Friday, November 30, 2012

Free Fundraising Website Helps Finance Your Ukrainian Adoption

Until Ukrainian adoption is affordable to all, we keep exploring
every financing and fundraising opportunity.

Check out www.youcaring.com

Free Fundraising Website

YouCaring is a free fundraising website, created for individuals
wanting to raise funds for medical expenses, memorials and
funerals, tuition assistance, adoption fundraising, funding for
mission trips and helping another in need. It provides a simple
and organized way to implement your fundraiser ideas and help
achieve, or exceed your fundraising goals.

No Website Fees?

We do not charge our fundraisers regardless of the amount of
money they raise. Our site is supported by amazing donors from
all over the world. This makes YouCaring the first truly free
website of its kind. And best of all, our encryption method
ensures your donation process is easy, safe & secure.

Raising funds through YouCaring couldn't be easier - Just setup a
profile page in a couple of minutes and start to raise funds -
FREE.

How It Works

Write a description of your cause and give it a human dimension
by uploading photos. Fundraising profiles with photos are more
engaging. You can also embed videos and add links to other sites.
It´s helpful to keep potential donors updated by posting exciting
updates on your journey.

Access our Promotion Tools to help you get the word out to
potential donors. Post your fundraising campaign on Facebook.
Tweet about it on Twitter. Alert your friends and family to your
fundraising page so they can donate.

We transfer donations directly into your PayPal account, as soon
as they are received. We do not charge our fundraisers.
Regardless, of the amount of money they raise. Our site is
supported by amazing donors from all over the world. Which makes
it the only TRULY FREE website of it's kind.

www.youcaring.com

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

powered by eggzack.com

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Top Five Reasons To Choose An Au Pair For Your Adopted Child Including Ukrainian Adopted Children

#1 Consistency-Have you ever moved and had one or more of your
kids freak out? Pass through a phase that was just unreasonable?
I just did. My two year old was on his worst behavior for weeks.
Now put yourself in the shoes of your adopted child. Where there
were ten children sleeping in the room with them before, now
there are none. The language, the food, the culture, the
clothing, the climate - everything is changing for them. These
changes are traumatizing. An Au Pair can keep some consistency
for your newly adopted child by sharing with them the same
culture they just came from. Your child will have a better chance
at adjusting slowly into their new circumstance.

#2 Bilingual Opportunity- Did you know it takes a child less than
six months to lose their native language in a new country? This
problem makes for real issues when you want to call grandma back
home but you can't even speak her language anymore. It is also a
problem for children who would otherwise been bilingual and have
had a head start at competing in the global marketplace.
Retaining a language is much easier than learning it again,
especially when the language is introduced later in life. Studies
have shown it is much easier for a child to pick up a language
than an adult. Did you also know studies have showninfants and
children will learn much faster from human interaction than any
educational DVD? An Au Pair makes the dream of having a bilingual
child a reality.

#3 Builds Confidence- Conversations at school will come up where
your child may need to explain their family tree, or cultural
background or skin color and so on, wouldn't it be nice if they
could answer these questions? The Adoption Institute has shown
one of thechallenges with cross-cultural matchesis the adopted
child will struggle with their identity, which may cause a lack
of confidence and depression. An Au Pair is not only from their
native culture but is proud of their culture. An adopted child
would not need to apologize for their different identity. An Au
Pair and the adopted child they care for will celebrate their
differences together. What a great way to start out.

#4 Broader Perspective-Did you know in Ukraine the children lay
on the ground when they see a dog? While very different if done
in the United States, in Ukraine the child is protecting
themselves from rabid dogs that roam their cities. For some
reason it is human nature to fear and then dislike something if
it is different. Different behaviors your adopted child may have
can cause a rift between you instead of the closeness you hope
for. An Au Pair will teach you about their differences and with
that mutual understanding you will increase your cultural
awareness and fear will not be an issue.

#5 Enriched Family Relationships- Au Pairs can give your child
something you cannot provide for them, a chance at understanding
their own unique heritage. Knowing this will strengthen ties with
you, your child and the Au Pair. Bringing in an Au Pair will
create a cultural immersion experience that benefits you and your
child for a lifetime.

Go Au Pair is one of the original Au Pair Program sponsors
designated by the department of State in 1989. There are Go Au
Pair representatives in over 50 countries on six different
continents and in more than 100 American cities. Their company
headquarters is in Salt Lake City, Utah.

If you're interested in hosting an Au Pair from Go Au Pair, Email

HostFamilies@goaupair.com

or Call Toll

Free:

888.AUPAIR.1

888.287.2471 Local:

801.255.7722

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Monday, November 26, 2012

Why So Many Adoptive Families Are Choosing Au Pairs – Including Ukrainian Adoptive Families!

November is National Adoption Awareness Month and many adoptive
families find the au pair program to be the perfect type of
childcare for their families for many reasons: consistency in
care, an opportunity to introduce birth culture and language, and
a way to honor a commitment to being a multi-cultural family!

From Au Pair Answer Mom:Many adoptive families have found theau
pair programto be the right choice for them. There are lots of
benefits to hosting an au pair that make it a great childcare
option for families in general but also particularly appealing
for adoptive families.

First is simply the extra pair of hands that an au pair provides.
You can come home after work to find the kids fed, their rooms
clean and their laundry done. All you have left to do, is spend
quality time with them. And if you are a single parent, or an
older parent, this may be even more important to you.

The au pair program also allows children to be cared for in the
calm, loving, supportive environment of their own home. Children
who are adopted have not always grown up with a consistent,
nurturing environment and as they adapt to a new family and a new
culture, their own home is often the most secure place to do
that. The sometimes chaotic environment of a day care center can
be overwhelming.

Families who have adopted internationally often consider hosting
an au pair from the country or culture of their adoptive child.
This can be a great opportunity to further incorporate the
language and culture of your child's birth country into your
family. Some adoptive families, mainly with older children,
arrange to welcome an au pair from their child's birth country
before the child comes home to have someone there who speaks
their native language and can help with the transition to
learning English.

Since some adoptive children have special needs, you might find
that hosting an au pair with special needs experience is a great
way to have the extra help. And an au pair can not only provide
the attention they need at home, but also help with some of the
driving that might be required for therapy and other
appointments.

Also, we find that families with boys or single moms find male au
pairs to be a great option. With families now adopting more boys,
that might be something for you to consider.

Let us know if you would like to talk to other adoptive families
who have welcomed an au pair into their home.

Go Au Pair is one of the original Au Pair Program sponsors
designated by the department of State in 1989.There are Go Au
Pair representatives in over 50 countries on six different
continents and in more than 100 American cities. Their company
headquarters is in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For more information on how to host an au pair, please contact me
at: Marta Pena 617-312-6880begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE
617-312-6880 end_of_the_skype_highlightingor
email:marta.pena@lcc.culturalcare.com

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

LifeSong For Orphans Adoption Funding and Grants for Ukrainian Adoption

This organization ministers in Ukraine and offers several types
of loans and grants for Ukrainian adoption. The turnaround is
quite short. They say it takes 6-8 weeks to consider an
applications.

Please check it out if you are still looking for financing for
your Ukrainian adoption. I hope there is a day when everyone can
afford adoption without worries. Until then, let's help each
other find more and better sources of financing for Ukrainian
adoption.

The site
is:http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/adoption-funding/adoption-grants/

Here is some information on how they work:

What does a 'covenant loan' mean?

Lifesong's adoption loan is not the same as a traditional,
legally binding, promissory note used by lenders. Instead, we ask
the couple to enter into a "covenant agreement" whereby they
covenant to reimburse Lifesong in monthly or annual payments as
mutually agreed upon. The covenant commitment is then between the
couple, Lifesong and God. The couple agrees to exercise financial
stewardship responsibility to both Lifesong and to God, to use
funds that God provides to them to reimburse Lifesong for the
financial assistance that God graciously provided.

