Check out the video on my YouTube channel HERE.
Thinking about adoption? Wondering what makes someone a great adoptive parent? Spoiler alert – it is NOT a Pinterest-ready home or a fridge full of organic vegetables!
Flexibility
The first essential trait is flexibility – also known as “rolling with the punches.” This is extremely important when you’re an adoptive family. Like, non-negotiable important.
Adoption can come with a LOT of unexpected twists and turns, just like your favorite Netflix show when they kill off your favorite character with zero warning. You kind of have to be prepared for the unexpected. You may find timelines change or your nursery plans have gone completely sideways because the expecting mom is having twins and you weren’t expecting twins. Plot twist!
Speaking of twins – let me just tell you, that actually is a red flag in adoption when an expecting mom says she’s having twins. Quite honestly, there aren’t a lot of twins out there, and it can be a common scam. (That’s a whole other video, btw. Stay tuned!) Because let’s face it, a lot of adoptive families would love to have twins! I have experienced twins with adoption, so it does happen, but it can come as a surprise to some adopting families.
The bottom line for flexibility? You need to adapt, adjust, and also laugh. There is so much that can go wrong and right with adoption that you just really have to be flexible and prepared for the unexpected. Your ability to pivot harder than Ross from Friends with that couch up the stairwell? That’s the energy we’re looking for.
Patience
Entry number three is a big open heart when you come to adoption. Adoption is all about love, but it’s also all about loss as well. We have to acknowledge both.
It will be important that you have a big open heart when you are meeting your child’s expecting mom. You need to embrace her and her family with open arms from the very beginning, because that is just the beginning of your relationship. That’s going to be lifelong with your child. No pressure or anything! (JK, some pressure.)
So a big open heart is really the foundation of an exceptional adoptive family. We’re talking Grinch-after-his-heart-grew-three-sizes kind of open heart. That big.
So there you have it. Flexibility, patience, and a big heart. If you’ve got these traits, you’re already on your way to being an incredible adoptive family.
If you’re considering adoption and want to learn more about the process, check out my All About Adoption 101 course for a comprehensive overview of adoption basics. Ready to explore which type of adoption might be right for your family? The Avenues of Adoption course will guide you through all your options.
For additional support from families on similar journeys, consider joining my Facebook Support Group where adoptive families share experiences, advice, and encouragement every day.
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This blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Our services are not financial, business, or legal advice. The information presented here is not a guarantee that you will obtain any results or earn any money using our content. Adoption & Beyond, Inc. owns all copyrights to the materials presented here unless otherwise noted.
