Helen’s Story, Part 4

As part of National Adoption Week we’re serialising one adopters story through the adoption process. Here it’s time for panel…

Part four

I almost forgot Panel, that’s because it was great. I was terrified before we went in, shaking, feeling sick, the works. Don’t worry, you are in a room of positive people who really aren’t scary and you have your social worker right there with you, ready to guide you back on track should you take a ‘talking rubbish because you are nervous’ path. You will have already been guided on potential questions you may be asked and remember everyone is on your side.

We will never profess to be experts but the assessment process was a huge learning experience. Discussions about parenting styles, challenges we may face individually, as a couple and as a family. And of course the child or children we may adopt will give us opportunities to explore our preconceived ideas, explore new ideas and receive affirmation of our current ideas. Our attitudes have changed towards certain aspects of adoption and we feel prepared and supported as we now enter the matching stage.

If you’ve been following Helen’s story and feel it’s time to start your own adoption journey you can find out more here: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/adopt4leeds/Pages/default.aspx or come and talk to one of our team in confidence at Trinity Centre, Leeds 10am-4pm on Saturday 24 Oct or Tuesday 3 November at The Village Hotel, Far Headingley, 6:30pm – 8:30pm