As hard as the transition process will undoubtedly be for first-time adoptive parents, the needs of the child are most critical. Couples would do well to sympathize with their children and contemplate just how challenging adjusting to a new family will be. This is especially so for the years following the adoption, as the recollections of past homes may tinge adoptees’ lives with sadness.
Yet adoptive parents are not helpless in this regard. In a respectful way, they can show that they embrace their child’s past by letting them express their feelings on these matters through telling stories, drawing pictures, and constructing what are known as lifebooks. Adoptive parents are also encouraged to try to bond with their adopted children through fun, educational activities where close interaction is a must.
