Adopting a child is a beautiful way to add another member to your family. Even though you are probably uber-excited to do this, you should remember that there are going to be some adjustments that will occur during the transition. For children who are adopted as infants, the transition isn’t likely going to be an issue because they don’t know any other family. When you adopt a child who is a toddler or older, everyone is going to be making these adjustments.
The specific points that are going to come into the picture depend largely on the child’s former life. For example, a child who lived in poverty and frequently went hungry might hoard food. This is a shock to people who have always had plenty. One way that you can help your child to adjust is to provide them with healthy, nonperishable snacks to keep in their room or in another safe place. This lets them know that if they wake up hungry, they will always have something there.
Your child might need a space to decompress. Create a soothing atmosphere in their room so that they can turn to that spot when they need a few moments alone. You should also always encourage them to come to you for hugs and affection when they want it. If they were raised in an unloving home or in an institution, the idea of having a caring adult there all the time can be difficult to handle, which is why you need to allow them to come to you at their own pace.
Having a plan in place prior to the child coming to live with you can benefit everyone. This can also help reduce the stress level that you feel when you are still trying to handle the process of finalizing the adoption.