How is the loan amount and repayment determination made?

Loan amounts are up to $12,000 $10,000 and the exact amount is
based on your financial need and Lifesong's available funds.
Repayment terms are determined on an individual basis and
repayments are made on a monthly and/or annual basis.

Do we have to use the money we receive from our Federal Adoption
Tax Credit to reimburse Lifesong?

It is agreed that you will reimburse Lifesong the amount of the
Federal adoption tax credit utilized on your Federal income tax
return until the Covenant Loan Amount is paid in full. The annual
payment will be made (60) days after filing of the income tax
return for any year.

What if we experience financial hardship during our repayment
period?

Although you need to honor your covenant agreement to repay the
assistance you received, Lifesong will work with you through your
financial hardship.

Are funds paid directly to the family or directly to the adoption
agency?

For payments owed to the agency, Lifesong will make payments
directly to the agency whenever possible.

We can reimburse families give funds to couples upon receipt of
documentation of the amounts needed.

Why use Interest-Free loans?

A key strategy for the interest-free loan program is that it
would become a 'self perpetuating' fund which

continually "recycles" to help one adopting family after another.
For example, one $5,000 loan over

10 years becomes $40,000 helping 8 families adopt (given an
average loan repayment of 15 months).

Application/Approval Process

The couple sends their application to Lifesong along with a copy
of their home study report and the

other information requested on the application. We try to review
each application within 6-8 weeks

after we receive it and send a letter to inform the couple of our
determination.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Ukrainian Adoption: How to Help Your Children Prepare For The Arrival Of A New Family Member

When we adopt from Ukraine, we all want our existing children to
share our excitement and enthusiasm. Many do. However, a newly
adopted child from Ukraine, just as a new biological child, will
change the dynamic of your family and all relationships. This is
a great article from the internet (source unknown) addressing
these concerns and offering suggestions for easing the addition
of a new family member.

Adding a child to your family, either by birth or adoption, is a
joyous occasion worthy of celebration. It is also a major life
changing event that requires all family members to make
adjustments. In order to ease the transition, it is important to
prepare existing children for the arrival of a new
sibling.Talking openly and honestly about adoption is an
important first step in the preparation process. The timing and
content of that discussion will largely depend upon the
developmental level of the child, and the circumstances
surrounding the adoption. For example, younger children are not
able to understand timelines, government procedures, red- tape
and paperwork delays. Telling a child about a sibling who may not
arrive for another year could cause significant worry and
concern. It is best to talk in general terms at first, and to
gradually introduce the idea of a sibling before providing
specific details.Understand that your child could have legitimate
fears and concerns that may be stirred up by the adoption
process. Questions about the permanency and stability of your
family may arise. Children might worry about what would happen to
them if you could not take care of them anymore. Would they be
taken away from you and adopted by another family? They might
also be concerned that their adopted sibling could be removed
from the family. Reassure your child that adoption is permanent
and that your family is and will always be a "forever family".
Finally, prepare your children with specific responses to the
difficult questions that might arise about why their sibling
doesn't look like them, why their sibling was adopted,
etc.Including your child in the adoption process from the start
is recommended. Some positive ways to involve your child prior to
the arrival of their sibling include: ask them to help paint,
decorate and prepare their sibling's room; enlist their help with
shopping for clothing, supplies, and other necessary items for
their new sibling; discuss things they can teach their sibling or
activities they can do together; or allow them to choose a
special gift to present to their sibling once he/she arrives. To
make the situation even more real for your child, you may also
want to role play a "real life" situation in which your child
will have to share your attention or wait for something that you
won't be able to do for them immediately. Of course, this should
be geared to the developmental level of your child and the
anticipated developmental level of the child you will be
adopting.There are also a number of excellent children's books
that focus on adoption and are specifically designed to help
prepare children for the arrival of a sibling. Reading together
is a great way to introduce the topic, facilitate discussion, and
address any concerns or questions your child may have.While it is
good to involve your child in the process, asking them if they
want a sibling implies that they have a choice. Unless you intend
to give them the decision making power, it is better to
acknowledge their feelings about a new sibling, but make it clear
from the start what your intentions are. Instead of asking your
child if they want a sibling, you might involve them in
discussions about gender and possible names for their brother or
sister, but without giving them the final say.If you are
traveling overseas to adopt, you may want to consider taking your
child on the adoption trip. Children who are older and mature
enough to handle the trip could benefit from learning about their
sibling's birth country and having the chance to form an early
bond with their brother or sister. If taking your child on the
trip is not possible or advisable, it is important for you to
prepare your child in advance, and to reassure them that you will
be coming back. Use creative strategies to visually illustrate
how long you will be gone such as calendars to mark off each day,
or paper chains that allow the child to remove a link every day
until you arrive home. Perhaps most importantly, make certain
that your child is being cared for by people they trust and with
whom they feel comfortable, and that their daily schedule is not
unnecessarily disrupted while you are away.Even with thoughtful
preparation, the actual arrival of the much anticipated brother
or sister can result in upheaval and negative feelings for the
waiting sibling. Understandably, parents may need to spend more
time with a newly adopted child to help him/her acclimate, which
can lead to feelings of anger, hurt and resentment for the child
already at home. It is not unusual for children to act out,
revert to an earlier development stage, demand extra time and
attention, or become more needy and clingy during this time of
transition and adjustment. They may even attempt to harm their
new sibling or express a desire for them to be "sent back" or
returned. It is important for parents to acknowledge and validate
that it is not always easy or fun to have a sibling. The
honeymoon period never lasts, and eventually, the reality of
having to share space, toys, time and attention with a new
sibling will set in.When reality hits, it is critical to reaffirm
your child's unique place in the family, and to reassure them
that their world is still intact. Make special time for your
child where you can focus on them and their needs without being
distracted or divided. This could be as simple as a weekly "date"
or outing to the park or library, watching a video together, or
playing a game while the adopted sibling is napping. It is also
important to make sure that your child's schedule and routine
remain as consistent as possible to minimize major disruptions or
changes. Keep them involved in extracurricular activities that
they enjoy, and maintain their connections with friends. They
need to have a life apart from their new sibling that remains
relatively constant and predictable.We all want our children to
get along and to have a positive relationship, but pushing a
loving sibling bond is likely to backfire. As a parent, you can
provide your children with opportunities to interact and bond in
positive ways, you can point out similarities, and you can
nurture and support common interests. Furthermore, parents should
intervene when safety is a concern. However, siblings also need
time and space to work out their issues and develop their own
relationship over time. It may not be love at first sight and
most siblings experience conflict from time to time, so try to
maintain realistic expectations. If the evolving relationship
between your children becomes too problematic or difficult to
manage, do not be afraid to seek advice from your pediatrician,
adoption social worker, or an independent counselor.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Event: Free Adoption Presentation: The Ukrainian Adoption Process -Saving Time, Money & Emotional Energy - Nov 28 @ 6:00pm

New Jersey Adoption Experts Provide Free Adoption Presentations
In Honor of National Adoption Awareness Month

Have you considered international adoption? Ukraine was the
5thgreatest source of adopted children in the U.S. in 2011, yet
many parents who consider adoption have never heard about this
European country's adoption program. The first step towards
adoption is attending one of our free information meetings. At
the meeting Susan Kibler, adoptive Mom and Ukrainian Adoption
Specialist, will provide detailed information about all Adoption
Services International's Ukrainian adoption program and services,
as well as the unique challenges and opportunities that
international adoption provides for both children and their
prospective parents. We encourage an open, judgment free question
and answer session to answer any concerns and inquiries.

