Placing a baby for adoption is likely one of the hardest things a young mother can do. With that said, she’s looking for specific qualities in an adoptive family. While all birthmothers are different, there is some common ground when it comes to what they’d like to know about adoptive parents and their child’s future with them.

That Your Relationship is Solid:

You may be someone who believes your relationship is a private matter – something that is only discussed between you and your spouse. We respect that. At the same time, a birthmother placing her baby for adoption wants to see a strong relationship that will last a lifetime. Often times, their number one wish for their child is to grow up in a two-parent household. This doesn’t mean you have to share the life story of your marriage, but it does mean you should express your love and care for each other. Either in your adoptive family profile or meeting with the birthmother (or both!) be sure you and your spouse mention a few of the things you love about each other. Tell the story of how you met, or talk about the things you want to do as you grow old together. This shows the birthmother you’re in it for the long haul – not just with her baby, but with each other as a family.

How You Raise or Plan to Raise a Child:

Whether you already have children or you are planning for your first, birthmothers like having an idea of how their child will be raised. Will you travel? Will you introduce your children to many different hobbies, sports and activities? Do you believe in “groundings” or time outs? You don’t need to have an exact plan right now, but sharing some of your thoughts about parenting with the birthmother can be comforting for both you and her.

What Your Family is Like:

One thing many birthmothers look for in adoptive families is a tight knit extended family. If you spend a lot of time with your own parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles etc, explain this in your adoptive family profile. Does your family live nearby, or is the 12 hour drive to Grandma’s house a yearly adventure? Talk about your family traditions, what you do on holidays and why you love spending time with your loved ones. Including family photos is an even deeper way to show your dedication to family.

How Much Time You have to Devote to Family:

Birthmothers can get a sense of your daily schedule by knowing what type of job you have or what type of lifestyle you lead. No birthmother wants to look at a profile and feel like the family is too busy for their child. If you and your spouse both have full time jobs, explain what type of care the child will receive while you are working. Additionally, talk about the ways you will make time for family. Maybe you are dedicated to nightly family dinners, or perhaps you have “family night” once a week or devote weekends to spending time together.

You are Passionate About Parenting:

No matter what your reasonings are for adopting a baby, birthmothers want to feel your passion for becoming a parent. Tell them what things you look forward to about parenting, or of a hobby you have always dreamt of passing down to your child. It’s important for birthmothers to know that having a child goes beyond the desire of being a parent.

At the end of the day, honesty is the best policy when communicating with birthmothers. If you remain honest while considering the tips mentioned above, connecting with a birthmother will be easier than you thought. Should you have any questions, the staff at Everlasting Adoptions is always available to talk, guide or just listen.

You’ve been selected by a birthmother to meet in person. Wonderful! That means your adoptive family profile made a huge impression on her, and she is ready to consider you as the lifelong parents of her child. Being connected with a birthmother is a remarkable feeling. With that said, we understand all the nerves that accompany this initial meeting. As your adoption coordinators, Everlasting Adoptions wants all adoptive families to be fully prepared for every part of the adoption process – including meeting birthparents.

The following tips and “pointers” will be helpful while you prep for meeting your birthmother.

