Adoption: Home Study Meeting 1

Today we met with our social worker (as part of our home study) for the first time.  Luckily, we got to talk with her in a small conference room at their office that had a corner full of kids toys, so Willie was somewhat entertained.  She started off asking us how we came to adoption, what our fears/anxieties are, what type of adoption we are looking for, how we feel we will be able to care for an adopted child, etc.  Then, she went into depth with Brad about his family...relationships with his brothers, what his childhood & adolescence were like, his good and bad qualities, his hobbies, and on and on.  Next week, she will interview me!

She said that she was her parents biological child, but her brother and sister were adopted.  She said it's important to remember Willie.  A lot of times growing up, her siblings got all of the attention for being the "special", adopted ones, while she sat in the background.  I thought that was interesting because I hadn't really considered that.  I just assumed Willie would know how special he is and how much we love him!  She also gave me a couple of books to read...

"In On It" - Elisabeth O'Toole
"In Their Siblings Voices" - Rita Simon & Rhonda Roorda

I'm looking forward to meeting with her again next week!  We are also supposed to be working on finishing our APQ with our other national adoption agency, but Brad still needs to read the packets....grrr...

After the meeting, we stopped by the mall to do some Christmas shopping, and get a bite to eat at the food court.

Brad wasn't thrilled...not about the food, he loves food.  He hates shopping.  I don't know who was worse, Brad or Willie.  They were both crying...