Join us Wednesday, November 28, 2012 6:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

To find out more visit us
at:www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

To register in advance:

info@asi-adoption.com

Kathy@TheAdopteeCoach.com

About the presenters:

Adoption Services International:

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of western
quality service (including a maximum guaranteed adoption fee),
personal adoption experience, affordable local cost and 20 years
Ukrainian experience.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

powered by eggzack.com

Event: Free Adoption Presentation: E.M.O.T.I.O.N. and Me As An Adoptee - Nov 28 @ 6:00pm

E.M.O.T.I.O.N. and Me As An Adoptee

Join The Adoptee Coach, as she speaks about abandonment, not
being good enough, relationships, confidence and allowing in joy
& love! The emotions we carry emit energy ~ what does your
energy reveal? Do you feel labeled and powerless to change that
identity? You can alter your perspective, attitude and make a
shift in consciousness that transpires into an increase in
positive energy and overall effectiveness in life!

Join us Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

To find out more visit us
at:www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

To register in advance:

info@asi-adoption.com

Kathy@TheAdopteeCoach.com

About the presenters:

The Adoptee Coach of Self Reflection Coaching LLC:

Adopted into a loving family as an infant, Kathy has traveled a
personal journey of courage and curiosity. When seeking a coach
that incorporates a love for life, reassurance and ability to
inspire others, and the passion to make this her life's work,
Kathy will partner with you through the process.

Some of the emotions clients experience are abandonment, lack of
confidence & self-esteem, guilt, pain, and fear. Parents
surrendering a child(ren) as well as those seeking to adopt
experience a wave of emotions, such as fear and excitement,
anxiety and joy, judgment from others and themselves, loss,
grief, and more.

No matter where the client is starting from they can:

· Overcome fear and doubt by becoming more open and trusting

· Make clear decisions

· Come to peace

· Transform relationships

· Set goals and design a life they love

Anyone with a strong desire and willingness to take action can
transform their lives.

If a coaching relationship interests you, please contact Kathy
Vervan Bugglin at

www.TheAdopteeCoach.com

Kathy@TheAdopteeCoach.com

(908) 797-4893

http://www.facebook.com/TheAdopteeCoach

Look for Kathy in the bestseller "Ready, Aim, Soar" on Amazon.

Adoption Services International:

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of western
quality service (including a maximum guaranteed adoption fee),
personal adoption experience, affordable local cost and 20 years
Ukrainian experience.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

powered by eggzack.com

Monday, November 19, 2012

Adopting An Older Ukrainian Child: What We Wish We Had Known About Initial Bonding

The majority of children adopted from Ukraine are not infants.
They are children with personalities and a past. In this article
a mom and her daughter, adopted at age 9, share lessons learned
about older child adoption in this beautiful article.

Every child is unique and every adoption and family experience
will be different. However, as an adopted parent of an older
child much of this story resonates with me.

Since it is a very long piece, I have broken it up into segments.
My comments are in "quotes". Enjoy.

What We Wish We Had Known

By Judy and Sara Myerson

Initial bonding with an older child is extremely important.

Any child who was in an orphanage or foster care will have had
major interruptions and disruptions with primary caregivers, and
at worst, never had an adult with whom to bond.

We were lucky. Sara came to us with a memory of strong primary
attachments to both her birthmother and birthfather. She also
came with the history of having been abandoned by those parents,
with no explanation of why she had to go or why she was the one
so chosen. In her four years at the orphanage, she did not find
one adult who took care of more than her physical needs. She was
not about to trust that we would truly be there and remain. She
had also perfected a number of survival skills-a defensive
prickliness and pushing-away behaviors-that could make it hard
for someone to want to bond with her.

When I watch Sara's adoption video now, several things jump out
at me. The first is how often I allowed Sara to walk with, hold
hands with, be given things, and be comforted by our guide,
rather than me or her father. The second realization is how my
energy was focused on caring for two-year-old Mia, not Sara.

We should have been doing all the care-taking. I should have been
holding Sara's hand, not a shopping bag. Mia could have been
cared for by her brother. Those first moments, when Sara was most
afraid and vulnerable, were golden opportunities to establish us
as the ones she could turn to, and to establish me as her mom.

"When adopting from Ukraine, you have the unique opportunity to
spend time with your Ukrainian adopted child in their
environment. The first days and weeks are critical. Build trust
with your child by always keeping your word and your promises. Be
on time for all your meetings with your child. Remind them you
will be there tomorrow, and be sure to warn them in advance if
you will have to miss a day. You need to show your newly adopted
child from the very beginning that you will be there for them
always and they can trust you to be there."

"Remember you are the parent. You need to set rules and
limitations right away. Be careful not to allow a child to do
things while you are with them in Ukraine that you will not allow
at home. That double standard will be hard for the child to
understand. Remember, it will be a dramatic and possibly
traumatic change to a totally new living environment when you
return to the States. Be as consistent as possible with your
parenting. The more you can keep consistent and unchanged, the
easier the transition will be for your newly adopted Ukrainian
child."

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Events:

Ukrainian Adoption Information Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Free Ukrainian Adoption Presentation: Saving Time, Money and Emotional Energy

Have you considered international adoption? Ukraine was the
5thgreatest source of adopted children in the U.S. in 2011, yet
many parents who consider adoption have never heard about this
European country's adoption program. The first step towards
adoption is attending one of our free information meetings. At
the meeting Susan Kibler, adoptive Mom and Ukrainian Adoption
Specialist, will provide detailed information about all Adoption
Services International's Ukrainian adoption program and services,
as well as the unique challenges and opportunities that
international adoption provides for both children and their
prospective parents. We encourage an open, judgment free question
and answer session to answer any concerns and inquiries.

Join us Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New
Jerseyhttp://www.mapquest.com/?le=t&q=133+Rupell+Road%2C++Clinton+NJ+US&maptype=map&vs=directions

To find out more visit us
at:www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

To register in advance:

info@asi-adoption.com

Kathy@TheAdopteeCoach.com

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Adoption Services International:

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of western
quality service (including a maximum guaranteed adoption fee),
personal adoption experience, affordable local cost and 20 years
Ukrainian experience.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

powered by eggzack.com

Friday, November 16, 2012

Key To Successful Ukrainian Adoptions: Not Age Or Trauma, But Secure Stable Parental Bond

Documentary says science can improve adoption success, by
changing parenting habits and teaching children to love

A new documentary film suggests that older adopted children can
be taught tolove, and that this can result in more
successfuladoption. New research, shown in the film documentary
'The Dark Matter Of Love' suggests that love can 'rewire' the
brains of older children, as long as their adoptive parents can
get over the unhealthyparentinghabits they've inherited from
their own parents.

(PRWEB UK) 13 November 2012

A new documentary film suggests that older adopted children can
be taught tolove, and that this can result in more
successfuladoption. New research, shown in the film documentary
'The Dark Matter Of Love' suggests that love can 'rewire' the
brains of older children, as long as their adoptive parents can
get over the unhealthyparentinghabits they've inherited from
their own parents.

Statistics show that around 20% of the 3,200 UK adoptions every
year will fail, with the figure rising to 30% with olderchildren.

Dr Robert Marvin, whose work is featured in 'The Dark Matter Of
Love' has spent a lifetime developing a programme designed to
help adoptive families connect.

"A lot of the work focuses on helping the parent overcome the
unhealthy relationship habits they've inherited from their Mum
and Dad that are preventing them from giving their adoptive child
what they need," Professor Marvin explains.

"It isn't the age of adoption or the severity of the trauma the
child has endured, the biggest factor in determining the success
of adoptions is whether the parents are capable of having a
secure, stable bond with the child."

The 90 minute feature documentary about a family going through Dr
Marvin's intervention is set to release early next year. The film
follows Claudio and Cheryl Diaz as they adopt three Russian
children, an eleven-year-old girl and two twin five-year-old
boys.

