Newbie here - quick hello to everyone!

Hi Tina, My husband and I aren't much farther along than you are. We can go through some of the process together. If you decide to reveal your agency PM me, since the forum doesn't approve discussing agencies publicly. Have you decided? How did you decide. I hope my instincts are right. My husband and I both are polish , Half to be exact. His father full blooded, my mother full blooded. We each have had a bit of tradition in our childhood. Mine, more so probably because it was my mother. Either way, I think it's great! I am now searching books...to read in the mean time. Do you have a specific age/gender/ number of children you are lookign to adopt? You can tell me as little as you want or as much. I am an open person, and feel honesty adds knowledge. So welcome...I've had many great supporters from this site and retrieved alot of help as well. My main concern right now is educating myself ( I switch priorities every other day, soon it will be back to the Home Study). I want to read resources on dealing with possible encounters of children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) or even ways to help improve the bonding experience. Hope to hear more of your story.

Just sent you a PM - thanks for responding!

Hi everyone- I am also new to this forum and am hoping to share in the journey with others! We haven't 100% settled on adopting from Poland yet, but it seems to be the place that has been most intriguing to me and my husband. We have a brother-in-law who was born and raised in Poland and we feel like that would at least give us someone who could help us understand more about keeping the Polish culture part of a child's life. At this point we are just starting out, and searching for an agency. I'd love for anyone to PM with information about any agencies that you've gotten information from. We've only been married a year and a half, and I've read different things in different places about the minimum length of marriage to be able to adopt from Poland. I guess it probably depends on the agency, but I would like to know if anyone has insider info on this. I'm so grateful for these forums and the opportunity to get info and support from others, especially when this experience can feel so isolating! Can't wait to hear more from you all! :thanks:

HI Futuremama -I also have will not be married for 2 yrs until December. One place told us we cant start app or anything until 6 months prior to 3 yrs anni, but another showed us that Poland's guideline is over 2 yrs of marriage meaning we can start now. They showed me proof of this plus had me contact two other couples who were under the 3yr mark and never had an issue. Good luck in your search and feel free to PM me to find out the 2 agencies. I would love to hear more from you and about your plans and research. Tina

If you want to research/read up on attachment and interventions while you wait here is a list of things: [url]www.socialthinking.com--our[/url] kids don't really get social norms and this group helps kids build their social understandings. You think, wait, but I'm going to adopt a 2 year old....Most social norms are "set" during the first few months of life. When parents help their kids when they cry, coo at them, look them in the eyes, hold them, etc. Ours may have missed this and you have to teach them how to act socially. Good news is they can be fast learners. The everything Parent's Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder.--Many of our kids have sensory issues because they missed the stimulation in the first few months. The Connected Child Love and Logic (highly recommended by many people - but the top three seemed to be more helpful to me) Search the "special needs forum" for the directions for a "Trust Jar" Follow them for the first 6 months to a year.