• Be yourself! We cannot stress this enough. You’ve already made a positive impression on the birthmother, otherwise you wouldn’t be at this meeting. Extend that positivity by showing the birthmother your true self. She understands no one is perfect, and being yourself is the best way to establish that pure connection you are both hoping for.
• Consider dressing casual. While this initial meeting is important in terms of establishing a connection with the birthmother, it is not a job interview. Look presentable, of course, but a casual attire will help set the tone for the meeting as being light and stress-free.
• Ask them what type of delivery plan they prefer. If you would like to be present during the birth, or be at the hospital when the baby is born, express this to the birthmother so she can consider it in her plan. (Every hospital has different levels of receptiveness to adoption. Your adoption social worker will make arrangements.)
• Be considerate of her feelings on the whole process. This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult things she will ever do, and she needs all the support she can get – including support from the adoptive parents!
• The birthmother is nervous, too. This might be the most important thing to remember before and during your meeting. She wants you to like her just as much as you want her to like you. If you’ve spent hours mulling over what to say, how to say it and when to say it, chances are so has the birthmother. It’s okay to let her know you’re nervous. In fact, it may even take the edge off to share that commonality!
• Bring photos. Birthmothers can only learn so much from your adoptive family profile. Now is your chance to really show her what you’re all about, and to give her a glimpse of what her child’s life might be like when welcomed into your family. Photos of family, friends and relatives are the most powerful, as it is the birthmother’s own way of “meeting” them.
• Consider discussing what level of openness you are looking for. If you’re meeting with the birthmother, you’ve already chosen to move forward with an open adoption. But every open adoption differs in its level of openness. The details don’t need to be worked out right then and there, but you may want to establish some common ground.
• Explain your reasons for choosing adoption. It is always important to birthmothers to understand the adoptive parents’ reason(s) for adopting a baby. This conversation may also be the perfect way to help everyone feel confident in the arrangement.

Nothing can fully prepare birthmothers and adoptive parents for the first meeting. But positive thoughts and a little preparation can go a long way! Plan what you want to say/ask beforehand, but also remember the conversation will flow on its own before you know it. Everlasting Adoptions is always here to offer guidance, support and encouragement throughout the entire adoption process.

The words “home study” can be intimidating to any family hoping to adopt. After all, it is a written report about your family and ability to raise a child. But an adoption home study doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. More often than not, adoption agencies are looking for ways to rule families in rather than rule them out. Be yourself, be honest about your lifestyle choices, and most importantly, express your passion for wanting to adopt.

Everlasting Adoptions understands the emotions tied to the adoption process. Before completing your adoption home study, consider these tips on what to expect.

Home Visits:

Sure, you want your home to be presentable for your adoption home study; but don’t dwell on the little things. Your caseworker isn’t there to point out crooked picture frames or specks of dust around the house. They are there to evaluate how suitable your home is for raising a child. Is it spacious enough for a child? Is it safe? It’s understandable that the home visit might be the most stressful part of the home study. But try not to worry too much. Since home studies are scheduled in advance, you will have plenty of time to present your home the way you want. Have fun with it, and be excited to show your caseworker that your home is a loving and safe environment.

Personal Questions:

What many adoptive parents don’t realize is that a home study can be quite personal. Be prepared to be presented with some deep questions you may have not been expecting. This goes beyond the obvious questions about your occupation, location and education. Prepare yourself for answering other types of questions regarding finances, your relationship with your spouse, how you plan to discipline your child, how you were disciplined and what your relationship is like with your family.

Separate Interviews:

It’s safe to say that most of the home study will be conducted with both spouses. However, a portion of the home study may be conducted separately. Some caseworkers like to interview couples one-on-one to see both perspectives on the decision to adopt and what each individual’s motivations are. They want assurance that both parents are 100% on board (which we know you are!).

Ask Your Own Questions:

Think of the adoption home study like a job interview. You are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. Instead of solely focusing on what you will say in response to their questions, consider your own questions, as well. Adopting a newborn is an extensive process and you want to be informed as much as possible.

The home study will take three to four months to complete – give or take. Everyone gets anxious about their home study. But if you are properly prepared and have an idea of what to expect, it will be a smooth experience that may even be enjoyable! Never hesitate to contact us should you have any questions about the adoption home study or the adoption process. We look forward to making your adoption a joyous and powerful experience.

If you’re planning to adopt a newborn, one thing you will have fun doing is creating an adoptive parent profile. This profile is what will be shown to birthmothers who are considering adoption for their baby. Think of the adoptive parent profile as a resume – but instead of getting chosen for a new career, you are being chosen to provide an everlasting home for a child. The ideal adoptive parent profile should be light, fun, passionate and truly paint a picture of who you are. As part of our marketing services to prospective adoptive parents, Everlasting Adoptions will help you design and create this profile which is your most important marketing tool. It is the very first impression that you will make! After we have fun creating and designing colors, captions, quotes and clip art, together, you can be assured that you will have an adoptive parent profile that stands out to expecting birthparents. Adopting a newborn is an amazing experience, and we want it to be joyful and memorable for every set of adoptive parents.

