tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post7111345197357019130..comments2024-03-18T14:36:21.544+00:00Comments on Life with Katie and Pip: Our Adoption Story: Parenting Clubs.....LifewithKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-80607917721576680102022-03-17T12:02:55.516+00:002022-03-17T12:02:55.516+00:00Hello, I know this is an old post I just wondered ...Hello, I know this is an old post I just wondered if you still felt the same? This totally resonated with me. Both my boys were school age when they joined our family and I found it really difficult to make any parent friends as all the cliques were already formed. I have developed my own community for adoptive parents if you're interested www.almondblossomnature.co.uk Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772499180410310705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-35769784019988096762013-06-03T12:24:24.095+01:002013-06-03T12:24:24.095+01:00A great post, thank you for sharing. Here at Queen...A great post, thank you for sharing. Here at Queens Hotel we offer a warm welcome for all the family with great attractions close by. We wish you and your readers a superb summer ahead. Queens Hotel Portsmouthhttp://www.queenshotelportsmouth.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-18790262153013428282013-01-29T17:29:36.440+00:002013-01-29T17:29:36.440+00:00I just wanted to send a big THANK YOU to everyone ...I just wanted to send a big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported this post here and on Twitter. I hadn't realised how much this topic effected people. I very much hope I can help facilitate a change that brings about more inclusion for us adoptive parents. LifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-51211745142499437842013-01-29T17:28:27.604+00:002013-01-29T17:28:27.604+00:00That is so very sad to hear. I would have been fur...That is so very sad to hear. I would have been furious as well as upset I think. I am shocked that you were discouraged from having contact with other adopters. They have been my lifeline since Katie joined us. We all talk daily and support each other. It's amazing to be able to talk to people who understand all the subtleties involved in being an adoptive parent. I hope that you are well LifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-26217204324116820552013-01-29T17:26:37.832+00:002013-01-29T17:26:37.832+00:00I can imagine you did feel isolated especially hav...I can imagine you did feel isolated especially having been eligible to join the "clubs" with your birth daughter. It is so difficult starting out with a newly adopted child and joining these groups. I was so lucky to have friends with similarly aged children to Katie but I still felt really obvious.LifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-1656299750910226552013-01-29T17:25:07.216+00:002013-01-29T17:25:07.216+00:00Watch this space and I'll let you know as soon...Watch this space and I'll let you know as soon as I find anything out.LifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-9003869107267181152013-01-29T17:24:44.857+00:002013-01-29T17:24:44.857+00:00Aaah you managed to get the coveted Boots bag!! I ...Aaah you managed to get the coveted Boots bag!! I think you're right though, most of the information isn't going to be relevant to us. We don't have need for cracked nipple cream. Our needs probably need to be tailored to a bit more. As to those of the dads who are adopting either solo or as part of a couple - be that same sex or heterosexual. I can just imagine the editors of the LifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-2701649660818350072013-01-29T17:22:40.313+00:002013-01-29T17:22:40.313+00:00Yes, you're right - that recognition is really...Yes, you're right - that recognition is really lacking. People make throwaway assumptions because we haven't given birth to our child and therefore don't need "recovery time" etc but actually our process is so incredibly frenetic towards the end and so exhausting that we do need people to understand that. Our SW said to me, on the subject of introductions, that adopters haveLifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-33508392759093182822013-01-28T15:50:41.617+00:002013-01-28T15:50:41.617+00:00I was asked to leave a toddler group that had beco...I was asked to leave a toddler group that had become oversubscribed as they took a "last in first out" approach - I was heartbroken as this was my only lifeline to the outside parenting world. My two children were 3 and I was not coping. Soc Serv specifically discouraged us getting in touch with other new adopters (dangerous to compare experiences apparantly) Thankfully a wonderful HVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-86465225305133277132013-01-28T14:38:29.733+00:002013-01-28T14:38:29.733+00:00This is so true. I remember when we adopted our so...This is so true. I remember when we adopted our son at 22 months I contacted my local NCT to join a post-natal group with similar age children. I was told I couldn't, and felt very isolated, even though we already had a birth daughter.Grettahttp://mumsdotravel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-9797099195062716982013-01-25T20:08:00.215+00:002013-01-25T20:08:00.215+00:00Been an adoptive mum is isolating... you are so ri...Been an adoptive mum is isolating... you are so right. And why shouldn't we be eligible for the same discounts as any other new parent. I look forward to hearing what responses you get!nhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08579146100268312887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-35390261195446067842013-01-25T18:57:25.230+00:002013-01-25T18:57:25.230+00:00I joined all the Sainsburys/Tesco/Boots clubs - an...I joined all the Sainsburys/Tesco/Boots clubs - and what do I get - Junk mail about stuff I don't want to buy. They look exciting on the outside, but they are pretty pointless (although the boots changing bag is good).