The weather is nasty outside and you are just aching to hold a baby in your arms- not any baby but your very own. I have been there and I share with you at times it seemed it would never happen. I had to find a way to keep myself inspired; motivated to take the next step to reach my goal of being a mommy through adoption. I found a few things helpful. One was having an adoption buddy; I had another hopeful adoptive mother that was as committed as I was to becoming a mom too. We would chat during the day and encourage each other with ideas and trade leads and information. It was nice to speak to someone who was like me, and who I could shed some tears with, when I became frustrated at the progress, or when a birth mother chose another couple over us. I had to stay connected to stay motivated and the inspiration came from many sources including prayer, support group meetings, and reading.
If you need inspiration today, there are others who are positive role models for you and who’ll help you and not hinder your adoption journey. Set up a group of positive and encouraging hopeful mothers and create an adoption network of these women who are willing to help each other. It is vital that you avoid negative people and women that just complain but don’t get very far. You don’t need them anywhere near you or your adoption plan: they will just drag you down.
There are some great books to read to keep you inspired as well. Many are not adoption books but Christian books with motivating and inspirational messages to keep you moving forward with confidence, knowing that adoption is possible and will happen for you. Seek out God’s guidance and be inspired by His word while you travel this road that many of us have be down before. Remember, there is a baby for you!
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
-Jeremiah 29:13
Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P., is nationally recognized as an expert on open adoption. A Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P.), Caldwell is the founder of Lifetime Adoption Center, established in 1986. She has assisted in over 2,000 successful adoptions and was one of the first adoption professionals on the Internet.
Caldwell's life work is dedicated to educating and helping birth parents find the right adoptive parents for their child. She spreads the word about modern adoption through speaking appearances, webinars, online resources, and as a podcast show host.
She has written several award-winning books, including So I Was Thinking About Adoption, the first book of its kind. There are many reasons women choose adoption, and this short book is a comprehensive resource to make the best plan for you and your baby. Caldwell wrote So I Was Thinking About Adoption as a handy guide to the details of the adoption process.
Caldwell has made over 150 media appearances, including ABC News, CBS News, Larry King Live, CNN Headline News, NBC's The Today Show, CNN's The Campbell Brown Show, NBC News, KGO Newstalk Radio, CNN's Black in America II, MSNBC, Fox, PBS, BBC, and Dr. Laura.
