The holidays place a big emphasis on family – and as you’re waiting to grow your family through adoption, the celebrations can cause some stress. If you’re waiting to adopt, here are some tips to get through the holidays:
Managing Anxiety
You may be feeling stressed, anxious, or even depressed as the holiday season rolls around. Some things you can do to keep your spirits up include:
- Find relaxing activities that aren’t related to adoption. Devote some time to hobbies that you may not have time for once you have a little one in your family.
- Don’t add unnecessary stress. It’s okay to know your limits and bow out of an event or two if you’re not in a position to handle it.
- Tend to your health. Sleep and exercise are paramount.
- Don’t ignore your emotions. Negative feelings are natural, and suppressing them will only lead to more stress. You may even want to keep a journal to log your thoughts.
Finding Support
At this time of year, it’s nice to remind yourself that you are not alone on your adoption journey. Your family can be a good source of support; let them know what they can do, whether it’s helping you take the stress off of holiday planning or simply being there to keep you company.
You can also turn to support groups. Many people take comfort in sharing their stories with other hopeful families that know what they’re going through. Whether it’s online or through a local support group, you can benefit greatly from joining a like-minded community. If you are interested in finding an adoption support group, visit the North American Council on Adoptable Children.
Talking to Others
The holidays are a time for sharing cheer as well as big news. If you haven’t told people about your adoption plans yet, prepare what you are going to say ahead of time. Whether or not you are open to answering questions about your adoption, make your stance clear.
If the people in your life already know about your adoption plan, they may want to ask you questions about how the process is going. If you are not comfortable talking about it, or you’re struggling with how to handle intrusive or insensitive statements from others, check out this list of answers to unwelcome adoption comments.
As you are waiting to grow your family, the holidays can sometimes be difficult to navigate. With these tips, we hope you can have a happy and stress-free holiday season!
Read the following articles for more advice for the waiting period:
