WAITING TO ADOPT

I remember waiting to become a mom. It was tortuous - with feelings it would never become a reality. Everyone else would be successful in finding a child, but not me. At the same time, I kept telling myself, there was one out there for me. I kept humming “Somewhere Out There” from the film, An American Tail. I wished and hoped and listened to those who had already adopted.

And then it happened. It all seemed a bit unreal. The short version of the story. I was chosen and became a mom. I flew to Texas, met my daughter, waited for Interstate clearance and returned home to the waiting arms of family and friends. I did it again 3½ years later.

I remember sleepless nights, first steps and first words. I recall introducing them to new foods and activities while seeing their talents and interests develop. I took them to daycare, kindergarten, elementary and high school and day and sleep away camps. And then, in the blink of an eye, they were off to college. I watched them develop relationships with peers and maturing into independent women.

I waited for them to grow up. Now I wait for their texts, calls, video chats and visits. Parenting is the toughest thing I have ever done. But it has been so worth it. Enjoy every phase. It flies by.

Kathy Ann Brodsky, LCSW is a New York and New Jersey licensed social worker, adoptive mom and advocate for ethical adoption practice. Through her private practice and agency affiliations, she has prepared  thousands of adoption  homestudies, counseled  expectant, birth, pre/post adoptive parents and  adopted  persons, as  well  as trained  professionals  to  work  with  adoptive  families. She  was Director of the  Ametz  Adoption  Program of  JCCA and a member of the Advisory Board for POV’s Adoption  Series and the  Adoption  Advisory  Board  of  Path2Parenthood, She is currently a  Adoption   Professional   Advisory  Council  of  HelpUSAdopt , a member of the Advisory Board of the Family Equality Council and  active  in  the  Adoptive Parents Committee in  New  York.  Her  blogs  and  written contributions can be seen throughout the Internet, including  her  BLOG  and  as  Head  Writer  for  ADOPTION.NET   She  was  named  an  “Angel in Adoption” by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption in 2001. You can reach her directly