Self-Study DONE!!

We had to stay up past midnight on Thursday night, but we are DONE with the self-study and Jason dropped it off at the agency on Friday. We cannot tell you how happy we are to be done. The questions were very thought provoking, and very difficult to answer on paper. Here are some samples:

Personal History
Describe your childhood and adolescence. What memorable events stand out? How were you encouraged and disciplined? What methods of discipline were more and less effective? What was your relationship with your parents and siblings? How did you deal with the transition from adolescence to adulthood? Briefly describe your current job. What do you like best/least? Do you plan any changes? How important is it to your toal life? How would you describe your state of health? What kinds of illnesses have you had or do you have? Describe your use of tobacco, alcohol or medications. How have you handled infertility in your family? What do you do to promote your health/wellness and that of your family?
(Thus concludes question number one, only eighteen more of these to go.)

Current Relationships
Describe your spouse, including stengths and weaknesses. What would you like to change about them? Describe your marriage, including communication, roles, areas of conflict, handling of disagreements, decision-making process and feelings towards spouse's parents. How will adoption impact this relationship? How will you take care of and maintain your marital relationship?

Personal Characteristics
Describe yourself, including strengths and weaknesses. What would you like to change about yourself? How do you react when you feel unappreciated? How do you express feelings such as frustration, conflict, and anger?

Parenting Skills
Describe your parenting philosophy, experiences and skills. Include plans for discipline and nurturing. Describe future goals and aspirations that you have for your child. What about parenting gives you, or will give you satifaction? What parenting skills/techniques have you used before? Have you had prior experience with your local school system? Do you feel prepared to advocate for your child as needed?

Adoptive Parenting
a.) Please describe your personal experience with adoption.
b.) What motivated you to adopt? Please discuss infertility if applicable.
c.) Describe the attitude of your extended family and friends toward your adoption plan.
d.) How do you plan to talk to your future child and others about adoption?
e.) What do you think your feelings to your future child's birth parents will be?
f.) What are your fears, concerns, and hopes about parenting through adoption?

Each of these sections is considered ONE question. There were 19 questions in all. And NO! you may not read our answers, and we don't need any suggestions as to how we should have answered. :) Can you imagine completing all of these questions, packaging them up, and mailing them off to a total stranger who will decide your fate in becoming a future parent? [insert sarcastic comment here] Maybe we should take a poll - how many of you have, or would care to answer all of these questions for your family?

So the next step is to wait for our Social Worker to call us and set up an appoinment for our first interview for our homestudy. There are a total of two interviews - one at the angency and one at our house. It really feels great to have this step done!