Continued from Surviving the Wait—Part One…

Here are some things one could do to make the waiting more bearable, if you do not already have children at home:

1. Get the new child’s room ready. This might include cleaning out a room already in use. You may want to paint or wallpaper the room, and choose an appropriate bedding set. You may need to buy a crib or new bed, put up new curtains, shampoo the carpet or refinish wood flooring. This project will help you feel closer to your new child and might take a great deal of effort. The perfect time-occupier.
2. Buy toys, books, blankets and some clothing for your child. Save receipts on clothing purchases, as it may not fit your child properly. Shopping is good therapy, especially if it is for your child.
3. Finish up any home improvement projects that you’d like accomplished before your child comes home. You will not be able to get much done for the first few months, as you will be busy adjusting to your new little one, and helping them adjust to their new life.
4. Read any books you have been meaning to.
5. Read up on attachment parenting, attachment issues, parenting in general, and child development stages. It helps to have an idea of what to expect when your little one comes home.
6. Watch a movie with your best friends, and/or your spouse. In fact, join Netflix and watch as many movies as you can. Once your little one is home, you may be too tired to watch movies for awhile.
7. Get a facial.
8. Get a pedicure.
9. Get a massage.
10. Get your hair cut and styled.
11. Sign up for a class at the community college.
12. Sign up to learn a new craft at your local craft store.
13. Take up knitting.
14. Start a journal and write about your feelings during the adoption.
15. Once you know who your child will be, start a journal for them. Write it to them and share how you are feeling throughout the adoption process; tell them how you feel about them and what your hopes and dreams for them are. You can present it to them when they graduate from high school or get married.
16. Spend the night at a Bed & Breakfast with your special someone.
17. Make meals that can be frozen, so that you will not have to cook for a week or so when your child comes home.
18. Catch up on your laundry.
19. Take up a hobby you have always wanted to try.
20. Learn everything you can about your child’s country of origin.
21. Learn your child’s native language.
22. Learn how to cook traditional meals from your child’s birth country.
23. Collect donations for your child’s orphanage.
24. Interview pediatricians and choose one that is familiar with internationally adopted children’s needs.
25. Work in your yard (weather permitting).
26. Start a garden (weather permitting).
27. Visit friends and loved ones.
28. Exercise. Then eat some chocolate! Or vice versa.
29. Babysit for a friend. It will be good practice for when your child comes home.
30. Catch up on your sleep.

What are some things YOU are doing to keep sane through the wait?

Continued…