As previously reported, I have been one huge “sicko” this last week. I am attempting to bound back from a case of pneumonia and the flu, all mixed into one. My apologies for not having more out there to read, as there is so much going on both in the world of adoption, and on the home front right now.

Of course the start of National Adoption Awareness Month is on the top of my list, and I have already done a bit of blogging on that subject if you care to go back and take a peak. I think you will find some interesting links to help you celebrate the adoption connections in your own family. I will also be doing a GIVEAWAY of some exciting, adoption related items to celebrate National Adoption Day, full details to be announced on that day, November 17th, so please stay tuned!

Today I am feeling well enough to get out of the house, so my dear husband is taking me to the nearest Cracker Barrel (my fav!) for a treat of lunch and some cute, kitschy shopping. I don’t think, as much as I like to prepare and worry over visits with the kids birthfamilies, that I will ever find a way to prepare for or avoid the after effects. I just accept that fact, and instead I try to find ways to “recover” from the visits, and relax after all the hectic preparations are long over. I always seem to find myself feeling emotionally drained, and I never fail to find myself catching something, whatever the germ-de-jour might be.

I do think as adoptive parents we need to remember ourselves in all that we do for our kids, but if you are like me, that is that part that most often gets forgotten. True, our kids do need us to make sincere efforts to do what is best for them involving birthfamily and visits, but they also need us, as their everyday mom and dad, to stay as healthy as we can. If I could share some advice about doing just that, I would say...

Slow down! The level of perfection you might desire when preparing for a visit, is not often as important as you believe. Limit the things you feel you just have to get done, and take some of the pressure off yourself.

Narrow it down! Pick just a few things that are important for you to accomplish each visit. This way if you get those things done, you are more likely to feel you have had a successful visit.

Take time to relax! Especially after a visit (or TWO back to back ones!) Go out somewhere fun, treat yourself to something nice, or spend some extra one-on-one with your kids. I recommend going to that favorite restaurant (Cracker Barrel!) or just letting your kids take crazy pictures of you in a little whitchy-poo hat (hey, worked for me!)

The number one thing to remember is to take care of yourself! You are very important to your kids, and to their first families!

Erin at the Transracial/Transcultural blog is also doing a nifty Giveaway in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, so please go check it out!

Photo: © 2007 Deb Donatti