From the professional staff at Everlasting Adoptions, here are 3 tips on how to make your adoptive parent profile shine:

Speak from the Heart

The best thing you can do is be honest and true. You will definitely want to spend some time thinking about what you want to say, but once you have an idea of your message, let the words flow naturally. You don’t want to overdo it, or sugar coat things so much that the message sounds forced. If you are passionate about adopting a baby (and we know you are) let your heart do the talking. It will never fail you!

Show, Don’t Tell

Through your words, illustrate your lifestyle and location as best you can. Describe things thoroughly and in great detail. Giving up a child for adoption is a huge decision, and birthmothers want to know as much as possible about adoptive parents. Instead of saying “we live in a suburban neighborhood” say, “we live in suburban neighborhood 20 miles from the city. It is a tight-knit community where children and families can often be found outside playing or mingling with other neighbors.” Emphasize all the great things about your lifestyle, family and community. Showing, not telling, is crucial to an adoptive parent profile because birthmothers want to envision the life her child could have with you.

Choose Your Best Photos

First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to a birthmother choosing an adoptive family. The photographs and captions you include in your adoptive parent profile are frequently the determining factor in whether or not she reads your profile (not chooses you to parent – but reads your profile). At a minimum, birthmothers make initial judgments based on your photos. Make sure the photos you add to your profile are warm, welcoming, and give off a good sense of who you are. Many adoptive parents like to share photos of their wedding, extended family members, memorable vacations, pets, past holidays, hobbies and their home. Your photos should be of good quality: clear, sharp, and in focus. Close up pictures, where birthmother can see features, are much better than those that are far away.

We look forward to the possibility of helping you create yours, soon! For immediate assistance, feel free to call 630-364-8361 or email: carol@everlastingadoptions.com

As adoptive parents, the staff at Everlasting Adoptions is a great resource when it comes to what to expect during your infant adoption journey. Every couple who embarks on the adoption process has a unique experience. Some people adopt in a few months while other adoptions take a year or more. Some couples may have an adoption process that was smooth sailing throughout while another experienced some bumps in the road. No matter how your adoption journey pans out, here are five things you should know before adopting a newborn.

Ask Every Question You Have

Just like we were taught in grammar school, Everlasting Adoptions believes there is no such thing as a “stupid” question. Every question you have deserves an answer, and you should never leave a question unattended to no matter how minuscule it seems. Never be afraid to ask a question – experienced adoption professionals at Everlasting Adoptions understand how difficult it is to sort through all of the adoption information and are here to help you.

It’s Difficult – but Rewarding

With ups and downs along the way, adopting a newborn can be a stressful and difficult process. But throughout it all, remember the end goal – to have your baby in your arms and safe at home. There may be days when you want to cry or bury your head in frustration, but there will also be days where you are overwhelmed with joy and excitement. Adopting a newborn is meant to be a joyous experience that brings light and happiness to your life – don’t let the things that are beyond your control get the best of you. Your adoption will work on its own timetable and will fall into place accordingly.

It May Take Awhile

There is no such thing as a typical adoption, and the time it takes to complete a successful newborn adoption will be different for every adoptive family. Just because one family adopted in just a few short months, doesn’t mean your adoption will be as quick. Aside from being patient, the best advice Everlasting Adoptions can give is to be proactive. Complete the home study sooner rather than later, complete any paperwork in a timely fashion, and stay on top of adoption agencies, social workers, attorneys and financial officers.

You Will Need Support

Many adoptive parents find that support from family, friends or adoptive parent support groups help them tremendously throughout the adoption process. It’s always nice to be able to chat with people who are in the same boat as you, or to have that special friend or family member who is with you until the end. You know what’s even better? Having a solid support group will make it all the more exciting when you have a group to celebrate the arrival of your baby with. Having a safe place to share your fears, excitement and happiness with will make the adoption process a healthier place to be.

