WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

I don't know about you, but for me the last 14 months have been somewhat of a blur, what with the initial days of the pandemic and the locks-downs. Now it seems the days and weeks are moving quickly and the months are flying by. How did we get to the start of summer?

 

Rather than dwell on the past year, a lost year, I have found myself thinking about the past summers: my kids ending another school year, saying goodbye to homework, teachers and friends, and shedding coats and pants for shorts and t-shirts. I look forward to time out of the city, to swimming in the lake, barbecues, once again seeing family, friends and neighbors and just the overall more relaxed days of summer.

 

Some families adopted this past year. Many more of you are still waiting. Initially, there was thought in the adoption community that there would be a rise in adoptions during the pandemic. Since this did not occur it was thought that with people being more reclusive and advised to limit social contact, there were less opportunities for sexual encounters and therefore, less pregnancies. Just this past week, there was a news story about an uptake in the purchase of personal products, leading to the assumption that there is an increase in socializing.  These particulars may have an impact on the rate of adoptions.

 

If you are among those still waiting to adopt, who have seen little opportunity over the past year, do not give up your dream. Over the summer, try to enjoy the new freedom the vaccinations have brought. Spend more time with family and friends. Take a short vacation. Read a good book. Reorganize or decorate your home for the warner months. Try a new hobby.

 

Time passes quickly. One day you will also look back and wonder where did the time go? How could my son/daughter have been so small? When did they learn to crawl, walk, climb or run? What was their first day of school or camp like? Was I the best parent I could be? 

 

Life throws us curveballs all the time. The pandemic was just another one of the challenges. A big and unexpected one, I will agree, but one we have overcome. Your desire to be a parent or grow your family has had its challenges. Adoption is not easy, but it is a miracle for all involved. Never give up hope. You can do this. The rewards are immeasurable.

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 on the 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.