2nd adoption class

Maybe it was because I have so much on my plate right now, but today's adoption class was tough to sit still. I open my fall play on Thursday and we are in the crunch of painting the set, tightening the pace of the show, and still figuring out motivations and through lines of the plot. It is a crazy farce show which is more difficult than I anticipated. But I am very excited about an audience finally seeing this. The class... I don't even know what it was about. I guess the right language to use when talking about adoption. Not "real" mother, but birth mother. Not IS adopted, but WAS adopted as it is a ONE time event. Things like that. And then exploring the fact that our kids will come with baggage that might be seen in things like grief, loss, intimacy, guilt and shame. A little bit about celebrating the culture of our children. And financial planning. Maybe it is the teacher in me and knowing that sitting for 4 1/2 hours and having no real interaction is not an effective way to learn. Maybe it is because I took HOURS of education classes and child development classes to become a teacher. But I didn't learn anything new today. I really felt like it was common sense. Hmmm...

First "parent training class"

Wow-- five hours is a long time to sit and listen. Especially about trauma/learning disabilities/fetal alcohol syndrome.... and everything else in the world that could be wrong with my child. I think since this is session 2, session 1 MUST be more positive-- it's just that I haven't been to that one yet. I also overheard another parent (who has several adopted children) talking over break, they said that 98% of the people in this room will get children like that-- gesturing to the board of learning disabled/traumatized children and that we need to accept that our children won't be like other children. And I get that. There is a chance with every child. There are good parents and bad. There are people who want to devote special playing time with their children every day. And there are those who don't. I don't think anyone goes into adoption lightly. This is a lot of work and time and money and struggle. I guess I just keep repeating the same thing I've said to people who worry about the "type" of child I will get-- life gives us all sorts of things, we deal with it as we can. I am a positive person with love to give to a child. I think that is the bottom line. I will deal with the issues and problems as they arise to the best of my ability. I will be educated going in as well. Hmmm.... I'm still happy. I am still on the right path for my life. Yesterday I imagined life in my house besides my kitties and dog. I can't wait.