Wednesday, January 06, 2010

How long is this tunnel??!?

This evening I sat down and filled out some more of our adoption paperwork...this is the second batch...the little bit that we have to do for the state of Illinois - well, not LITTLE, but smaller than the HUGE (read: think of how much paperwork would kill you and then back it off a little bit) amount we have to do for our agency. I do really well for a while and then I get to questions that shouldn't be tricky...but are. Take for instance the question that asks our total household income. Sounds easy right? Well TODAY ours is a whole lot less than it was LAST WEEK. (Cause my temp job is done...on the market again, hopefully something comes up soon) I hope it goes back up, but what number should I use for now? I don't want to risk putting too little and having them say "Nope, not enough" but I don't want to lie. Then there is the question that asks if both parents are working outside the home what our plans for childcare? Well, right now I'm home, but that might change soon...and honestly we were going to cross the bridge of childcare when we got to it. We've talked about it, but who knows when and where we'll get a baby and plans and situations change. I would love to be able to stay home with our kids, but depending on where we're stationed, that might not be a feasible reality.

We've also had to document the hours we've spent reading adoption related articles, watching adoption related videos, attending adoption classes, etc. You know what?? I've spent A TON of time learning about adoption...and I only know a flake off a chip off a corner of the knowledge block. Adoption is one complicated beast. A beautiful, wonderful, miracle of a beast, but a beast none the less.

I know each of these little steps helps us to get a little closer, and I do see the light at the end of the tunnel, but seriously...HOW LONG IS THIS FREAKING TUNNEL??!?

7 comments:

Abby said...

I often wonder if a lot of these mounds of paperwork are just to weed out those who don't want it bad enough.

Holly said...

I think you might be on to something Abby. There have been many times the last year or so that I have had to examine my desire and see if it out measures the frustration with the hoops we're required to jump through.

Lori said...

i'm sorry holly. the paperwork is beasty. :( keep plugging along.

i know what you mean by those questions that seem easy but you spend hours sitting looking at them. good luck, my friend!

Amanda said...

Oh the joys of adoption paperwork. Blech. Adoption is wonderful, and complicated, and beastly, and miraculous. I'm pretty sure I've managed to feel every emotion possible as we've charted our adoption course. Yikes. But the end result really is worth it, I promise.
As far as the questions go, can I get an AMEN?!? Don't worry too much about the finance one though, because when it all comes down to it, they just go off of your previous years tax return when you get placed to figure out how much you owe. :D Tally ho! You can do it friend!

Me, Myself and I said...

I wish there was this strict of screening process for people to go through at the very first twinklings of ever thinking about having children. It's not fair that most of the people who want to adopt ARE THE RESPONSIBLE ONES - yet, they are the ones who have to go through all this crap. There are teenagers every day getting knocked up who haven't thought about what they're going to DO ABOUT CHILDCARE. RAWR!!!!! Sorry I got a little ranty on ya, I just think it's not fair and you have gone through enough. NOT FAIR.

Happy Herrons said...

It is a HUGE pain!!! Do the lower amount - lots of agencies do a sliding scale. Say we would love to have a stay at home mom as soon as feasible. You can do it!

Shaun and Emily said...

Sending my love and support. I do think it will be worth it... all of it. I just hope that the tunnel ends sooner than later. My sister is 6 years and waiting to still start her family. You can do it!!!