Every adoption is different, and as adoptive parents you cannot fully understand that until you are in the adoption process. At Everlasting Adoptions, we believe that every child deserves an everlasting family, and absolutely cannot wait to assist you during your adoption journey. Should you have any questions about adopting a newborn, do not hesitate to contact us. After all, we are available 24/7!

Adopting a child is one of the most exciting times of any family’s life. But what if you already have children? Introducing a new child into the family can induce jealousy or unruly behavior, regardless if the child is adopted or biological – but it doesn’t have to. These five tips are stepping stones to enjoying a peaceful and loving home with your new adopted child and the children you already have.

Tell Your Biological Children Before Placement

This may seem like a no-brainer, but parents introducing a new child to the family via adoption struggle with when to tell their biological children. We suggest introducing the topic to the children, or even other immediate or extended family, after the home study. It’s unwise to delve too deeply into the topic before you are 100% sure that not only do you want to adopt, you will adopt. Beware of setting unrealistic expectations to your current children. In the event the adoption is incomplete, it will be difficult to explain to a child why and when they will be a big brother or sister.

Prep Time

Along with introducing the idea of adoption to your children before the adoption happens, it will also be beneficial to teach your child about adoption. Prepare your child for the arrival of their little brother or sister by reinforcing their importance in the process, reading books about adoption, and illustrate the importance of being an older brother or sister.

One – on – One Time

Siblings do not always need to do things together. Whether a family consists of all biological children, all adopted children or both adopted and biological, one on one time with all children is 100% necessary. All children want to feel special, and all parents want to make their children feel special. One on one time will reinforce the message to your children that they are a key member of the family and loved equally by mom, dad and any siblings.

Play Time

This may be more difficult to achieve when adopting a newborn, but playtime between your biological child and adopted child is a great way to help build emotional connections. After the initial introduction, plan a trip to the park, a lunch outing or something as simple as car rides with both children. This will lay the foundation for a healthy sibling-to-sibling relationship, and show your biological child that the new sibling is forever bound to the family.

Build Traditions

Depending on the age of your biological child, your family may already have traditions set in place that he or she has grown accustomed to. Once the new child is settled into the family, it’s time to start new traditions that involve both children. This can be as simple as weekly visits to the park, or as big as yearly trips to your favorite vacation spot. These traditions create a commonality between both children and give them an equal sense of involvement in the family.

Infant adoption is a joyous and life changing experience, and Everlasting Adoptions looks forward to helping you expand your family through the loving process of adoption. We welcome all families to start their adoption journey with Everlasting Adoptions to experience the true miracle of adoption!

Adopting a newborn can be a lengthy process, and sometimes take longer than we had hoped. While a speedy adoption can never be guaranteed, there are ways to help move the process along. All you need is an open mind and a proactive attitude.

1. Expand the Pool of Children You are Willing to Adopt

Having an open mind when it comes to race, ethnicity and the sex of your child will have a huge impact on placement/connection times. If you limit your options to just a baby boy or just a baby girl, it may take longer to find a birthmother, especially if they do not know the sex of the child until he or she is born. Restrictions on race could also affect placement and connection times. Ultimately, willingness to adopt any race or gender is the best way to ensure quicker connections.

2. Prepare for the Baby’s Arrival

While it may seem a bit silly to build a nursery or playhouse when you have yet to be connected with a birthmother, these advancements will prove beneficial in the long run. For starters, keeping busy on projects like nurseries, play rooms, playhouses and baby proofing the house can create the illusion that time is passing quicker. Along with that perk, preparing for your child’s arrival well in advance will 100% ensure your home will ready when the big day finally approaches – and once things get rolling, it will approach fast!

3. Complete the Home Study Sooner

The adoption home study in itself can be a lengthy ordeal. Sometimes it can even take up to several months to complete. For that reason, plan and carry out your adoption home study sooner rather than later. The completion of your home study could give you an upper hand with social workers, adoption agencies and birthmothers since they know you have already taken preliminary measures and shown you are committed to adoption. Additionally, once your home study is officially complete you can really start to plan the arrival of your child.

