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Helping your children prepare to welcome a new sibling

On Behalf of | Jun 9, 2019 | Family Law

Preparing to adopt is an exciting time and one that also brings unique challenges for you and your family. If you already have children living in your home, you will need to help them prepare for the addition of a new family member who will undoubtedly have a different background and life story. At Gormley Law Offices, PLC, we have helped many families in Michigan as they are working through the adoption process.

While your children may be excited about the prospect of gaining a new brother or sister, they are also probably hesitant and wondering what their new sibling will be like. Of course, you can set your children down and provide them with basic details including the age and gender of the child, as well as activities that he or she enjoys. But what about the emotional and mental preparation? According to the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition, the time you spend discussing adopting a new family member and listening to your children and their concerns about the change in your family’s dynamic will be critical in their ability to feel excited and confident about welcoming another boy or girl to your family.

Your children will need quiet time and a place where they can go to be alone. Even if your children will need to share a bedroom, still try to designate a place where they know they can go if they would like some personal time by themselves. There are countless helpful resources that provide suggestions for ways that everyone in your family can be better prepared for an impending adoption. Seeking out these resources within your community can help you connect with other families in a similar situation.

When your children have spent adequate time preparing for the arrival of an adopted child into your family, you can allow them to be a part of the process. For more information about adoption, visit our web page.