Should You Take Your Other Children Along?

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On the fence about taking along your existing child or children on an international adoption trip? Take a look at the list below. If you answer “no” to more than two, you might want to think twice before buying that extra plane ticket.

• Can you afford it?
• Will your adoption agency allow you to bring another child along?
• Will missed school not be a problem?
• Does your child enjoy trying new foods and having new experiences?
• Is your child well-behaved in novel or stressful situations?
• Is your child generally an easy-going little trooper?
• Would your child be comfortable with strangers frequently staring at, touching, or generally make a fuss over him or her?
• Is your child patient? Can your child keep him/herself entertained during long waits?
• Is your child a pleasure to travel with on family vacations or long car rides?
• Is your child responding well to the whole idea of adding a sibling to the family?
• Is your adopted child’s medical condition good?

Courtesy of Adoptive Families magazine

© Mary E. Petertyl