Children have over active imaginations and fears. Explaining adoption to your child may stir up some fears and anxiety in your child. He or she may have questions that seem silly to you but make perfect sense to a child such as “Are you going to give me away too?” Or, “Don’t you love the baby?” It is so important to reassure your child that he or she is going to remain with you and that you love him or her and that you love the baby too.
For Noah, routine is very important most of the time and during this time it was super important that our routine stayed the same and that we still did our little rituals as we always had, even if I felt horrible and really didn’t feel like doing them. Routine gives children a sense of security and well being and that is definitely going to be needed for them during this time.
I know you are overwhelmed with all of the emotions and decisions that go into making an adoption plan plus you are dealing with the stress of an unplanned pregnancy which plays with your hormones. By the end of the day, you are probably exhausted, but try and leae a few minutes of time to spend doing something one on one with your child.
Watch a movie together, read a book, take a short walk, or play a board game are just few ideas of quiet activities that you can do with your child. And don’t forget about oodles of hugs and kisses and tons of snuggle time!
In conclusion, if you are pregnant and already parenting a child, know that you are not alone. Although you may feel like the minority at times, you are not the only one out there who has been in the process of navigating an adoption plan while parenting a child. There have been others who have walked this path before you and there will be others that walk this path after you.
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Other Posts in the Series:
Considering Adoption while Parenting
Explaining Adoption to the Child you are Parenting
Explaining Adoption with Sam’s Sister
Dealing with your Child’s Emotions while Considering Adoption