Claudio inherited a very strict style of parenting from his
father and his controlling tendencies prevent him from forming a
bond with his new kids. Cheryl's mother never encouraged her, so
Cheryl struggles to appreciate her children's achievements.
Through intensive work with Dr Marvin, both Claudio and Cheryl
manage to overcome their habitual behaviours and to form real
meaningful bonds with their new children.

When Masha, the Diaz's new 11 year old daughter, starts to
connect with her parents she blossoms in every area of her
development. Her school work improves, she starts to share her
secrets with her new mother, and she makes friends at school.

Director of 'The Dark Matter Of Love' Sarah McCarthy explains:
"Love is they key to every area of human development. Scientists
at the University of Minnesota can predict with 77% accuracy
whether an 18-month-old child will graduate high school based on
the quality of its relationship with Mum. It's a more accurate
predictor than IQ."

"Evolution has hard wired us to love. Recent experiments with
monkeys and owls have revealed that brains can be re-wired much
later than originally thought. Masha rewired her brain, she
learned to love. If more adoptive parents worked on their own
emotional baggage we wouldn't have to have 640 broken hearted
children returning to our care systems every year," Sarah
continued.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The film has already received support from high profile
documentary film maker Morgan Spurlock, and has been voted
'project of the week' by independent film website Indiewire.com.

Further information about the movie The Dark Matter Of Love can
be found
athttp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darkmatterlove/the-dark-matter-of-love-0.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Gender Preferences in Ukrainian Adoption: Snips and Snails vs. Sugar and Spice

Why do so many American families wish to adopt girls rather than
boys? What were your feelings before and after adopting about the
differences in genders and gender preference?

By Dawn at Creating a Family

The old nursery rhyme presents the choice quite succinctly: you
can have snips, snails, and puppy dog tails (presumably along
with tailless dogs) or you can have sugar, spice and all things
nice. Most adoptive parents prefer sugar and spice. Adoption
agencies, both domestic and international, tell me that if given
a choice, 75-80% of adoptive parents prefer to adopt girls. It's
a sad irony that there are more boys available for adoption than
girls. Interestingly, numerous researcher have found that
parents expecting a child by birth prefer a boy, at least for
their first child. Issues like this intrigue me, so I've spent
more time than I'd like to admit thinking about why adoptive
parents prefer to adopt girls.

Women are usually the drivers in the adoption process and many
women prefer to parent girls. As with most issues of the heart,
the reasons aren't entirely clear. They may want to enjoy the
same gender specific activities and toys of their childhood, or
they think they will have a better handle on how to raise girls,
having been one themselves. Single woman often prefer girls
because they believe it will be easier to raise a daughter
without a father. But I think the reason may be deeper. I
believe that many women are afraid of raising boys, assuming that
boys are more active, disruptive, loud, and dirty; and that
teenage boys will engage in more risky or challenging behavior.

There isn't a lot of research on parental gender preference, but
the limited research that is available shows that many women
think that their husbands are also more comfortable raising a
girl. Dr. Kristine Freeark, a clinical psychologist specializing
in adoption and a professor at the University of Michigan, notes
that the perception of what the husband wants is a very
influential factor in preferring a girl. She points out that her
research does not address whether this perception is accurate.

The matriarchal nature of our society may also play a role. It
is more often the daughters that are the keepers of the family
traditions, planners of the family reunions, and schedulers of
the grandparent visits. Parents may subconsciously be trying to
position themselves on the inside track with their adult child's
family.

Daughters are also more likely to be the caregivers for aging
parents. As my husband, Peter, so inelegantly tells our kids,
"In a couple of years I'm going to need someone to wipe the drool
off my chin and one of you will be the lucky one." (He says this
to both our sons and daughters who are equally disgusted at the
thought.) We all know exceptions to this generalization, and we
expect that our son will be one of these exceptions; but, perhaps
on a subconscious level, parents may think daughters are a surer
bet for being old-age drool wipers.

There is also what I call the "China doll" effect. Girls,
especially Asian and Latino girls, are sometimes perceived as
pretty little dolls to be dressed up and looked at. They often
receive attention for their looks and parents may enjoy the
reflected glory. Don't misunderstand me: life is undoubtedly
easier for the attractive and enjoying your child's beauty and
the compliments they receive is fine. I think, however, it helps
to acknowledge if this is part of the motivation for wanting a
girl since not all girls gracefully fit this stereotype. You may
get one of the rough and tumble, nose-picking variety. Even if
your daughter fits the bill, you will have the added challenge of
helping her understand that she is more than her looks; she is
also smart, strong, and capable.

The reverse of the China doll syndrome is the "scary minority
adolescent male" syndrome. I think male teens have a negative
image in our society, and this is especially the case with
minority males. Parents may have this stereotype in mind when
thinking about parenting a black, Hispanic or Asian boy. Plus,
President Obama not withstanding, there are not as many positive
male role models in the media for Latinos, Asians, and African
Americans. It is hard for many parents to imagine parenting
Jackie Chan.

And then there is the cuddle factor. Most parents begin the
adoption journey after spending years dealing with infertility.

These years of pent up desire for a child to hold and nurture can
feed the desire to adopt a girl since girls are perceived as
being more affectionate and responsive to cuddling. Further, our
society discourages doting on boys. One woman I talked to summed
it up well, "It is more socially acceptable to spoil a girl, and
quite frankly, I want to do some spoiling."

The family name has traditionally been passed through the males
of a family and some families are less willing to have a male
outside their blood line carry the name into future generations.

Most liberated modern folks don't consciously subscribe to this
belief, but on an unconscious level they may be vulnerable or may
think that grandparents will be more accepting of an adopted
daughter since she would have less impact on the family name.

My View from the Trenches

Before starting my family I definitely sided with the sugar and
spice side in the battle of the sexes. Now, two sons and two
daughters later, I have a different view. While I would never
deny that there are differences between boys and girls, my
experience and research shows that there are more differences
within a gender than there are between the genders. Also, the
"easiest" has more to do with the personality of the child and
the parent than on the gender. The child that we find easiest to
raise is usually the child that fits the best with our
personality.

While the loudest of my children is a boy, one daughter is a
close second. The calmest of my children is a boy. The most
talkative of my kids is a boy, but the one who talks most freely
about emotions is a girl. I should also add that the one least
likely to share her emotions is the other girl. By far the
sweetest of all my kids is a boy (at least that was the case
until he turned 13, but I've concluded that all 13 year olds are
developmentally incapable of being sweet, and I still have hope
that he'll revert to his sweet self when he is older). All four
of mine are slobs and pack rats. All four hated showers,
brushing teeth, changing underwear, and all other forms of
personal hygiene until the appeal of the opposite sex beckoned.

I haven't seen much difference in parental anxiety in the teen
years based on the gender of the child. I worry about them all,
and the one I worry about the most changes daily. If forced to
pick, I'd have to say that the "hardest" is one son, but the
"easiest" is the other son-so far at least. But I still have one
daughter left to go, so all bets are off.

Undeniably, girls are more fun to dress until they develop a
fashion sense of their own (and I use the word "fashion" quite
loosely), which usually hits around the age of five. From that
point on they are harder and more expensive to dress. As they
age, you find yourself forced to ask questions such as "Who in
their right mind would pay that much for a pair of jeans?" and
"Where, outside of a red light district, would you wear that?"

I now feel blessed to have children of both genders and of all
different personality types. The "easiest" varies depending on
developmental stage (mine and theirs) and personality (mine and
theirs). For me, a little snail and tail mixed with my sugar and
spice is the best of all worlds.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Ukrainian Adoptive Families: Upcoming Event Russian Festival Nov. 17 Western Michigan U.

Bring your Ukrainian adopted children to this amazing Russian
Festival!

KALAMAZOO, MI -The annual Kalamazoo Russian Festival will
conclude a week of international events as Western Michigan
Universitycelebrates International Education week.