4. Get Your Legal Documents Ready

As soon as you decide to adopt, obtain certified copies of you and your spouse’s birth certificates, along with your marriage license and tax returns for the previous 5-7 years. Once adoptive parents are connected with a birthmother, the adoption process can move along rather quickly, so it is best to prepare ahead of time.

5. Explore the Idea of an Open Adoption

When first considering adoption, many adoptive parents only consider closed adoption because it is the only type of adoption which they are familiar. What many adoptive parents don’t know is that there are actually several types of adoption. Exploring all types of adoption is an important step in your adoption journey as they will all present completely different futures for you, the birthmother and the baby. What type you choose can also influence how quickly you are connected with a birthmother. There is an increasing trend in open adoptions or semi open adoptions, so choosing these types could speed up the placement time.

These are just suggestions on how to speed up the adoption process. Some may prove to be more successful than others, or you may wish to stick to your original plan. Whatever you choose, Everlasting Adoptions is here to support you throughout your entire adoption process.

In a traditional world, baby showers are thrown for women and couples who are pregnant with their first child. Some even go on to have a shower for every child they carry. For those of us who are growing a family through infant adoption, wondering whether or not a baby shower is an appropriate gesture may have crossed your mind. The answer is – ABSOLUTELY. At Everlasting Adoptions, we believe that no matter how motherhood comes to you, it’s a miracle. So why not share that miracle with family and friends with a baby shower to prepare for the arrival of your child?

We do, however, have one large suggestion: hold the shower after the adoption is finalized and the baby is home. We recommend this because the entire adoption process can be unpredictable with possible delays. The exact due date is first and foremost unpredictable, and the amount of time the baby spends in the hospital varies case to case. Ultimately, planning the shower after the baby is with the parents ensures overall success for everyone involved – and the bundle of joy gets to be involved in the festivities!

Whether you’re hosting a shower for yourself or a friend or family is planning a shower for you, here are some tips for a successful adoption baby shower.

Invitations:

Along with holding the shower after the baby is successfully at home with Mom and Dad, the same is suggested for sending out the invitations. This gives the family some time to settle in and get in the swing of things with their new baby. Give guests about 3-5 weeks notice, and include the birth date of the baby on invitations so guests can purchase age appropriate clothing and gifts. Of course, include the child’s name on the invitations and a picture if available. Also – make sure to use appropriate wording on the invitations so all guests know this baby entered the family through adoption.

Games:

At any type of shower, games are a fun and interactive way to get guests smiling, laughing and having a good time. They are also a great way to celebrate the arrival of a new child. Since this is an adoption baby shower, traditional games such as “Guess How Big Mom’s Tummy Is” don’t apply. There are plenty of unique adoption baby shower games out there, such as Nursery Rhyme Jeopardy, Baby Shower Bingo, or Name that Nursery Rhyme! If you’re feeling spunky, create your own game all together!

Gifts:

Adoptive parents need just as much love and support as do birth parents. Friends and family can show them that love and support through the gifts they give. Guests are encouraged to find out as much as they can about the couple’s or individual’s adoption journey and, of course, the child and look for a gift that will truly mean something to them. Since the shower will be held a few weeks or months after the baby is placed with the parents, it is likely that the essentials will already be accounted for, such as pacifiers, diapers and formula. When giving a gift at an adoption baby shower, think age appropriate and meaningful.

The addition of a child to a family, be it by birth, or adoption is a special and wonderful event and one that should be celebrated. A baby shower for adopting parents is so meaningful for them and such a help! Any parents would be thrilled to have the love and support of family and friends at this exciting time of their lives.

Will having an abortion be less emotional than adoption? Can I move on and not have to think about it?

Over 70% of the women who have abortions agree that abortion involves a baby and experience negative feelings about the abortion. (C. Reardon, www.afterabortion.org) One woman describes her feelings after an abortion, saying, “I hated myself. I felt abandoned and lost. There was no one’s shoulder to cry on and I wanted to cry… and I felt guilty about killing something. I couldn’t get it out of my head that I had just killed my baby.” (Quote from Options Magazine, 2003)

Abortion is the cheapest way for me to take care of my unplanned pregnancy.

