Have you ever been on a blind date? I haven't, but I want you to think about an expectant Mom looking at adoption profile books in that context.
She looks at every book presented to her, hoping to find that special someone with whom she will connect.
It’s your chance to share the most incredible parts of your life and connect with an expectant mother considering adoption. As a two-time adoptive mom and adoption professional, I’ve seen the difference a well-crafted adoption book can make.
I have the privilege of designing adoption profile books for our new clients. Hearing, "She fell in love the moment she saw their cover photo" or "She loved how different their book was from every other book she had seen," still takes my breath away.
To help, here are 10 mistakes to avoid when creating your Adoption Profile Book:
Skip “Dear Birth Mom" – If she is currently pregnant or has given birth but has not signed consent terminating her parental right, she is NOT a birth Mom. Use inclusive, neutral language.
Leave Out Personal Info – Protect your privacy by omitting last names, addresses, or workplaces. I should not be able to find you online based on the information you've disclosed in your profile book. *The goal is to get your profile book into as many hands as possible. Word of mouth has power. However, you never know if your profile will end up in the hands of someone with ill intentions. Leave out the personal information.
Use Updated Photos—Include professional and candid pictures to show your real life. (More professional than candid is a must.) Your photos should also be recently captured. When meeting Mom, you should look like the person in the pictures. Mom is creating a narrative based on the person in the pictures. Don't arrive at your first in-person meeting looking 20 years older. It's deceptive.
It's All About the Photos—Don't write a thesis or dissertation. Avoid long, text-heavy pages. Pair meaningful words with beautiful visuals. Fewer words equals more professional photos!
Be Honest – Don’t make promises you can’t or won’t keep. That's it!
Avoid Dwelling on Infertility –Touch on your infertility struggles, but focus on the life you’re ready to share with her child. Not the loss you feel from fertility struggles.
Respect Her Role—Don’t frame yourself as “taking” her child. Instead, honor her decision. And don't forget: This is her baby, her child.
Proof Before Printing And Sharing. Typos or unclear layouts can hurt your first impression. Before publishing your profile, have your spouse or friend read it carefully and give honest feedback.
Skip the Money Talk. Focus on your values, not your bank account or salary. Doing so can make you sound arrogant and entitled and leave you vulnerable to scammers who may come across your profile.
Photo Collage – Your adoption profile book should be about YOU. It shouldn't be a photo collage of your family and friends. Mom shouldn't have to "find" you in the sea of pictures.
Your adoption profile is a significant part of your adoption readiness kit. This is your one opportunity to make a first and lasting impression. This impression can change your life.
Thank you for reading this week's blogs. For more adoption tips, visit my website: MK Adoption Services
and my YouTube channel, Khandy Bryant http://www.youtube.com/khandybryant.
With love,
Khandy Bryant
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