I'm not even exaggerating when I say we had quite a bit of homework that went along with this adoption. Shortly after we signed on with our agency we were mailed a large box with probably 20 books and workbooks in it. We had assignments, excerpts we had to read and questions we had to answer.
The majority of this homework prepares you for the aftermath. We get home...then what? The books talk about bonding and behaviors. Bringing home an adopted child is NOTHING similar to bringing home a new born - contrary to what many have expressed to me who know nothing about adoption. She is more than likely going to experience stimulation overload, just as we would if we are all the sudden taken to a foreign country with none of our weekly tv shows and McDonald's that we are used to.
For her, the air will be different, the sounds, the people, the smells, the language. She'll have to adjust to new people taking care of her, a new kid running around like a Power Ranger, and a completely new time zone to get used to. Our homework we completed has prepared us to try to make this transition as easy as possible for her.
Some of these transitions include hunkering down for a week or two in our home, not having a lot of guests/new people so she can get used to us. She needs to learn that we are her new Mommy and Daddy and that we are there to take care of her. The experts suggest that only Mommy and Daddy feed her a bottle or change her clothes and diaper because those are her most immediate, intimate needs and if everyone through the house is doing those things...how will she learn who she can trust?
We want to make sure that she adjusts appropriately and that she bonds to Tommy and I as much as possible while I'm able to be off work and give her my undivided attention, so we wanted to communicate to people that we won't be in hiding but when we feel it is right, we will show her off and bring her out for everyone to see. Specifially, we are asking for no house guests for at least two weeks after we are home.
In turn, we want to invite everyone to greet us when we land in Nashville! Our plane will land on Wednesday, August 22nd at 4:30pm (pending no delays). We will be flying US Airways from Charlotte, NC. Anyone who is free and would like to come out and welcome us home is more than welcome!!
We are also having a baby shower hosted by Tammy Young on Sunday, August 26th from 2-4pm at the Central Church of Chris Annex at 101 E Morford St in McMinnville. EVERYONE is invited, I think they are even putting it in the paper.
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