Abortion can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000. These costs are not covered by insurance. In some instances, women have complications resulting in medical expenses and time missed from work, which can make abortion even more expensive. There are state assistance and community programs available to assist with a small amount of the cost of parenting. A woman who chooses adoption has no expenses and may receive pregnancy related living expenses to help with the costs of the pregnancy and time off work.

Abortion is the only option that allows me to go on with my life and live out my dreams.

While abortion allows a woman a choice to continue with her dreams and not have to delay plans for the future to raise her child, it is not the only option. Adoption allows women to continue with school and other dreams as well. A woman who chooses adoption may also go on living her own life knowing she put her child’s needs above her own and that her child is being loved and cared for by a wonderful family.

We asked our reader panel: How did you finance your adoption? Share any cost-cutting or creative financing strategies with other readers.

For many parents-to-be, one of the biggest hurdles on the road to adoption is finding the funds necessary to pay the various fees and expenses that come up throughout the paperwork and after the match. While the adoption tax credit and employer benefits can help after the fact, many readers came up with creative ways to raise the money before they adopted. Here, we’ve compiled their best ideas for affording adoption.

Tapping Assets, Taking Loans

A kind banker organized a total re-finance of our house at a lower interest rate. For our second adoption, we had the chance to save and prepare (having a lower mortgage payment helped), and our banker wrote up a short-term note for a revolving line of credit “just in case.” If you go to a “hometown bank” (not part of a big national chain where employees are usually not given much leeway) they will usually bend over backwards to help, especially when you tell them why you need the loan. People want to be nice and helpful – especially when it comes to something as wonderful as an adoption!
Jean and Steve, Minnesota

First we applied for an adoption grant. Then we took out a small loan from our 401K and set payments to reimburse ourselves at a 5% rate. Next, my daughter and I took coupon clipping to a new level. I started working for mystery shopping companies, and changed my insurance coverage to increase the deductible. I called my cell phone, Internet, and long distance providers and negotiated better rates. At Christmas, we spent half the normal amount. My mother-in-law paid for travel expenses as a gift to her future grandson. Our daughter even babysat for extra money!
The Runnels Family

We found our credit card’s interest rate much lower than any adoption loan interest rates. My husband’s company reimburses $5,000 of adoption expenses. Adopting two at a time helps with the cost as well. We are in debt, but we’d rather be broke and a happy family than rich and lonely!
Warren and Stephanie

I participated in my company’s stock option plan for years. It was a nice way to save and think about what I was working towards.
Eileen

My husband and I are currently funding our adoption with an equity line of credit on our home. We chose the line of credit because it allows the flexibility of early payoff or overpaying, a fluctuating credit line for purchases or payments to agencies as needed, instead of an equity loan which would require us to take a lump sum and pay interest on the whole amount.
Wendy and Jeff, Pennsylvania

We drained our CDs (Certificates of Deposit). One had nearly $15,000, which enabled us to complete the adoption.
Gail and Marty

My husband learned that his position was being outsourced to China and that he had just trained his replacement. So rather than take another position in the company, he found a job with another company and took the parting gifts to fund our adoption.
Rebecca, Pennsylvania

I worked an extra job for over six months. For my second adoption, I charged everything I could on a credit card. When I got home I worked like crazy to pay the bill before the interest kicked in. I called my second child my “Visa baby.”
Kathy, California

Tightening Their Belts

We budgeted our household based upon my regular salary, and the hours I worked beyond that (both from overtime and moonlighting as a teacher) were put into savings. I worked like crazy from the time we filled out our adoption application until we received our referral.
Kathleen, Colorado

We went without vacation, new clothes, meals out, or gifts, and kept the heat low. We picked up any overtime we could, and I got a second job on weekends. We furnished our nursery almost entirely with second-hand treasures and hand-me-downs.
Joanne

We chose to stay in annexes rather than in the main buildings of hotels. I took a suitcase full of food, like cup of noodles, soups, crackers, peanut butter, popcorn, oatmeal, plastic utensils, cups, napkins, vinyl tablecloths, individual coffee packets, creamer and sugar. We ate out for lunch, and had sandwiches and soup for dinner. We never felt deprived; in fact, we wished we’d been more frugal on previous trips.
Sandra, Okinawa, Japan

