Have you added to your family through adoption?

Today we present a guest post about adoptive parenting by Marin Mommies member Darcy.

As an adoptive mother of identical twin toddlers who were born in China, I can attest that parenting through adoption presents its own set of unique challenges and opportunities. In our family, for example, there will always be unanswered questions about our daughters’ first two years, before they came home to us, and about their biological background.  We have had to endure countless insensitive comments from friends and strangers alike.  Mostly we enjoy sharing our family’s story but sometimes we do get tired of constantly having to educate others. 

But none of that really matters when we think of what adoption has brought into our lives; our girls are amazingly resilient, breathtakingly athletic, drop dead gorgeous, absolutely brilliant, laugh-out-loud hilarious little spitfires, and we feel doubly blessed. One of the unexpected joys in our journey as a family has been the built-in support we have found in the adoption community. Most of our friends who have biological children made some acquaintances through birthing classes and prenatal yoga, but these groups are by necessity based more on timing of due dates than anything else, and deep, effortless connections seem more the exception than the norm.  Get a group of adoptive parents together, on the other hand, and there is often an instant understanding and comfort level, like the kind of bonding that can happen when you get together with your high school girlfriends, away from your partners and kids.

With that in mind, I share with other adoptive parents in Marin two resources to meet other families like ours.  This Wednesday, July 25, from 3:30-5:00 pm at Parents’ Place, there is a drop-in playgroup just for adopted families with children from newborn to six years old and their parents.  We’ve gone many times and, whether there is just one other family there or half a dozen, we’ve always enjoyed the clean, thoughtful play space, healthy snacks and Waldorf-inspired activities and atmosphere.  It costs just $6.00 a family and takes place at 600 Fifth Ave. just east of 101 in central San Rafael.  For more information, you can call (415) 491-7959 or check out www.parentsplaceonline.org.  In addition, I also started a Yahoo group for families in Marin and beyond who have adopted internationally to connect with others, plan play dates and ask for advice.  To sign up, simply send a blank email to bay-area-adopt-international-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Hope to meet you in cyberspace or in person soon!