More than 1,000 guests, performers and vendors who are
enthusiastic about Russian culture are expected to attend the
event, which features art exhibits, concerts, folk dancers and
singers, crafts, Russian food, children's activities, and a
silent auction.

State Rep. Sean McCann will give opening remarks at 9 a.m. and
various activities will be taking place until 5 p.m. at the
Fetzer Center on Saturday, Nov. 17.

The event will feature a pysanki egg workshop, where guests can
learn about what the decorated eggs symbolize and how to create
their own. At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Marshall Academy high school
students will be performing an adaptation of Pushkin's "The
Golden Cockerel," a fairy tale about a love-stricken tsar who
ignores his kingdom.

The Russian Festival is the final event of WMU's International
Education Week festivities.Student cultural groups are hosting
quiz bowls, panel discussions, dining events and soccer
tournaments throughout the week on campus.

Admission to the Russian festival is $2 for children age 12 and
under, $6 with a student ID, $10 for adults, and $20 for a family
pass.

For more information, visit

russianfestival.org

or contact Judith Rypma

atrypmaj@wmich.edu

or

(269) 387-2628

ContactUrsula Zerilliat

uzerilli@mlive.com

269-254-5295

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Au Pair Agency Partners With Ukrainian Adoption Firm Adoption Services International

Au Pairs come from another country for a year to care for
American children and many families who have adopted children
from another country are trying desperately to find a way to
preserve their child's unique culture and language. For this
reason, Go Au Pair recently teamed with Adoption Services
International (ASI) to support their intercultural adoptions. As
November isNational Adoption monththey are trying to get the word
out about this unique partnership.

Many times parents will look out of country to adopt because in
the United States competition can be tough. Once a family decides
to adopt out of country there are a whole new set of challenges.
The Adoption Institute has shown one of the challenges with
cross-cultural matches is the adopted child will struggle with
their identity, which may cause a lack of confidence and
depression.

"An Au Pair is proud of their own culture. They will bring a
different perspective the American families cannot provide," said
Susan Kibler, director of ASI. "For the children placed in US
homes, knowing about their own culture builds confidence instead
of making them feel different or ashamed of their skin color or
background."

If an Au Pair has the same nationality as the adopted children,
she is able to keep or teach the children their native language,
introduce them to traditional food, and educate them about their
heritage."The Au Pair helps the whole family to have broader
exposure to their children's native culture," said Polina
Kravets, Representative for Go Au Pair's service area in New
Jersey. "I frequently witness families bond with their Au Pairs
through this amazing program and develop life-long friendships."

Bringing in an Au Pair is more affordable than using a nanny and
will save the family the hassle of needing to search out groups
or individuals with their child's same heritage in their area.

"I am such a supporter of Go Au Pair and the services they can do
for both adopted children and their families," said Kibler. "I
think their services could help a lot of parents and families who
would otherwise struggle after adoption."

Go Au Pair is one of the original Au Pair Program sponsors
designated by the department of State in 1989.There are Go Au
Pair representatives in over 50 countries on six different
continents and in more than 100 American cities. Their company
headquarters is in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Adoption Services International unities orphaned Ukrainian
children with loving American families through affordable
independent Ukrainian adoption. ASI's company offices are in New
Jersey.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Adopting An Older Child: What We Wish We Had Known About Giving Our Child Some Say

The majority of children adopted from Ukraine are not infants.
They are children with personalities and a past. In this article
a mom and her daughter, adopted at age 9, share lessons learned
about older child adoption in this beautiful article.

Every child is unique and every adoption and family experience
will be different. However, as an adopted parent of an older
child much of this story resonates with me.

Since it is a very long piece, I have broken it up into segments.
My comments are in "quotes". Enjoy.

What We Wish We Had Known

By Judy and Sara Myerson

I did not really have a chance to say yes.

When they told me there was a family from America who wanted to
adopt me and asked if I wanted to be adopted, of course I said
yes. When they gave me photos of my new house, family and
friends, everything looked so nice. I felt special; everyone
treated me differently and paid attention to me.

When my new family came, I was excited and scared. As soon as I
met them, I left with them and was adopted. Other children had
gotten to visit with their new family, then the family left and
came back again the next day. I thought that was going to happen
to me too. But, I never had a chance to go back, think, and talk
to my friends about it. I never really got to know this family,
to say no or yes to this adoption. I would have said yes, but I
would have liked to have been able to choose.

"This is a really important point. When adopting from Ukraine,
you as adoptive parents get this great opportunity to spend time
with your adopted child. Make sure if they want to spend time in
their group with their friends once in a while, you let them, and
don't feel slighted. There were times my son said, "can I play
with my friends for a little bit?" I sat and spoke with his
caregivers and watched him interact with the other children. It
was great to see his personality come out in a group."

"I highly suggest having a small going away party for your
Ukrainian adopted child and his or her friends or group. Ask the
caregivers what is appropriate. Don't go overboard, listen to
their advice. However, if you have ideas, please bring them up.
We bought play mobile phones for all the kids once the caregivers
agreed that would be okay."

Children in placement and in orphanages are kids whom things
happen to. They have been abandoned, neglected, and mistreated.
They've been removed from families, sent off with new ones,
placed in orphanages and group homes by adults, usually without
explanation, preparation, or warning. They do not get to choose
much of what happens to them, often growing up feeling powerless.

To Sara, her adoption was merely one more thing that happened to
her. We should have insisted that Sara have several visits with
us prior to adopting her. At the very least, we could and should
have allowed Sara the opportunity to say yes (or possibly no!) to
us.

"While we all want to get back to the States as fast as possible
with our newly adopted Ukrainian child, those weeks we spend with
them before and after court mean a lot. Give your child every
chance to make decisions. Start by offering just 2 choices
though, because having not been used to choosing anything, too
many choices can be overwhelming. They can be what he or she
wants to read, eat or play with. It starts to give them a feeling
of control."

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Events:

Ukrainian Adoption Information Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Huge New Jersey Consignment Sale! Perfect For Winter/Holiday Clothing for Your Adopted Child!

Get a JUMP on your HOLIDAY shopping at Kidzsignments!NOVEMBER
15-1776 ReavilleAvenueFlemington, NJ

Our event this week will feature gently-used children's clothing
and shoes for the winter season as well as toys, books, DVDs,
electronics, infant gear, accessories, games, puzzles, outdoor
toys and more!

PLUS, NEW for this sale, ladies designer handbags and women's
shoes!

Shoppers will be able to choose from thousands of items priced up
to 90% off retail prices.

Fall/Holiday Children's Consignment Sale!

Public SaleThursday- 11/15 -9 am -8 pmFriday- 11/16 - 9 am
-7pmHALF PRICE SALESaturday, 11/17 -10 am - 6 pm(most items half
price on Saturday)(next to McDonalds)76 Reaville
AvenueFlemington, NJ08822Due to limited space we cannot allow
shopping strollers inside

DO YOU WANT TO SHOP?Just mark your calendars! Everyone is welcome
to shop the public sale beginning at 9:00 am on Thursday,
November 15th! There is no entrance fee and passes are not
required at the public sale. You will find amazing bargains on
all types of infant and children's items at a fraction of retail
prices! Shop from thousands of gently-used (and new) clothing,
shoes, toys, books, DVDs, infant gear, holiday decor, furniture,
outdoor toys and more!

HOW CAN YOU ATTEND THE PRIVATE PRE-SALE?KIDZSIGNMENTS VIP
PRE-SALE PASSES ARE AVAILABLE!

Don't have time to consignor volunteer? We sell VIP Pre-Sale
Passes so that you can shop at the pre-sale before the public
sale. Anyone can purchase a pre-sale pass, but we do limit the
number available.One VIP Pre-sale pass admits 2 parents of the
same child or one parent and one grandparent.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Ukrainian Adoption Presentation and The Adoption Process Stress vs Ease

Thank you to all who came out last night to learn more about
Ukrainian Adoption. Thank you to The Califon Book Shop for
hosting and Evey's Creations for the desserts.

