Parenting is one of the greatest pleasures in life. While it is certainly not free from stress, being able to help raise a child into adulthood with love and wisdom is one of the greatest achievements for many people. However, there are plenty who long to be parents and struggle with infertility or have other issues that create barriers to them having their own biological child. This is when adopting a child is most often the best choice, both for the parents and the child they are adopting, whether an infant or a bit older.
The excitement of having a child is no different from a parent who has their own biological child. Parents who are adopting are still welcoming a new life into their own, especially when adopting an infant, and will want to celebrate with friends and family.
The Celebration
When foster parents and foster kids hit it off to the point where they both want to seek adoption, it’s an extraordinary occasion. Even if the child is older, there are many wonderful ways that you can seek to celebrate. While people who have biological children have baby showers, adoptive parents may find a need to have a different type of celebration term depending on the age of the child theyâre adopting – unless they’re under two or three years old, where most of your guests will understand the use of the term “baby shower”. For this, you can invite others to bring either baby supplies, toys, and other related gifts, while playing childrenâs games and providing typical party food and decorations.
You can use something akin to âadoption showerâ, âintroduction partyâ or just having something like a family dinner for everyone to learn about the news, the adoptee, etc. The format of the party can be left up to the parents (and even the childâs) choice. If your child wants to treat the shower like a party, play party games like laser tag, archery tag, or have a bouncy house. If you want something less party-like, and more calm and chill, do a luncheon or a dinner. But donât hesitate on having a good time if thatâs what the child wants, so you can do something like a BBQ where the air is more casual. And of course, be sure to gift your older child with a gift, such as a personalized item (with their new surname!) like a journal or piece of jewelry.
No matter how old the child is, the âadoption showerâ can be planned in the same way as any baby shower. Invitations can be sent out to loved ones with all the same fanfare. Using a term âadoption showerâ for an older child is certainly appropriate and lets all invitees get a better understanding about this special event and its purpose. This will help all the people coming together understand this is a time to celebrate the newest member of their new family and offer gifts to help the parents and child on their journey together.
References:
- Sweet Ways to Celebrate Adoption Anniversaries | Huffpost
- From Foster Child to Adopted Child: How Does it Work? | Ask The Lawyers
- 10 Ways to Celebrate Adoption in 2018 | Adoption
- Adoption Laws | Adopt
- Mobile Archery Tag | HopNParty
Hi, Thanks for the sharing such a insightful article. I am also agree with you. I also think no matter how old the child is, the âadoption showerâ can be planned in the same way as any baby shower. The excitement of having a child is no different from a parent who has their own biological child. Parents who are adopting are still welcoming a new life into their own, especially when adopting an infant, and will want to celebrate with friends and family.