Home Study step one - revisited

Yeah!  We finally got the second ball rolling!

We met with the social worker this morning to sign contracts and go over what the process will entail and what the final document will look like.  We checked off many items today (reference lists, copies of documents/identification, signing of disciplinary statement) and will be able to check off more in the next few weeks.  She said she will visit with us four or five times and that in combination with all the surveys we will fill out (and the ones our references will fill out - thanks in advance!) will allow her to draft a picture of how we would function as a family.  She has a very extensive grading document that is standard with all adoptions.  Everything from our values, beliefs, habits, diet, sexual compatibility, all get a grade.  And we get graded individually for the most part... I hope I win hahaha!  Seriously though, the whole thing not filled out was several pages long.  I will do my best to post a copy of it when I get it electronically from her.


I liked her and I like this process.  She is going to be bringing up many things that a lot of parents don't think to think of before they have kids.  She said feels all international adoptions are special needs children and will be looking at our ability to handle the problems that arrive with genetics, how we will tell Kid where he's from, how we will handle language barriers, etc.  I feel like my training as a teacher has given me an advantage here.  Maybe that's why I went to teachers college - to become a better understanding adoptive parent?

I look forward to the surveys and questionaires we will fill out and it should provide some good discussion between us.  I am interested to see if there is anything we haven't discussed in regards to children!  I also like filling out surveys - NERD!  When it comes to kids, I have a lot to say.  I very much hope this process goes quickly so our dossier can be sent to Russia as soon as possible. 

Next week the medical exam and questionaires!  For the time being... 9 more shows where I get to be a pirate!  ARRRRR!