For anyone who missed the program, we have an event November
28th. Information is below. If you can't make these, please let
us know dates that would work for you. We are also planning a
webinar with similar content.

The Califon Book Shop put together a list of recommended adoption
reading for adoptive parents and adopted children. Please like us
on Facebook to get a copy.

The Califon Book Shop also has signed copies of Kathy Vervan
Bugglin's new book just released today!Ready, Aim, Soar!The
Expert Insights System for Business Growth and Success in the
21st Century

Thanks to all!

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

powered by eggzack.com

Adoptee Coach Kathy Vervan Bugglin’s Book "Ready, Aim Soar!" Is Released Today!

We are pleased to announce that the Adoptee Coach herself, Kathy
Vervan Bugglin's book Ready, Aim, Soar!The Expert Insights System
for Business Growth and Success in the 21st Centuryis released
today!

To get a free preview and Kindle version for only .99 cents today
only, please visit NOW

http://tinyurl.com/RASoar.

• Discover a thought-provoking forward from bestselling author
and "Buddha of the Internet" Dr. Joe Vitale, filled with honest
answers and insightful solutions that provide clarity and
creative ideas for those who are keen to take their business and
their personal lives to the next level.

• Become a 21st Century Visionary. Dream University CEO/Founder
Marcia Weider who has written 14 books and assisted 3 U.S
presidents explains simple ways to breakthrough boundaries and
achieve goals.

• Get Connected on Facebook. Mari Smith one of the world's
leading experts on using Facebook as a marketing tool to increase
brand reach and profit reveals how to focus and maximize social
media for unprecedented business success.

This ground breaking book is just released today. To celebrate,
for the next 24 hours, get your Kindle version for .99cents. Be
one of the first to enjoy a free preview of Ready, Aim, Soar! and
share your review on Amazon.

https://www.createspace.com/4041464

P.S. Discover the success secrets of all forty 21st Century
business experts, receive over $1000 in bonuses and resources
while providing hope to the homeless: 100% of the Amazon launch
profits go to Operation Y.E.S.! Your bonus gifts await you in the
book at

http://tinyurl.com/RASoar

Kathy A. Vervan Bugglin will be presenting with me at the
upcoming event below:

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

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National Military Association Offers Active US Military Assistance For Ukrainian Adoptionsld!

For military families who want to share their home with a child
who needs loving parents, the National Military Association
provides military families with adoption benefits. These include
reimbursement of certain expenses, eligibility for extra leave to
complete the adoption, and access to military health care for the
adopted child before the adoption is final.

The child may be adopting a step-child, a child from foster care,
a newborn, or traveling to a foreign country to adopt a child.

There are challenges unique to the military lifestyle. Some state
agencies may be reluctant to work with military families because
of biased thinking that the military lifestyle may not be stable
enough for the child. The National Military Association provides
resources that can help with those challenges.

For general information on adoption support for active military
go to:

http://www.militaryfamily.org/your-benefits/adoption/

For information on eligibility for reimbursement go to:

http://www.militaryfamily.org/assets/pdf/Qualifications-for-Reimbursement.pdf

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Event:

The Ukrainian Adoption Process: Informational Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

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Monday, November 12, 2012

Stop Asking Adopted Kids If We Want To Find Our Real Parents!

I love this article! I grew up with several close friends who
were adopted, and it was just no big deal. Whether they were from
Ukraine or MA, everyone knew who their parents were, the ones
they ate and slept with every night. As the author states, this
view is now somewhat controversial, but I think it should not be
dismissed.

Adopted children, what do you think?

Enjoy, Susan

By Marianna

Everyone looks at a photo of our family and would say we look
like a Benetton ad. All of my siblings, including myself, were
each born on a different continent: Asia, Europe, North America
and South America.

My sister was born in Thailand; I was born in Chile, my oldest
sister in England, and my brother in Michigan.

We were one of the only families in our school with adopted kids.
My older sister wasn't adopted, and my little brother wasn't
either. Just me and my other older sister.

Now. It's cool to be adopted. I tell people my parents were the
ORIGINAL Brangelina, picking up kids from random countries and
giving us a better life. And they did. I think that adopted
kids should have a secret handshake or one of those cool rings
like Green Lantern. So that way we know who's adopted and who's
not. Because unlike non-adopted kids, our parents actually did
CHOO-CHOO-CHOOSE us.

Also. We know we are adopted. Even if our parents didn't tell
us, I'd hope that we were smart enough to see that me being 5'3
with dark hair and my mom being 5'10 with blonde hair, that
something was up. People who are adopted usually know that they
are adopted. So stop acting like it's some after school special
secret.

Speaking of which: I hate that in the 80's, TV shows made people
totally weird about adopted kids. We are not all like Webster or
Different Strokes.

Or there's always that dumb episode of every sitcom where a minor
character finds out he or she was adopted (at age 18 of course!)
and then goes and finds the birth parents. READ: Skippy from
Family Ties, Steve Sanders on Beverly Hills 90210 and I'm pretty
sure there had to have been a "very special" episode of Saved by
the Bell.

I wish TV and films would stop doing that. I love Wes Anderson
to death, but when he made the two main characters in The Royal
Tenenbaums fall in love, and it was supposedly okay because Margo
was adopted, I was sick to my stomach.

What I want people to know is that we aren't any different from
you. My siblings are just that -- my siblings. I don't think of
them as anything else.

The only real difference between adopted kids and not adopted
kids are the following things:

- Feeling pretty punk rock that when I go to the Doctor it takes
me half the time it takes other people to fill out those forms,
because for the part of family history, I simply write "ADOPTED"
across the top. Time saver for sure.

- In science class in 6th grade when you get to the DNA part and
you figure out the breakdown of your father's DNA and your mom's
and why you are how you are, you just sit that one out. Maybe
read quietly or sit outside in the hall.

-You have nobody that looks like you.

- Having people think your 6'6 blonde brother is your boyfriend.

GROSS! I will usually loudly say "Hey MOM called; you gotta call
OUR MOM BACK!" if there's a cute guy at the table near us. So he
knows, "ah, that's her brother!"

What bothers me about people who find out I'm adopted is that
they always have the most typical response, "Do you want to find
your real mom?" Are you serious!?

My real mom is an accomplished author and teacher. That's my mom.
There's no such thing as a REAL mom and a fake mom. Sure,
there's my birthmom, but I don't ever care or think about her.

She did a very selfless thing to give me up, so why would I want
to bug her? That's incredibly selfish of me. My dad, he's
British and is an Architect and is one of the nicest people ever
and is one of the hardest working people I've ever met. Those
are my REAL parents. So when you ask me if I want to find my
REAL parents, I'll simply tell you they live in Michigan.

My view is a controversial one. I don't think adopted kids should
seek out their birth parents. It's selfish. It's rude. You're
gonna break her heart just because you are curious? It would not
only break my REAL parents' hearts, but who knows what kind of
life she has gone on to lead?

Sometimes birthmoms have moved on and have entire families of
their own who never knew about the baby they gave up.

Please. People. Stop asking adopted kids if we want to find our
parents! You've been asking me that my entire life! Are you
serious!? I'd be dead of starvation, or poor on the streets of
Santiago if it weren't for my parents. I have the best life and
the best family anyone could ever have asked for. I got so
incredibly lucky. Kids who are adopted got the best thing of
all. They got unconditional love from people who chose to have
more kids because they had so much love to give.

I always tell people "Sure, your mom gave you life." But my mom?
Gave me A life.

