We have been busy with adoption stuff this weekend. Although we had sent our profile book pictures to the agency over a month ago, they failed to notify us until this week that many of our pictures were too small. Because our pictures were too small, they were unusable and since they were unusable, our profile book sat in limbo for a month while no one shared this information. Unfortunately, I do not have better copies of many of the pictures (some were emailed to us or taken with cell phone cameras when cell phones first came with cameras), so we had to find ways to edit and blow up pictures (while maintaining their unpixelated integrity) or find new pictures. They also wanted some pretty specific shots ("I would like a head shot of Cyndi and her best friend or I need a head shot of her mother.") It was an arduous task. In my heart, I believe that I am beautiful. However, I am not photogenic (while my dashing husband typically is). So, I had to sift through countless pictures, criticizing and critiquing myself like I'm a modelling scout. "Don't use that one. I look fat. Don't use that one. I'm making a funny face. We can't use that one. I'm anime-smiling." You may wonder what anime smiling is... Well....
In the end, we managed to find about 30 decent photos of ourselves and feel that we look like presentable, pretty, and responsible parents.
Part II of this weekend's adoption activities involved the "exciting" form. I understand now why this form was "exciting." Our adoption agency works with several other agencies across the US. One of these agencies had this form. It is used by the social workers who work with birth mothers. When the birth mothers ask questions, they want to reference this form and our answers so that they can sound like "experts" about us. The form references California and now I'm wondering... Do they have a specific social worker for us? Do they have a mom in mind? Does she live in California? Who is she?
We had received this last week and I completely forgot about it last weekend (does that make me a bad pre-mom?). We decided to tackle it this week. Most of the form was relatively easy. It was similar to the forms we completed when we applied for adoption, applied for our home study, and applied for grants. However, at the end of the form was a section called, "Supplemental Information." It contained 22 essay questions, which they said could be answered in "a sentence or two." I'm sorry. But I don't know who can answer "Describe your childhood, sibling relationship(s), relationship(s) with your parents, school experiences and social experiences" in a "sentence of two."
My family and friends were nice. School was fun.
Craig and I wrote 7 pages when we were done, highlighting our infertility history, parenting techniques, daily/weekend activities, communication styles, religious beliefs, and family/social history. We also had to address our reasons for adopting, the birth mother's potential reasons for choosing adoption, contact with the birth mother, and our family's perception of adoption. Additionally, two questions asked about our recreational interests and "personal talents." Remember, we are basically salesmen in this process and have to make ourselves look as desirable as possible for the birth moms. We thought carefully about what interests and "talents" we had. Craig's response: I collect spores, molds, and fungus.
However, at this point, I began to think of the following response: I like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. I'm not into yoga and I have half a brain.
Because at this point, I began to feel like we were writing the world's longest personal ad. Married Interracial Couple (thus MIC) seeks baby. Must find the perfect picture that makes us look fun-loving, smart, and attractive. Must write the perfect narrative that catches your attention and makes you want to meet us (and give us your baby). If we don't, we will die alone, surrounded by clowder of cats (as a group or herd of cats is called a clowder, folks. See how smart we are?).
By the way, that damn Pina Colada song (or Escape) is now forever stuck in my head and now it will be forever stuck in yours. Aren't you angry with me now?
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