Adoption Journal #3

Tonight Mandy and I will begin our classes with Orange County Social Services in fulfillment of our requirement for adoption. This is a big step and we're lookign forward to it. After months and months of planning and research we are moving ever closer to our forever family.I just wish people knew how to be supportive. Together Mandy and I have nearly twenty-five years of expeience working with foster youth and persons with disabilities, not to mention three graduate degrees related to the area. Now I'm not trying to brag, but c'mon give us a little credit and allow us the benefit of knowing what we're doing. Well-intentioned family members who have no real knowledge of the field try to pass themselves off as experts and practically demand that you follow their lead. Now while we appreciate the support, it would be so much nicer if our loved ones would simply say, "We love you and want to know how we can support you." Would that be so hard? I am glad that family and friends are interested and supportive of the idea. However, supporting the fact that Mandy and I are aware of the challenges and possibilities in store would be nice.Now family or friends might read this and be insulted. I apologize. I am not saying that any family going through adoption knows everything. Who can with the thousands of caveats and obstacles that lie in wait? However, there are ways to offer a new piece of information without making Mandy and I feel as though we would be betraying the family if we didn't take it. We love the support, but like most people going through adoption, we did not enter this without prayer or careful consideration, and at times it feels like people assume that if they don't have a say in it then it can't possibly succeed.Mandy and I believe God is in this process and therefore, how can it not succeed.