Pat

I really never thought I would be able to adopt.  Between my age – I was over 40 – and being single, I just assumed I wouldn’t ever qualify.  But I had it in my mind that I wanted to have kids in my life, and to have a family of my own.

I called Common Sense Adoption Services just out of curiosity one day and right away got to talk to someone who knew all about adoption.  She told me that there were lots of programs to consider – domestic, international and “special needs” and that I might be just the perfect resource for a child who needed a parent.  Wow!  I was in the next day!

I looked at lots of options, went to their classes and did a lot of reading and research on my own.  What I found was that some foreign countries wouldn’t consider me because of age or marital status, but that lots of others looked more at who I was – what I had to offer.  With Common Sense I explored my own motivation to adopt and really took a hard look at my finances and other resources.  It turned out I had a lot more going for me than I thought – lots of friends and extended family to help me out and even though I don’t have a lot of money I manage it well.

I finally decided to adopt from one of the Eastern European countries where I was able to find a handsome three-year old boy.  Learning about all the paperwork involved, and the rules that kept changing in that country while I was in this quest was quite an education!  I had never been much outside of Pennsylvania, so my first trip out of the country was clear across the world to meet and pick up my son.

Common Sense Adoption Services staff was really helpful in keeping me grounded.  Together we looked at different agencies that offer international adoptions, and they helped me examine the costs, the promises they made and the reputation of each – believe me there are some big differences!  I felt really comfortable with the agency I worked with, and they coordinated with Common Sense who did all the home study (family profile) and other stuff that needed to be done here. 

My son, Jeremy, and I meet often with other parents of kids from the same country, and other adoptive families.  I want him to know something of his heritage, and to feel like he is not unusual to be adopted.  My family has been great.  Jeremy may have only one parent, but he has a huge extended family and is thriving.