So many people get so lost in the home studies and paper work of adoption. They loose track of some of the most important things.

One of which is getting your family used to the idea that there will be a new person moving into their lives.

This also goes for best friends and neighbors, aunts and uncles, grandparents and old college buddies. Just about anyone who is a big part of your family life. Right down to the local hang outs in town and your family hair stylist.

It just makes good since to let people around you know that you will soon have a new person in your family. So that it is a more comfortable transition for your new child and your community.

We waited about a month after our children were settled into our home. Then we sent out invitations to a Welcome Party. It was given in honor of our children joining our family. We had a big back yard BBQ and all of our relatives and close friends and church members came and met the children.

It was a day set aside for good family stories and a lot of good laughter. Filled with kids squirting water guns and jumping into the pool. While us older folk talked about life and how things were going to change for us all.

At the end of the Welcome Party. There were so many warm hugs and kisses going around, that We knew it had be a big success for everyone.

As we tucked the kids into bed that night we listened as they told us who was their favorite new relative and how much they liked this person or that person. For the next few weeks we got so many phone calls telling us how wonderful the kids were and how nice it was to meet them.

So after all the paper work is finished and you have some free time. It might be nice to plan things in advance for a Welcome Party for your new family member. Make sure you give them time to feel at home and to be settled in.

It can be a terrific ice breaker for everyone. The idea is to welcome your new child and to not overwhelm them. So make sure that the party has a time limit. That it is close friends and family that they will meet on a weekly basis. And....leave time for open discussion after it is all over with for you and your child to share the new experience.