Adoption Gifts

[Tink2000]

My dear friends will finally be adopting 2 children after 18 months of fostering them. I would like to get the family a gift for the special day. I am at a complete lost as to what to get, any ideas?

 

[hsembrick]

I don't know what you are wanting to spend but maybe a gift certificate at a photo studio like sears where they can get a "first" family photo made.

 

[honeydiane1953]

A beautiful picture frame is a great gift to hold their new family photo.

 

[kaywoody]

I'm adopted, and I have a poem that I had hanging in my hallway for many years. I usually reprint it on nice parchment type paper, and have it matted and framed for the new family.

TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE
Once there were two women,
who never knew each other.
One you do not remember,
the other you call Mother.
Two different lives
shaped to make yours one.
One became your guiding star,
the other became your sun.
The first gave you life,
the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love,
the second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality,
the other gave you a name.
One gave you the seed of talent,
the other gave you an aim.
One gave you emotions,
the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile,
the other dried your tears.
One gave you up.
It was all she could do.
The other prayed for a child,
and God led her straight to you.
And now you ask me through your tears,
the age-old question through the years:
Heredity or Environment -
which are you the product of?
Neither my darling, neither,
just two different kinds of love.


||Author Unknown||

 

[clh2]

Definitely a GC for a family photo!

 

[MomToOne]

Savings bonds always work. 8 years down the road from the adoption of my daughter, I am still holding onto a stack I received for her college education

Something simple like an offer of babysitting time from you might also be greatly appreciated, if the children are younger - having an "instant family" can be unimaginably exhausting and as much as you love them, sometimes you can use a few hours away to recharge your batteries. Give them a suggestion of a concrete day/time, so they realize you are serious about the offer.

If the kids are younger, a family membership to the local zoo, childrens museum, etc. is also good.

And if the kids are older, things like movie tickets or gift cards for other low-key family activities (minature golf, bowling, local amusement park) are good.

If you tell us the ages of the children, I might have more ideas.

 

[mommy4]

How wonderful for that family! We have an adopted daughter and one of the greatest gifts we recieved was a handmade frame of pictures of our daughter during the adoption process. It had her name and several quotes about adoption. It is beautiful!

All of the pp had great ideas too! Good luck!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I have several friends who have adopted and appreciated some version of photographer gift cert or a nice frame. I think that is what alot of people suggest though, too.

Another idea- how about something for them to go do as a family- gift certificate for some outing (amusement park? ball game? family friendly dinner?) or a family membership to a local zoo or children's museum/etc?

 

[SCADC]

We just adopted from Ukraine in March.

For my first Mother's Day, my mother-in-law gave me this framed poem:

The Chosen Heart

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew
A part of me was meant for you.

I think how happy we will be,
Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.

I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
Imagining even the littlest things.
The way it will feel to hold you tight,
And tuck you in every night.

The drawing on the refrigerator door,
And childhood toys across the floor.
The favorite stories read again and again,
And hours of games with make-believe friends.

The day you took my outstretched hand,
A journey ended, but our lives began.
Still mesmerized by your sweet face,
Still warmed inside by our first embrace.

I promised to give you a happy home,
And a loving family all your own.
A house you've now made complete,
With laughter, smiles, and tiny feet.

A parent is one who guides the way,
Know I will be there everyday.
Rest easy as each night you sleep,
A lifetime of love is yours to keep.

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me belonged to you.

(c) 1997 Teri Harrison

I agree - photography gift certificates would be nice also. Since they have been fostering, they probably have all of the clothes and toys that they need.

Maybe this poem in a frame - one that holds more than one photo so they can add photos of the family as well. - plus the gift certificate.

So happy for the adoptive family. There is nothing like it!

 

[Tink2000]

Thanks for all of the great ideas. The poems have brought tears to my eyes. I love the idea of a photo shot for the family. The children are 2 & 3 and they have been with this family since they were 6 months and 16 months. I am so excited for the family. We are both foster families and it does my heart good to see some good come out of what we see day to day with some of these children.

 

[MickeyCrazedMom]

I'm adopted, and I have a poem that I had hanging in my hallway for many years. I usually reprint it on nice parchment type paper, and have it matted and framed for the new family.

TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE
Once there were two women,
who never knew each other.
One you do not remember,
the other you call Mother.
Two different lives
shaped to make yours one.
One became your guiding star,
the other became your sun.
The first gave you life,
the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love,
the second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality,
the other gave you a name.
One gave you the seed of talent,
the other gave you an aim.
One gave you emotions,
the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile,
the other dried your tears.
One gave you up.
It was all she could do.
The other prayed for a child,
and God led her straight to you.
And now you ask me through your tears,
the age-old question through the years:
Heredity or Environment -
which are you the product of?
Neither my darling, neither,
just two different kinds of love.


||Author Unknown||

I am an adoptive mom and thought I had read all of the adoption poems out there - but you got me with this one. Thanks for a good cry this morning

 

[Jenn4615]

my kids are adopted... and this was my absolute favorite gift my little boy got! It was given to us on his finalization day...and had been worded as such on the block instead of the info shown below...

http://www.treasuredhavenfarm.com/images/BlocksMultiples1.jpg

 

[swilshire]

How about a gift certificate for a photobook from Shutterfly or Walgreens?

Sheila

 

[allie_to_you]

Congratulations. We are fostering a beautiful little boy right now that we would love more than anything in the world to adopt, but sadly its not looking like we'll get that opportunity which of course is heart-breaking, but I am happy for your family.

 

[thebeesknees]

Subbing to this thread - my friend is waiting to be matched with a baby, and there are some great ideas here!

 

[badblackpug]

How about a family membership to the zoo, a children's theater or museum, or a local amusement or water park?

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

My dear friends will finally be adopting 2 children after 18 months of fostering them. I would like to get the family a gift for the special day. I am at a complete lost as to what to get, any ideas?

I have a lot of friends who foster! That is so lovely they can adopt them!

I suggest starting them out with camping gear if they like the outdoors at all - a 6 person tend and 4 sleeping bags!

If they are indoor people something cool they can do as a family - family swim memberships, or something similar!

OR if they are beach people deck them out with a picnic set, big blanket, and beach toys!

 

[quentina]

We got an engraved frame that I love....it said:

The Snyder Family
Beautifully complete as of July 30,2008

Another thing that I loved was that someone made a donation to the special needs fund of the foster agency. This is used to send foster kids to summer camps, pools, dance lessons etc. Many foster parents cannot afford the extras. It was done in honor of my kids.