Blogging is a personal online journal that is updated frequently and intended for general public consumption. You have certainly heard about the craze, but have you considered it as a tool in your social networking efforts? Adoptive families are using blogs not only to keep family and friends updated on their journey, but also to make themselves available to birth mothers surfing the internet. Blogging is the first of our social networking ideas that we will highlight for waiting adoptive parents. Read Wendy's thoughts below and then check out their blog.
by Wendy
In July of 2006, my husband and I decided that we wanted to start our family. We were really excited and talked a lot about baby names and what our child might look like. After trying to conceive for about a year with no success, we decided to see a specialist. As we began going through infertility treatment, I started looking online for information about what we were going through. I joined fertility-related chat boards and got to know others who were going through the same things that we were. Three years later, I am still in contact with some of the same people, even though we are at different points in the process. I discovered the world of blogging through many of these women. By reading their blogs, I was able to see that we were not alone in our struggle to have a baby.
In July of 2007, I decided to start my own blog. It began as a way for me to write about how I was feeling in an online journal. As I wrote about each step of our treatment, I was able to sort out my feelings. As I continued to write, other bloggers and non-bloggers began to read what I had written. These readers have become a great support system for me. I read their blogs as well.
After we moved from medical treatment to the world of domestic adoption, writing a blog became a way for me to document our journey to our child. I wrote about how we chose to work with Adoption Associates and how we completed the home study process. Now we are waiting to be chosen by expectant parents who are considering adoption. I have been writing about us being a waiting family. I always look forward to reading the comments and feedbacks I get after I write each post. It really helps me to feel connected to other people who are adopting. I have also been fortunate enough to “talk” online to a birthmother who also reads my blog. The waiting can be stressful. Many of the people who read my blog have offered a lot of wonderful advice about how to get through this time. The readers have also reminded me that it is important to focus on ourselves as a couple and to enjoy each step of our road to parenthood.
When I read some of my old posts, I am reminded of how much we have been through. My online friends have grieved our losses and celebrated our milestones with us. Every step of this journey, from making the decision to adopt to the present waiting period, has been a learning process. Blogging has, for me, been a valuable form of self-expression.
You can read my blog, Our Story: A Blog about Adoption, IVF, and Infertility at http://wendy-steve-andg3.blogspot.com/.
