One last note about talking to your extended family about you adopting is if you have decided to adopt children of a different ethnicity or has physical disabilities.
Adopting a child from a different race was always an option for us, we just were always open to that. Even in 2002 when our adoption journey began we never would have thought of ethnicity or race would be an issue.
Unfortunately, even in today’s world racism is very prevalent. We were not really concerned about our families accepting a child of a different race but, it needs to be discussed.
After your couple’s interview you and your spouse will be separated and interviewed individually. This part of the interview process is different because they will ask questions about your upbringing, your personal beliefs, and your side of the extended family. The interview begins with being asked how your childhood was, what type of discipline you received, how your family dynamics were. If you received physical discipline, how you felt about it, if one of your parents or both were the ones that administered the punishment. If you received physical punishment they will ask how you plan to administer punishment. In order to be an adoptive parent you must first be a licensed foster parent and the rules and guidelines for a foster parent are very clear on physical punishment it is not allowed.
They will want to know what you enjoyed to do as a family, what kind of involvement your extended family had. They will ask what your happiest childhood memory is and also you’re saddest.
You will be asked what you are looking forward to doing with your children, and how you would feel if your child does not have the same interest as you. They will also ask how you would respond to different situations such as, if your child is a different religion, or is gay? Would you still be able to accept these differences?