By Marianna

Marianna has been living in Chicago for the past 5 years after
moving from Los Angeles. She travels extensively as a Mobile
Marketing Tour Manager, and works behind the scenes as Crew for
Feature Films.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Events:

Ukrainian Adoption 101:

Conversation On International Adoption: Opportunity, Process,
Concerns and Questions

Monday, November 12, 2012 6:00-7:00PM

Location: Califon Book Store: 72 Main Street, Califon, New Jersey
07830

Ukrainian Adoption Information Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

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Friday, November 9, 2012

Considering Ukrainian Adoption? Free Adoption Presentations: The Adoption Process: Stress vs Ease

Adoption Presentations In Celebration of National Adoption
Awareness Month

Ukrainian Adoption 101 and The Adoption Process: Stress vs Ease

Join Us: Monday, November 12, 2012 6:00-8:00PM

Location: Califon Book Shop: 72 Main Street, Califon, NJ 07830

Ukrainian Adoption 101:

Conversation On International Adoption: Opportunity, Process,
Concerns and Questions

With over 24,000 children available for international adoption,
Ukraine is the 5thgreatest source of adopted children in the US
in 2011, yet many parents considering adoption have never heard
about this European adoption program.

Have you or someone close to you considered international
adoption? Learn more by attending one of our free information
meetings. At the meeting, Susan Kibler, adoptive Mom and
Ukrainian Adoption Specialist will provide detailed information
about all Adoption Services International's Ukrainian adoption
program and services, as well as the unique challenges and
opportunities that international adoption provides for both
children and their prospective parents. We encourage an open,
judgment free question and answer session to answer any concerns
and inquiries.

Adoption Process: Stress vs. Ease

Coaching, What's In It For You? Everything!

We will discuss what coaching is and isn't. As someone who has
been adopted, I bring a unique perspective to the journey of
discovering who we are, where we belong and what each of us
desires to be.

The process of adoption can surface many emotions; fear of
rejection, excitement over the possibilities, and anxiety over
the process, and wondering if your child will accept this new
family unit. Decisions: fear or confidence based, who is making
that choice?

Join in a casual conversation on ways to prepare yourself for all
the thoughts, emotions, and "what if" scenarios you may
experience during the process of adoption and how coaching can
assist you along the way.

Details:

Join Us: Monday, November 12, 2012 6:00-8:00PM

Location: Califon Book Shop: 72 Main Street, Califon, New Jersey
07830 (www.califonbookshop.com)

To find out more visit us
at:www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

To register in
advance:info@asi-adoption.comorKathy@TheAdopteeCoach.com

Presenters:

Adoption Services International:

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of western
quality service (including a maximum guaranteed adoption fee),
personal adoption experience, affordable local cost and 20 years
Ukrainian experience.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

The Adoptee Coach of Self Reflection Coaching LLC:

Adopted into a loving family as an infant, Kathy has traveled a
personal journey of courage and curiosity. When seeking a coach
that incorporates a love for life, reassurance and ability to
inspire others, and the passion to make this her life's work,
Kathy will partner with you through the process.

Through Kathy's own journey of self-discovery and experiences,
she has accessed areas that once were dark and unknown that now
are filled with light and clarity. She knows the fear, pain, and
guilt associated with having been adopted and wanting to know her
heritage. Kathy had been best described by her clients as someone
who radiates "pure love" and that shines through in her coaching.

You can:

· Overcome fear and doubt by becoming more open and trusting

· Make clear decisions

· Come to peace

· Transform relationships

· Set goals and design a life you love

Anyone with a strong desire and willingness to take action can
transform their lives.

Kathy Vervan Bugglin, CPC, ELI-MP:

www.TheAdopteeCoach.com

Kathy@TheAdopteeCoach.com

(908) 797-4893

http://www.facebook.com/TheAdopteeCoach

Look for Kathy in the soon to be released book "Ready, Aim, Soar"
on Amazon.

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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Ukrainian And International Adoption: Post Adoption Depression And What You Can Do

Unfortunately too few people know or discuss the possibility of
post adoption depression. After years of working so hard to bring
this precious Ukrainian child home, you ask how you ever could
have these negative feelings. As this article notes, over 65% of
adopting mothers experience post adoption depression.

Learn about post adoption depression, its symptoms and what you
can do in this piece.

Enjoy!

Post Adoption Depression: The Unacknowledged Hazard In Adoption

by Harriet McCarthy

There is a crisis of epidemic proportion within the International
Adoption Community. It has the potential to compromise the health
and well-being of many adoptive families. Known as Post Adoptive
Depression or PAD, it affects over 65 percent of adopting mothers
according to a recent survey by the Eastern European Adoption
Coalition (EEAC), yet goes unacknowledged or unrecognized by
agencies, social workers, and most of the medical community.

Post Delivery Depression, long recognized as an expected part of
normal pregnancy and delivery is an issue that is openly
discussed and well understood by the medical community and the
public. Estimates vary, but between fifty to eighty percent of
mothers who have given birth will experience the mildest form of
PDD called "The Baby Blues" according to Depression After
Delivery, Inc. Of those, approximately ten percent will suffer a
more serious form of Postpartum Depression which is of longer
duration and has moresymptoms. The cause of both these
manifestations is attributed to hormone changes and imbalances.
Families, physicians, and caretakers are alert forsymptomsand
offer unconditional support to new mothers during this usually
brief crisis.

The public and medical attitudes toward PDD are a far cry from
the silence and secrecy that surround a much more pervasive
problem - Post Adoption Depression Syndrome (PADS) which is a
term coined by June Bond in her Spring 1995 article for Roots and
Wings Magazine. For those of us who are part of the International
Adoption Community, in particular parents of orphanage children,
we have the added complication of adopting children who are
almost always older than newborns and have been in an
institutional setting. In many cases, our new children are
toddlers to school-aged, and their histories and language issues
add an extra dimension to the possibility of their new adoptive
mothers developing PADS.

Over the past seven years, I have been intimately connected to
the international adoption community as adoptive mother to three
older Russian boys, as a member of the Eastern European Adoption
Coalition (EEAC), as Co-Owner and moderator for the Parent
Education and Preparedness List at www.eeadopt.org, and as
founder and Co-Chair of Piedmont Families Through International
Adoption. Post Adoption Depression has been a recurrent and
persistent issue in all my support experience. In the Fall of
1999, with the help of the EEAC which made our questionnaire
available on-line, I launched a survey to see just how prevalent
an issue PADS really is. The results were troubling. Our survey
was accessible by members of the AParentRuss-List and the
PEP-List whose combined membership now tops 3,100. Non-sufferers
of Post Adoption Depression were especially encouraged to answer
the survey. Of the 145 parents who responded, over 65% said they
experienced Post Adoption Depression, yet only 8 people reported
they had been advised by their social workers or agencies that
this syndrome even existed. Preparation by those agencies would
have been helpful, according to 61% of all respondents, sufferers
and non-sufferers.

Why does PADS exist among the adoption community in such high
numbers? There are a host of very concrete and understandable
reasons. Most newly adoptive parents have spent literally years
struggling to get to the point of having a child to parent. Their
protracted and unfulfilled hopes, dreams, and longing may cause
unrealistic expectations about exactly what it will be like to be
a parent, and they are unprepared for the grief they feel when
reality confronts the child of their imaginations. New parents
may feel guilty about their feelings of ambivalence, resentment,
or anger toward their new child. The belief in instant bonding or
"love at first sight" is often an unrealistic one. Falling in
love with a child is much like falling in love with a future mate
-initial infatuation and euphoria give way to the lengthy and
often difficult process of adjusting to the day to day presence
of another human being. It often takes from two to six months for
a real sense of attachment to blossom according to many of the
posts of families who belong to EEAC. Being unprepared and
unsupported, new adoptive mothers who become depressed often try
to "tough it out" without asking for any help whatsoever. Many
mothers worry that if they advise their agency or social worker
(the ones they have spent months or years convincing of their
superior parenting skills) that they are experiencing difficulty,
those same agencies and social workers will think of them as
unfit parents and, in the worst case scenario, remove the new
child from their care. Consequently, a bad situation becomes
worse because of lack of understanding and support. First line
extended family support available to new birth mothers (and
fathers) is often totally missing for adoptive parents. In many
cases, after enduring years of disappointment with infertility,
family members don't understand why the new mother isn't
completely happy and content now that she finally has what she's
wanted for so long. Rather than disappoint and confound her
family, many new adoptive moms simply suffer in silence, filled
with shame and guilt, feeling themselves imperfect or selfish.

