Adopting E-Magazine, December 2009

The Staff at Adoption.com would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.

Do you have something to share? You can submit your story, article or how-to for others to read and enjoy by visiting the Adoption.com Share Your Story page.

Surviving The Wait During The Holidays

The holidays can be an especially stressful time of year for anyone. Add to it the stress of waiting for a child to join your family through adoption and it can make what once was an enjoyable time of year, a very difficult and emotional time. For many of us, there is no escaping the time you spend with friends and family, which usually also brings with it unending questions about what is going on with the adoption process. For some, this can be a great way to keep others informed of their plans, while for others, its a reminder of the frustration of being involved in a process which you have very little control over.

Some seasoned adoptive parents within our community have offered up some advice on things you can do to cope with the stress of the wait during the holidays.

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Send out an update via e-mail or 'family newsletter' that shares the status of your adoption journey. Doing this allows family members to be involved in the journey, without turning your holiday family time into a question and answer period about the adoption process. Don't be afraid to speak your mind and ask family members to keep their focus on the season during family get togethers rather than your journey and let them know you'll keep everyone updated as news develops. Offering information in advance can sometimes keep people from asking the difficult questions during a time when everyone should be enjoying themselves.

Instead of focusing on what isn't happening this holiday season, focus on something that is happening. If you had really hoped to purchase gifts for a child this year, consider buying gifts for a child in need. Almost all larger retailers as well as shopping malls have "Angel Trees" where you pick up the name and information for a child in your community who may not otherwise have a gift to unwrap this year.

Make time for yourself and your partner. Those who have never been involved in the journey may not understand the emotional toll the adoption process can have on you and your partner. Plan a weekend getaway or just a few days at home where you can spend time together and enjoy each others company. Remember, this may be something you won't have the pleasure of doing for some time, once your child comes home. Rather than focusing on what life will be like once you've brought your child home, try focusing on making the most of the time you have left and do things you won't be able to do once you become a parent.

The holidays are a great time for celebration and a great time to remember just how different your life is about to become. Try to think of it in terms of the joys your life is about to gain, rather than the loss you may be feeling by spending another holiday without the child you envision. Most of all, take care of you and your partner, because you never know when the phone might ring.

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Holiday Hardships: Missing Your Child In-Process

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Recently, someone asked me the following question: “What do you even write about for the Guatemalan blog at AdoptionBlogs.com, seeing how Guatemala is closed for adoptions?” Well, if you’ve been reading so far, you know I write on a little bit of this and a little bit of that–my own experiences as a proud Guatemama and our journey to Beauty, as well as anything related to Guatemala in general....[more]

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The holidays can be a difficult time for those involved in the adoption community - remember to take some time for yourself and focus on the reason for the season.

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