We left the last entry where we'd had an initial phone call from the Local Authority and had already started discussing with them the age ranges of children we'd prefer. Our reasons were to include a time frame where the children would be with us pretty much full time while we (or one of us) was on adoption leave then when that was over there'd be a transition into school. As calculating as that sounds we felt it to be a great balance between bonding, childcare costs and also the ability to have some form of psychological report done on the children. You can't get one on a child under three years of age from what we were told.

30/11/08

So Ben spoke with his friend Janet and his mum. Janey has adopted and is willing to give us advice. She suggested we start collecting information on basic childcare at first then expand into the specialised care that adopted children might need.

04/12/08

It was a busy night! We held our annual Christmas Party for about 50 guests. It was probably the last of that scale although we didn't announce it as such and carried on as normal. Our friends are all mainly straight and there are lot's of expectant mothers in our social circle as well as those already with children, if we didn't end the parties I'm pretty sure the numbers would dwindle anyway. 

Through discussion we found one of our friends was adopted, we never realised. Then it struck us what a silly statement that was. Many of those we spoke to, in fact everyone said we'd make great dads. Jenna is happy to give a reference as are Neil and Cian. All we really have to do now is wait for the letter and wonder if they will accept our application. It's been weeks now. What could be taking so long?

Similar to your journey? ~Useful? Feel free to comment!