According to the Family Helper Website, Ethiopia is increasing in popularity among adoptive parents hoping to adopt internationally. In 2004, Canadian adoptions from Ethiopia were the tenth most popular country at 34 children, twenty more adoptions than the year before. In 2008, Ethiopian adoptions rose to 183 and to third place on the list of the most common countries from which Canadians adopt.
With adoptions from Ethiopia being fairly recent in Canada, there is a growing on-line community of blogs that give adoptive families insight into the Ethiopian adoption process. Here are three Canadian blogs that share the challenges and rewards of adopting a child from Ethiopia.
The Housden Family Adoption Blog – Waiting for an Ethiopian Child
Written by a couple from British Columbia, this blog chronicles the adoption process up to the point of waiting for a referral from Ethiopia. The bloggers began the adoption process in 2007 and outline their experience of completing the dossier, attending education courses on parenting a child from a different race and also break down the cost of their adoption.
The Housden Family Adoption Blog also includes a timeline and adoption checklist for interested readers. As they are waiting for a referral, there are also some interesting non-adoption posts for readers who are waiting as well.
The Turgeon Expansion Adoption Blog – Successful Ethiopian Adoption
Also started in 2007, The Turgeon Expansion Adoption Blog details the family’s adoption process from Ethiopia until summer 2009. The blog features Ethiopian words, answers to frequently asked questions about adopting from Ethiopia and Ethiopia related websites.
The blog goes into detail about how the family kept busy while waiting for their referral for over 15 months and the emotions of Gotcha Day. The Saskatchewan blogger has recently closed this blog and moved to a new one where she chronicles life with her new daughter.
Rowan Family Tree Adoption Blog – Helpful Ethiopian Adoption Resources
The Rowan Family Tree Blog is a popular on-line community for Canadian families adopting from Ethiopia. Since 2007, the British Columbia couple have described the adoption process, their wait and finally, their trip to Ethiopia to bring their 3-year-old twin girls home. They were also one of the families involved with the Ontario adoption agency Imagine, during the company’s business issues in summer 2009.
Other features of this blog include an active group of commenting readers and an extensive list of Canadians adopting from Ethiopia including their blog links. The Rowan Family Tree Blog also highlights some of the adoption and African cultural events they have attended over the past years, as well as valuable tips on hair and skin care of African born children.
As adopting from Ethiopia is becoming increasingly common with Canadians, these blogs are valuable sources of information and support for future adoptive parents. For more information on personal stories of Canadians affected by adoption, read Canadian Transracial Adoption Blogs, Famous Canadian Adoptive Parents and Canadian Blogs by Adoptees and Birthparents.
References:
Hilborn, Robin ed. Family Helper Website, October 26, 2009.
Angela Krueger - As an adoptive parent and PRIDE adoption trainer, Angela uses her insights to help others on their adoption journey.