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12117249594444297964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-51906645035157137012013-01-25T16:18:30.773+00:002013-01-25T16:18:30.773+00:00I totally agree with you. It is such an isolating ...I totally agree with you. It is such an isolating time in the beginning and to be recognised as a new mum going through lots of the same things that birth mums go throw and needing the same things too would mean a lot. Thanks for linking up with the Weekly Adoption Shout Out :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-7544152887548969762013-01-25T14:55:00.559+00:002013-01-25T14:55:00.559+00:00Thanks Sezz. There have been some really interesti...Thanks Sezz. There have been some really interesting comments made here. I didn't realise how many people had been effected by this issue. Hopefully we might be able to get something organised to make it all more inclusive. I don't think the big companies deliberately exclude people, it's more that it hasn't occurred to them to have us on their radar.LifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-29859718000608329362013-01-25T14:20:35.667+00:002013-01-25T14:20:35.667+00:00Great point Gem - and also some good further point...Great point Gem - and also some good further points made from some of the other parents responding.Sezzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00824952009585711445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-6686761555160916222013-01-24T23:02:33.551+00:002013-01-24T23:02:33.551+00:00Thank you. I've now realised there is a whole ...Thank you. I've now realised there is a whole group of people effected by this issue, dads, gay adopters etc. I hope we can get something done about it.<br /><br />So exciting to hear that your first child is due soon. Not long to go. I hope your pregnancy has been a good one?LifewithKatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04128468078776052456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-43193174997911399462013-01-24T22:51:25.983+00:002013-01-24T22:51:25.983+00:00Babies 'R' Us have one, so do Heinz, Cow a...Babies 'R' Us have one, so do Heinz, Cow and Gate, Aptamil and Hipp (admittedly all most useful for baby babies). Apparently 'Emma's Diary' (whatever that is) offer Argos vouchers, so could be worth contacting. Links here http://www.which.co.uk/baby-and-child/nursery-and-feeding/guides/free-pregnancy-and-baby-stuff/free-pregnancy-stuff/Lizzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17480448062269641320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-77186715671812864482013-01-24T11:36:46.292+00:002013-01-24T11:36:46.292+00:00It was very interesting to hear your perspective o...It was very interesting to hear your perspective on this I think there needs to be more understanding and support for adoptive mums. I am expecting my first baby in March and agree that all the baby deals and groups are focused on women with new babies and must feel isolating when becoming a first time mum to an older child. Good luck addressing this issue and I hope the industry takes noticeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-17538577713711786952013-01-24T09:43:31.903+00:002013-01-24T09:43:31.903+00:00thanks Gem. The only car 3 car seats I found to fi...thanks Gem. The only car 3 car seats I found to fit my car, 2 unsuitable for a wriggling traumatised child used to a harness style narrowed it down to one - and that will have to be replaced as she grows! It really would be lovely to see some cards in shops suitable for adoption. You look forward to a baby so much that when ot happens some congratulations cards - and yes the gifts issue is NewPyjamaMummyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05830317824056874805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-11272603485792893612013-01-24T09:34:34.582+00:002013-01-24T09:34:34.582+00:00That's a really interesting point. Are you go...That's a really interesting point. Are you going to apply for it and see what happens? If you do I'd love to hear the outcome. Good luck!! how far along in your adoption journey are you?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603750197226508469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-2965367427259513912013-01-24T09:32:00.089+00:002013-01-24T09:32:00.089+00:00Thank you Fiona. I hope they do take notice. It on...Thank you Fiona. I hope they do take notice. It only takes one to make the change and then the others would follow suit. I expet they haven't even considered it. I will keep plugging away at it. In some ways some of the big organisations like BAAF, Adoption UK and Coram might get better results than I will. I will put that to them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603750197226508469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-31606488127372439462013-01-24T09:30:28.807+00:002013-01-24T09:30:28.807+00:00Yes it is incredibly expensive (we managed to avoi...Yes it is incredibly expensive (we managed to avoid the safety glass thankfully) and we're currently in the process of readying the house again. The card thing is an issue although there are some companies online offering some lovely adoption cards and you can custom cards at Moonpig. It would be nice to see more cards in the mainstream card shops like Clintons though.<br /><br />The car Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603750197226508469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-91648385180025194692013-01-24T09:27:12.796+00:002013-01-24T09:27:12.796+00:00Yes I've sent the link to everyone I can think...Yes I've sent the link to everyone I can think of (including Mamas and Papas!). Any other ideas of who to send it to would be really appreciated. I will just check out whether Asda do one.......Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603750197226508469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-84878685387461867832013-01-24T09:26:29.605+00:002013-01-24T09:26:29.605+00:00I can just imagine how frenetic and expensive thos...I can just imagine how frenetic and expensive those weeks before you met your children were. We do have to get an awful lot of stuff in a very short space of time which means we can't always shop around for the best deals. How is family life with 3 children? How long ago did you adopt?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603750197226508469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6133644764234436521.post-64433675134665741172013-01-24T09:25:01.477+00:002013-01-24T09:25:01.477+00:00Thank you! I want to say I'm glad it's not...Thank you! I want to say I'm glad it's not just me.....but I'm obviously not.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603750197226508469noreply@blogger.com