Couples with No Children + Dog(s)

So we attended our very first adoption certification training last night! June 5, 2013.

There was a mixture of people there: some wanting to foster children, some wanting only to adopt (like Josh & I), some who already had a grandchild with them (called kinship when the child is a relative) and a few people who were there to make up the class, so they won't be part of our normal group.

As I was going over the group in mind last night after we had left, I came up with a funny observation.  Altogether there were probably about 6 or 7 couples who were married and didn't have any children.  And wouldn't you know it...I think EVERY SINGLE COUPLE had at least one dog (some of them two).  Hmmm. My conclusion is that we (along with these other couples) have a great capacity to nurture and love. Since we have not had children to pour this natural ability into we've simply had to have an outlet - hence a dog. :)  Ok, some of you are probably gagging right now, but it sounded romantic and idealistic and like a plausible reason to me.  After I shared with Josh he came up with a rule I'm sure even our government would agree to.  "In order to adopt, you must have raised and properly trained a dog for at least 5 years!"  Whew, I think we would pass.  He was joking, of course, but it does sound like something being passed now days.  I guess the cat people might be offended though....

 I won't go into all of the particulars of the class, but one interesting exercise had the instructor showing us a cell phone picture of one of our classmate's children.  The purpose of the exercise was for this woman to imagine that for some horrible reason her children were taken from her.  What would she want to know about the people who would have her children?  The bullet points we gave (health, beliefs, finances, etc.) were information we have to provide (over, and over, and over) for the training.  We were instructed that the class, which is 36 hours, is another way for the agency to get to know us, and help us to address our strengths and our needs.  This information helps birth parents to know their children will be placed in capable hands.

Next up...our homework assignment.  Our assignment this week is to share with someone the journey we are starting on and their reaction to it.  Don't get too excited - I HAVE completed my assignment and will be the next post you see...