What to Do After the Adoption? Once the adoption is finalized, the necessary adoption services have been completed, and your new family member is brought home for the very first time, it might all seem overwhelming. What should you do? Should you go out to the park? Have them meet all your friends and family? Do nothing? It feels like every decision is correct, or maybe even incorrect.
To help make the start of your new family easier for both you and the child, here are some things to remember.
Slowly Start Building a Relationship Relationships are key to a happy family, though the process for building one with an adopted child might be a bit different. Newly adopted children might need time to adjust to their new surroundings. This is understandable and is generally expected, though some parents can be a bit eager to quickly jump into things. Some adopted children simply do not trust people, since they have been let down or abandoned in the past. When you start building a relationship with your new child, whether after an infant adoption or welcoming a teenager to your family, taking things slow will allow for an easier transition. There might be pressure to try and get everything done, but not every child will want that. Some are still untrusting or unsure about their environments, and it will take time to open up. If they like baseball, then you now know one of their hobbies and can go from there. This does not mean you should go out and immediately sign them up for Little League, but you now have ideas for them when they feel more at home. Be Consistent
Depending on their age, your new family member might be a bit confused or frightened when you bring them home for the first time. It is a brand new world for them, and you are completely foreign people. Some adopted children have been moved from foster home to foster home, and possibly seen their own friends come and go frequently.
Consistency will make a child feel safe. Creating a stable environment, one where expectations can be understood, will make the transition that much easier. For example, you can explain when the family does certain things, or perhaps explain some common rules and traditions. “We like to sit down and eat dinner together at six o’clock.” “Saturday evenings are generally
reserved for spending time with grandpa and grandma at their house.” “Everyone needs to be up and ready to leave the house by 7:30am.” It will take a little time for the child to understand some of the expectations and routine tasks, but making them clear in the beginning will go a long way. Keep in Touch
After you begin your new life, you might still have questions about raising a child. Your adoption agency will always have their doors open to you and your family should you ever need to return and consult about anything. The relationship between your family and the adoption agency does not end once your new family joins your family – in fact, the relationship really just begins. About Action Adoption at Providence Place: Adopting a child is an important decision that requires careful consideration. Are you contemplating adoption, or are you already planning to adopt a child? Do you have any idea
about how or where to start? Action Adoption at Providence Place of San Antonio, Texas will guide you through the adoption process while making sure all your questions are answered. Contact them today to learn more about adoption and ways to get involved with our organization.