Can I Still Meet the Adoptive Family During COVID-19?

Meeting your child’s future adoptive family, whether at the hospital or before the big day, is an exciting and nerve-wracking occasion for any prospective birth parent. But, with COVID-19 putting in-person gatherings on hold for the moment, it’s understandable to worry about what that means for your adoption plans.

You’re probably asking: What happens if I won’t see the adoptive parents at the hospital? What if they don’t arrive by the time the baby gets here? What if I don’t enough time to get to know them?

It’s scary to think about not meeting the family before they get to the hospital. While your pre-placement contact will often include phone calls and emails, meeting a family in person is often the best way to know if they’re right for you and your baby.

But you don’t have to worry. There are plenty of ways for you to meet and get to know the adoptive family ahead of time. Choosing the adoptive family for your baby is one of the biggest decisions that you’ll make, and you shouldn’t have to wait just because of an unexpected situation.

Learn everything you need to know about meeting the adoptive family ahead of time right here.

Going Virtual

There are plenty of ways to get to know the family you’ve chosen for your baby. But, we know that what you’re really looking for is an in-person connection. After all, how can you really get to know your child’s family from just a few pictures and a phone call?

While you’re waiting for the chance to safely meet the adoptive family in person, you might think about turning to virtual visits. Thanks to the pandemic, we’ve all had to get a little creative about how we connect with one another. Zoom, FaceTime, and other video call platforms are all at your disposal. We know that virtual calls can be a little awkward, but there are tons of ways that you and the adoptive family can still have a good time during your virtual visit.

Start your own movie party, take a virtual tour of a museum or an aquarium, cook together or have your own arts and crafts party. You can have as many virtual calls before and after the delivery as you want, so you’ll be able to get to know them as well as you desire.

With a virtual visit, you are still in control from start to finish. Your adoption professional can help you set up these video calls, if you need assistance and support.

How Can We Spend Time Together in Person?

Once the adoptive family arrives, you’re probably worried about ways you can spend time together. Although we’re crawling toward a hot summer, there are still a lot of ways to spend time together. Visit your local drive-thru, order your favorite meal, and then tailgate in the parking lot. If it’s not too hot, you can head to the park and then hang out from a safe distance. Another great idea is the drive-in movie theater. Everyone can catch a movie while you chat and hang out together from your separate cars.

While many states still have stay-at-home orders in place, others are starting to slowly open back up. Because the rules are rapidly changing, it’s a good idea to stay updated on health department recommendations before you meet up.

What Should I Do to Stay Busy?

We know waiting for meeting the adoptive family and for delivery will be hard. Right now, all you want to do is make sure that you’ve found the perfect family for your baby — and it’s frustrating to have to wait because of a situation that’s completely out of your control.

If you’re anxious about your open adoption relationship, keep these tips in mind:

• Use social media and messaging apps: Staying connected online is a great way to stay in touch with the adoptive family. Check in with each other through GroupMe, WhatsApp or other platforms so that everyone stays in the loop.
• Keep them updated: There are plenty of ways to show someone you’re thinking of them. If you’d like, keep the adoptive family updated on the baby’s development and any other important milestones. Consider sending thes updates via mail or digitally.Even if they’re far away, the adoptive family would love to see how you and the baby are doing.
• Spend time with friends and family: Waiting for the adoptive family to arrive will be hard, but try to your best to stay positive. In the meantime, friends and family who are supportive of your adoption will love the opportunity to spend time with you.

It might be helpful to check out some other tips for managing long-distance adoptions, too.

Remember, the adoptive family wants to meet you just as much you want to meet them. They’re not going to let a global pandemic stop them if they can help it. If you have any questions or concerns about what to do in the meantime, remember that your adoption professional can help.

For all other questions about meeting the adoptive family ahead of time or other steps in the adoption process, please reach out to an adoption professional near you.