Happy New Year! I love the beginning of the new year because I always feel motivated to be a little bit better in all areas of my life. Adoption being one of them! I've been thinking about this and thought I would remind everyone of some ideas of how to advocate for adoption in 2012. All of us can do this whether we have adopted, are hoping to adopt, are a birth parent, or just know someone in one of these situations.
1. Talk About Adoption: Tell people that you are hoping to adopt. Have discussions about it. Explain that so many adoptions happen through word of mouth. They may know someone that knows someone that is planning on placing a child for adoption and it can only help if they know that you are hoping to adopt!
2. Educate! What kind of reactions do you get when people find out you are a birthmom or have adopted a child? I have gotten many different reactions from people and how you react to them will educate people about adoption for good or bad. I love to be able to tell people, in a kind way, after they have said something inaccurate about Noah's birth parents or what kind of situation they must have been in, how wonderful his birth parents are! I think it surprises people. I also have conversations with people all the time about open adoption. It is a hard thing for people to understand and I hope that through me telling them my experiences that people don't see it in such a negative light anymore.
You can even give presentations in your wards and stakes to help educate church leaders on adoption. (Email me if you want more info on this!)
You can even give presentations in your wards and stakes to help educate church leaders on adoption. (Email me if you want more info on this!)
3. Get involved with FSA (Families Supporting Adoption): There are so many opportunities through FSA to advocate for adoption. You can spend a lot of time being involved or just a little bit. Right now, Sandy FSA is on booklets to have in OBGYN offices to educate about adoption. They will have adoption stories, resources, etc. We would love your ideas on additional ways to reach out and educate the community. There is always a need for help with junior high and high school presentations. Plus, by getting involved with FSA, you get to know other families or birth families that have been impacted by adoption. Sometimes this helps us feel more comfortable with sharing our own experiences when we know others in our same situation.
4. Understand Laws: Adoption laws are constantly being changed and it's important that we know what is going on! As voters, we need to make sure that we know who we are electing and what their stance is on important issues.
5. Be an Example: Your actions speak louder than words. Your attitude about your infertility, adoption, placing, etc will make all in difference in how others view adoption. No experience is perfect and adoption can be a roller coaster of ups and downs but how you handle that roller coaster makes all the difference.
Hopefully, this has given you some ideas of how you can help advocate for adoption in 2012! I hope this is a wonderful year for all of you!
4. Understand Laws: Adoption laws are constantly being changed and it's important that we know what is going on! As voters, we need to make sure that we know who we are electing and what their stance is on important issues.
5. Be an Example: Your actions speak louder than words. Your attitude about your infertility, adoption, placing, etc will make all in difference in how others view adoption. No experience is perfect and adoption can be a roller coaster of ups and downs but how you handle that roller coaster makes all the difference.
Hopefully, this has given you some ideas of how you can help advocate for adoption in 2012! I hope this is a wonderful year for all of you!
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