If you build your family in the traditional way, there is a good two-year long period where you can mess up without the kid remembering what a terrible first time new parent you were. When you adopt older kids, there is no grace period. You better be somewhat competent from the get-go, really.
This is my fear.
So... it makes me nervous that I have absolutely NO experience in making decisions about a child with someone else's input involved. But that's ok, right? Because what first-time-parent HAS that experience?
With adopting older kids, I also feel like we will not get as much of a grace period from our mommy & daddy peers, either. If we were pregnant for 9 months and bringing home a tiny new baby, I can imagine people exchanging those knowing & amused looks with each other. "Aren't they cute? New parents are so fun to watch! such nerds..."
(This scenario also includes several stories about poop. I'm not sure why. Parents love talking about their kids' poo stories from baby & toddlerhood.)
Will we get the same freedom to call our family and tell them "we need a break NOW" or to confess that we have no idea how much food to put on a 9 year old's plate?
I'm honestly feeling a little bashful to even type this stuff out. I am fully aware I'm over-reacting. DEEP BREATH. The last adoption class is in two days, so it's all feeling suddenly very real & there is a lot of pressure that comes with that.
Being responsible for the lives of children is scary stuff. I need to be easier on myself if I expect anyone else to be, eh?
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