So, as a Canadian adopting internationally, before you leave the country to get baby you have to start the immigration process.
(Side note – I’ve realized if the adoption fails, it means at some point we may have to cancel the application. But, I refuse to think about that today. I just cannot go there right now and I’m focusing on the hope that we don’t have to ever cancel the immigration process).
So as the ever prepared adoptive parent, I sat down to start the paperwork. Expecting it to take at least a few hours and multiple headaches.
It is a 2 part process. Once you get through Part 1, you start Part 2 when you are told to (which appears to be once baby is home in Canada).
So, here’s my surprise of today. Adoption immigration paperwork seems to be the easiest form I’ve filled out to-date! Seriously.
I have to get certified copies of documents (driver’s licenses, marriage certificate, passports, etc.), but that’s not too hard. I’m sure we can make that happen sometime next week.
And here’s the biggest shocker, the cost isn’t outrageous. $100 for Part 1. $0 for Part 2! Yes, you read that right, something is free!!
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So, it’s been suggested to us that if we meet with the birth mom before baby arrives, that we bring a gift. And when baby is born that we also bring a gift so that when she leaves the hospital she does not leave empty handed. Let me be clear, we know that no gift will ever compare to the gift she is giving us, nor will a gift ever replace the child she will be entrusting us with. But, we do want to give her something that she can cherish for the rest of her life.
We’ve been told that all gifts should be something small and inexpensive, as we aren’t allowed to directly give her money and an expensive gift could be construed as giving her money. So, no cars, no houses, no Tiffany diamond bracelets, etc..
It’s been suggested to give her something Canadian since we are Canadian and our little baby will also be a dual citizen of the USA and Canada.
So, simple questions, what the heck do you give a birth mom for both of these occasions?!
Our thoughts so far are:
Meeting Gift:
- A simple necklace. Maybe with a Canadian maple leaf pendant or some sort of figurine in her favourite colours.
Hospital Gift:
- A teddy bear that we will give to her and to the baby. Something they will both forever share and something either one of them can hug whenever they need to or want to feel a little bit closer to the other one. The Rocky Mountains are known for their black bears and grizzly bears so we could get a very cute version of one of them.
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