My husband and I are savers by nature, and had been working for years before we decided to adopt. We financed all three of our adoptions with our savings. Despite the fact that I no longer work, the children’s college funds are well stocked and we have a nice nest egg for retirement. It pays to save!
Debbie, Massachusetts

Moonlighting and Fundraising

We found a great storefront on eBay that sold wholesale jewelry pieces for about $2 apiece, and we sold them for $10 each.
Nicole, Oregon

I earned $750 selling flower bulbs and started an online business, The Adoption Storyteller, that hosts adoptive families’ Web sites and travel journals. I also made $400 at my garage sale.
Diane

We sold seedlings, teddy bears, bumper stickers and decals, clothes to consignment shops, and items at craft fairs. We had garage sales, a raffle, an art auction, a bake sale, jewelry making parties, framing parties, and a fundraiser dinner/dance. We sent out funding request letters to local businesses, posted items on eBay, and started a website for parents to market their goods and services.
Christine

I sold my grand piano to get the money for the adoption. I had a piano party with my friends the night before the truck came to take it away. One Kawai Grand, $10,000. One daughter, priceless. I’ve never missed that piano.
Mary Anne

I started my own eBay business. I buy new and used clothing, clean and patch it, and sell it on eBay. I buy new clothing in the off-season and sell it when it’s in season. I have done this for one year in my free time and have made $11,000 profit.
Lisa

We sold a home we had been renting out. Our profit covered our adoption expense and we got the $10,000 tax credit as well. Our daughter was definitely the right choice!
John and Michele, New Hampshire

We were only able to fund our adoption through the help of friends, family, and fundraisers. We secured a loan from MBNA, through the National Adoption Foundation, for a total of $25,000. We used the loan to pay for agency expenses and in-country fees. In addition, we held a candle fundraiser and raised $820. Our families and church helped greatly by giving us a total of $4,500.
Jessica, Kentucky

I sold collectables, jewelry, books, clothes, shoes, videos, CDs, handmade things, and garage sale finds for profit on eBay. People graciously donated items to sell. I bought a couple of fancy gowns on sale and sold them on eBay for full price!
Jeanne

I began making “Fly Away Home” ladybug dresses. I quickly expanded to toddler and children’s sizes, and added dresses in Asian-inspired fabrics. I have been able to cover half of our adoption expenses to date through the sales of my dresses.
Jennifer

Getting Help from Friends and Loved Ones

I made a brochure explaining who we were and why we wanted to adopt a boy from Russia. I put it in every hand I could find – I even sent one in when I paid my bills! One day a man from New York called to ask how much we needed. I told him we still needed $20,000, and he said, “It’s yours.” He had adopted from Russia six years earlier and had intended to adopt more children, but decided that his new son needed undivided attention. His way of bringing home more children was to provide the funds for another family.
Shari

My mother financed the adoption of my daughter. The only string attached to the money was that I would agree to stay at home with my child for at least two years, which my mother also financed. It was an amazing gift.
Margaret, Virginia

My father-in-law offered whatever we needed as an advance on our “inheritance.” They said they did not want such an important decision to be made based on money. They would deduct the money from our portion of their estate, if they ended up having one!
Lisa

My husband and I ran a marathon and raised support that way. We trained together for months and sent out letters and sponsorship cards. We were blown away when our sponsorship added up to almost $27,000!
Michelle

We tried to sell “shares of stock,” and told family members they would get dividends out of our daughter’s allowance money – in jest, of course.
Greg

Chose an Inexpensive Route

We adopted older children, for whom adoption fees were less than average.
Dellory

We used an in-country agency and were able to complete each adoption (including all travel) for under $10,000 each. This is under the allowable IRS adoption tax credit limit, so we were able to get all of our money credited towards our taxes – essentially getting our last two adoptions for free! The communication between the foreign agency and us was greatly improved, because there was no American agency as a go-between.
Wendy, Ohio

For more cost-cutting strategies, see AF’s Help with Adoption Expenses Web page.