adoption classes

Tomorrow we take our last adoption class and it will mainly focus in transracial/transcultural adoption. More sacrifice as we'll miss one of Savannah's biggest games!
Last week we had two all day classes, and Glenn and I both agree we learned way more than we thought! Many things I probably would have done opposite. For example, never wanted to teach my kids to run to me for every little thing and so I never made a big deal about cuts, scrapes, etc. It is actually really important for parents to completely acknowlege all of these things and let the kids realize you are there for them. They have to learn that someone does care and learn that their needs will be met. A lot of them don't even cry for anything because they have learned it doesn't matter. The classes were really based on Erickson's stages of development. Remember that from school? Trust versus mistrust is the first stage and many of the kids never get through that one. So, for the first weeks to months to up to a year we will have to help our children go through the stages until they are caught up and help them see us as their primary caregivers in order to bond. Often kids will regress (going back to those stages) and that is expected and okay. An example is that an older kid might want to drink out of a bottle once home. You should let them! and even hold them while they do. They know what they haven't received (maybe they have never been held while being fed, etc). The instructors assured us that this will not be permanent (whew) and they have to go through each stage. It all makes so much sense and I'm glad we were required to learn it all.
Other things going on....our psych evals are finally done ($560 later after insurance coverage). I tried to send them to the agency and then she recommended I just give them to the Home Study social worker. What?! the agency required them and Melissa (social worker) already approved our Home Study without them and never wanted them. So frustrating.
Also, International agency has some concerns with some verbage in our Home Study and how that might look to the country. So....just when I thought things were moving, they're not. It's being worked on but looks like we are now 2-3 weeks from submitting the I600a (see previous post). I have already screamed.

My Aunt told me on the phone one day. "Lori, you just have to do your part. You can hurry and gather your stuff and do everything to keep it going fast, but ultimately it might sit on someones desk for 3 weeks and you have no control of that. All you can do is pray and do your part".  This has comforted me way more than I ever wanted it to at this stage, but thank you for giving me that advice, Auntie.