
Last week we finally heard from the LA for the city we live in. After 2 months of delay, the SW had finally had a meeting with her boss to confirm that they won't be taking us on as prospective adopters because we live within the small area they cover.
Both of us were expecting that response, but it was still disappointing to hear it.
The good news is that having responded to an advert a friend saw on the back of a bus, an LA covering a town to the west of us have invited us to a introductory evening (Frustratingly I expect this will cover all the basic stuff that we have done with the other LAs) in March and are coming to do a home visit on the 14th (I think if we do end up adopting through this agency we'll have to tell our child that it all started on Valentine's Day - sounds slightly better than saying it all started on the back of a bus!)
We are also hoping to hear back from the city LA to the east of us about an initial home visit from them. Fingers crossed that one of these pans out, as it seems we are starting to run out of options.
Both of us were expecting that response, but it was still disappointing to hear it.
We are also hoping to hear back from the city LA to the east of us about an initial home visit from them. Fingers crossed that one of these pans out, as it seems we are starting to run out of options.
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