CB Parents-in-waiting

Last night Josh and I went to an agency meeting specifically geared towards waiting parents and how to deal with this ever-increasing wait.

The room was set up with a circle of chairs, we all sat down, went around and introduced ourselves one by one. We each stated our names, the country we were adopting from and the group number (if applicable). When Donna got to Michelle and Mark, myself and Josh, Dolores and Shawn, and Paula, she made special notice of us and introduced us as the 'bad crowd/troublemakers'. ;)

The topics covered included:

1. If we're allowed to do a dual adoption. Yes, we are allowed to, but it has to be a domestic adoption.

2. How long will the wait be? It *should* be about three years from LID, but of course, nothing is set in stone.

3. Do our documents expire? No.

4. Since our passports are going to expire in May 2010 (and for the adoption they have to be valid for six months beyond that), I asked what happens if we have to renew them. Apparently it's ok to renew them and that doesn't affect anything with the CCAA.

There were other topics, but those were the main ones that I recall...


Some of the suggestions were:

1. Get connected with the 'bad crowd' (aka fellow bloggers).

2. Investigate other countries (if the wait is too long for you) or domestic adoption if you can.

3. Go to seminars/meetings (not necessarily put on by the agency) and get out there, mingle, and soak up as much information as possible prior to referral.

After the meeting, Senja joined Michelle and Mark, Dolores and Shawn, Josh and I for coffee and dessert at the Sierra Grill. We went in, pissed off the greeter by walking in as a group of seven - half an hour before closing time. Oops. It's not like they were going to turn our business away, nor were they going to kick us out. :P

We sat around and talked for a good hour about adoption, allergies, shopping and Macy's and just enjoyed each other's company. A good time was had by all!