Happy New Year!
There’s nothing like the start of a new year to energize your adoption journey. It’s a chance to reset, reboot, and rejoice in your efforts to build your family.
But how do you turn the page and make sure that this year will be your year to adopt? How do you ensure that 2022 won’t be a repeat of 2021? What can you do now to leverage the sense of hope and optimism in the air and increase your chances of success?
The opportunities are there. You just have to seize them and avoid these five common mistakes that waiting adoptive parents make at the beginning of the year.
1. They don’t plan
As frustrating and challenging as your adoption journey was last year, it’s easy to come up with reasons why things didn’t work out: It wasn’t your turn. Other waiting parents had waited longer. Luck wasn’t on your side. The right situation didn’t come your way.
But telling yourself that this year will be different isn’t enough. A placement doesn’t happen by chance. You’ve got to make it happen. And that means making plans and setting goals.
2. They don’t set deadlines
Creating a goal for yourself is a good first step. But a goal without a deadline is just dream. Think back to how you felt over the holidays when everyone else was celebrating with their children and you were left out.
Setting a deadline will ensure that you don’t go through another holiday like that. It gives you something to work towards and will prevent you from drifting aimlessly from one day to the next.
3. They don’t prioritize
When it comes to adopting a baby, there’s so much to do. Getting your papers in order. Creating your profile. Getting your home ready.
But with so many tasks on your to-do list, it’s impossible to do them all. As a result, you’ll need to decide which ones to take on now, and which ones to leave for later.
For instance, while setting up the nursery isn’t important, it’s not a must-do. Instead, focus on things that need to be done now that will reduce your stress level later.
4. They don’t take the initiative
It takes a village to raise a child. And, as you’ve probably discovered, to adopt one as well. Adoption is a team sport. You need social workers, licensees and other professionals to turn your dream into a reality.
But no matter how good your team is, you can’t afford to sit back and wait for them to do all the work. It’s your placement. If you don’t take the steps to make it happen, nobody will.
5. They don’t take risks
Adopting a child can be scary. It takes you out of your comfort zone and requires you to do things you never thought you would do.
So don’t shy away from trying new things, especially if the ones you’ve tried haven’t been effective. It could mean the difference between adopting this year and five years from now.
Just because 2021 wasn’t your year to adopt doesn’t mean that 2022 has to have the same outcome. Now that the year is still young, take advantage of optimism in the air and avoid making the common mistakes that waiting parents make.
By following these tips you can make the most of the opportunities that come your way and boost your chances of holding a child in your arms at the end of the year instead of merely dreaming about it. Good luck!
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