Our survey didn't ask for gender specifics from our respondents,
but we assume that most of the questionnaires were from women. An
unknown but very important issue is Post Adoptive Depression in
new fathers. Stress plays a major role in what we suppose to be
an equally prevalent issue. New adoptive fathers are usually the
ones to return to work sooner, and they have the added issue of
juggling job and new fatherhood simultaneously.

While all of the above issues pertain to all adoptive parenting,
our international community has additional components which load
the deck. In almost no case are we adopting newborns. Among other
things, we deal with grief over the loss of unknown histories and
missed bonding opportunities. We see our children for a very
brief time before the adoption is finalized and we often
"discover" disturbing surprises about our children's backgrounds
after the fact. Our older children come equipped with distinct
personalities, some of which meld smoothly into our families,
others of which are a jarring and daily reminder of our
differences. We adopt children who have experienced an almost
unimaginable amount of loss. We adopt children who have suffered
the effects of institutionalism, hospitalism, and global neglect.
We often adopt children with hidden academic, emotional,
neurological and medical needs. Frequently, newly adopted
children attach themselves to only one of the two parents,
leaving the other parent saddened and disappointed. Add to all
that the stress of out-of-country travel, jet lag, communication
difficulties with our older kids and foreign country hosts, sleep
depravation, and cultural shock. Our decks come loaded with the
potential for frustration, powerlessness, and worry - a perfect
prescription for the onset of depression.

When I reviewed the data concerning the length of time adoptive
parents suffered from PAD, a very disturbing picture emerged.
While most post delivery "Baby Blues" are of very short duration
(less than two weeks), 77% of survey participants with PAD
reported that they suffered theirsymptomsfrom two months to over
one year with 45% suffering for six months or more. 85% of
sufferers reported that their depression affected their health in
some way (serious weight gain/loss was followed by sleep
disturbances and headaches), 70% felt that PADS had interfered
with smooth transitions and bonding with their new children.
Clearly, Post Adoption Depression is a significant, multi-faceted
issue that needs to be acknowledged, better understood, and
unconditionally counseled and supported by the entire adoption
community!

How To Weather The Storm

Knowing that the probability of having PADS is significant will
give you a chance to prepare in the event that you are among the
majority who suffer with this syndrome. Preparation might include
discussing the possibility with your primary care provider as
well as your child's future pediatrician. Make sure your agency
is aware of the PADS and that they understand the dynamics and
prevalence of this issue. They should be prepared to support your
need to locate help and/or services should you need them. If you
have previously suffered from depression in your life, you are at
greater risk. Make sure your mental health care provider is
standing by in the event that you need support with medication
and counseling. Alert and educate your family and spouse. Explain
that you may all need extra emotional support the same way new
birth families do.

Dr. Bill and Martha Sears, The Baby Book lists several excellent
suggestions for the Postpartum family which are equally relevant
to Postadoptive families. When you finally arrive home from your
international trip with your new child(ren), make sure that you
have sufficient "nesting" time. Without guilt, hold visitors at
bay for a few weeks. The exception to this rule would be the one
designated family member or close friend who can provide domestic
help and support in order to give time for the new nuclear family
to learn about each other and start the bonding process. Before
you travel, investigate your company's adoption benefits and
maternity leave policy. Take the maximum allowable time before
trying to go back to work. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and
exercise. Fresh air and a brisk walk do wonders to mitigate mild
depression. Taking a child for a walk is one of life's greatest
inexpensive pleasures - fun for you, fun for your child, good for
bonding. If you are single or if your spouse is unavailable to
provide child care while you rest, arrange for a sitter who can
come in while you nap, run errands, or simply take care of
personal grooming.

New competence as a parent often means a deterioration of
competence in other areas of your life. Don't allow yourself to
feel guilty about less than perfect housework or a reluctance to
cook your usual gourmet fare. Plan to put most of your life "on
hold" while you settle in those first several weeks. If you know
letting things go might drive you mad with anxiety, have
alternate plans in place for others to take over for you with
housework or chores. Have a store of good frozen foods on hand to
help with meal preparation.

If you are married, one of the most profound changes that comes
with parenting is the change in your relationship with your
spouse. Prepare for that change and mitigate the negative impact
by setting aside some special times for the two of you to be
together without the new child. This is a vital part of
successful parenting - important to both of you, but also
important in the message it sends to your child. Your strong,
dependable relationship with one another is one of the greatest
gifts you provide to your new child. If you are fortunate enough
to have a secure and happy marriage prior to adoption, spend the
effort it takes to nurture and sustain it.

Preparation for PADS is the key to surviving it and shortening
its duration. Accept the fact that adoption carries some risk.
Expect surprises, frustrations, and setbacks with your new child
as part of international adoption. Celebrate if there are none!
Before your child comes home, take as many parenting classes as
you can. Expect to be a therapeutic parent. Bonding and
attachment are slow processes. Learn to be patient and give
yourself and your child the one-on-one time required for
attachment and bonding to grow. Your adoption journey doesn't
stop the day you bring your child home. That day is really only a
beginning. Plan for the continuation of your pre-adoption
emotional roller coaster ride for at least the first year. If you
have adopted a severely challenged child, plan on riding for two
years! Reach out for help. Be honest with your social worker and
agency. If you are having difficulties, tell them! You might be
pleasantly surprised at how helpful they can be, but they can't
help you if they don't know you're suffering. Join a support
group such as those available at HTTP://EEADOPT.ORG, or locally.
There are literally thousands of people ready to help and lend
support. Provide private time for yourself, your spouse, and your
other children. Keep stimulation, social, and work pressures to a
minimum for as long as you can. Ask your extended family and
friends for understanding and support. Accept your limitations
and don't be afraid to fail. We learn by making mistakes. If your
adoption situation proves particular difficult, remember to tell
yourself everyday that tomorrow will be better, because it
probably will be.

Most of all, know that what you are feeling is a normal response
to stress, that you are not alone, and that there is help for
this difficult phase of your adoption experience

Symptoms of Depression

Diagnostic Criteria From DSM-IV

Five or more symptoms in a two week period.

1. Depressed mood most of the day, everyday (feeling sad,
empty, or tearful) or feeling exceptionally irritable.

2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost
all activities.

3. Significant weight loss or weight gain, increase or
decrease in appetite.

4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.

5. Psycho motor agitation or retardation nearly every day
observable by others(restlessness or being slowed down).

6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate
guilt nearly every day.

8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or
indecisiveness nearly every day.

9. Suicidal thoughts or ideation.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of
professional, individualized, quality service (including a
maximum guaranteed adoption fee), personal adoption experience,
affordable local cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience.

If you or someone you love would like to expand your family,
provide a permanent home for a needy orphaned child, welcome a
sibling for an existing child or discover an alternative for
infertility treatments - contact us to learn more about Ukrainian
adoption, Adoption Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

https://www.facebook.com/ASI.Adoption

Upcoming Events:

Ukrainian Adoption 101:

Conversation On International Adoption: Opportunity, Process,
Concerns and Questions

Monday, November 12, 2012 6:00-7:00PM

Location: Califon Book Store: 72 Main Street, Califon, New Jersey
07830

Ukrainian Adoption Information Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:00-8:00PM

Location: Wellness Rocks: 133 Rupell Road, Clinton, New Jersey

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