Yesterday was our last MAPP class and we both have mixed feelings on the classes being over. On one hand, we wish we still had the formal class to learn more about the system we are adopting from, but on the other hand we are thrilled to start the next part of our journey. Our classes taught us a great deal of wonderful lessons. We were able to learn about how the adoption and foster care process works, effective methods of behavior modification, laws, but more importantly, the sad reality that these kids will be coming to us from. (Like the fact that when a child in foster care is moved from home to home all their belongings are put in a garbage bag and not in a proper duffel or suitcase breaks my heart.) Many of the future parents in our class will be wonderful foster parents (of those going that route), but the fact remains that these kids have been uprooted from their families because of abuse or neglect and may have gone through more upset being in the system. At least the 20 or so from our class were planning to be foster parents and I'm sure they will be great temporary families for the kids in the system. Ah, I digress...
So....the next part of our process is the Home Study, that wonderfully grueling process in which every detail of our lives are examined under a microscope to make sure we will be capable parents to the children we adopt. The vast majority of other states and even counties in our own state require at least a 3-6 month window of time to complete the Home Study. We found out yesterday that our county has a very streamlined process when it comes to Home Studies. In fact, they are so streamlined that instead of 3-6 months they only take 45-60 days. That's right...45-60 DAYS! MT also informed us yesterday that we should expect a call from our assigned case worker before the holidays. Due to the fact that they have 4 agencies city wide who do Home Studies under Family Support Services, they are able to get everything done much more quickly. The Home Study itself more than likely won't start until after Christmas, but we are looking at being able to have a placement in mid to late February or even early March instead of late April or in the summer (at the earliest). Now everything we have been doing here at the house is going into overdrive to get ready. Mama S decided to strip the popcorn off the ceiling in the kiddo's room and as soon as she's done I'll quickly paint the ceiling. All of the furniture has now arrived so we will have that to put together as well.
I'm thrilled with how fast the process is going, but I think we're both nervous about becoming parents. In all honesty though, I don't know of any first time parents who AREN'T nervous, so I feel good knowing that we are normal (in that regard at least!). The nerves will probably subside once we get more involved in the adoption community (MT is hooking us up with a 3 day adoption seminar as well as other events) until the day when we meet our future kiddo and they finally come to live with us. For now though, I'll enjoy every minute of those nerves!
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