Finally completing a stepparent adoption is a joyous occasion for the entire family. After going through the pain, heartache, and frustration of a parent who does not wish to be in their child’s life, for one reason or another, as well as jumping through one legal hoop after another to complete the adoption, having an end in sight, something good to look forward to, is a wondrous release and certainly a reason to celebrate!
When children are born, parents send out birth announcements. Excited with their new addition to their family, they wish to share their joy with all of their friends and family. The same holds true when families adopt infants. They send out adoption announcements, sharing their jubilation with everyone they know, letting them know that the wait is finally over, and that they finally have a little one in their lives to love and to cherish.
It is not uncommon for those who have adopted from the foster care system to send out announcements, letting their friends and family know that the children in their home are no longer foster children, but full members of the family. Birth families know of birth announcements, and those who have been in the world of adoption waiting to be matched with a child know of adoption announcements, but in the stepparent adoption world, it can be a detail that is often overlooked.
Many families assume that the announcements are only for babies, and since they are adopting an older child, or that they have been raising the child as their own from the get go, that adoption announcements do not apply to their situation. This could not be further from the truth. All adoptions should be celebrated, and announcements can be altered to fit almost any situation, stepparent adoptions most certainly included.
Our family ordered adoption announcements for the completion of our stepparent adoption. The outside of the announcement card had a lovely poem on it relating to dreams coming true, and although the inside of the announcement had suggested text, it allowed for alterations. With a few tweaks here and there, the announcement was soon tailored to fit our situation perfectly. There are many different types of adoption announcements available on the Internet, and many companies offer express shipping for those families who are in need of adoption announcements right away. While express shipping can be a tad costly, it is certainly worth the money to have an announcement in a timely manner, to share with friends and family celebrating such a joyous time, as well as having a keepsake to look back on for years to come. Be sure to order a few extra to hold on to, as well as to share with new friends down the road.
The adoption announcement is something that I pull out of the drawer from time to time, just to look at. To smile and remind myself of what all the hard work, pain and frustration was for, and what it was worth in the end. When times get rough, the announcement is a wonderful reminder of why I am here, why I put up with so much, and why I do what I do. It is simply because we are a family, a true and complete family, and that my friends is always worth celebrating.
Try the link below to see a selection of adoption announcements. The link will open a new window.
