Why Ask "Why?"

January 3, 2006
As I was leaving work last night, an older friend of ours (in her 50's) stopped by to pick up a book, and we ended up leaving the building together. As we were talking about our plans for the evening, I mentioned that we had finally set up the crib last night. (Since she is always asking about our adoption stuff, I figured she would be excited to know.)
Instead, she just looked at me, and said "WHY?"

Umm...because we're having a baby??

Why ask "Why?" Why do people look at us like we're idiots when we talk about our preparations? We've actually procrastinated a lot longer than many adoptive couples in getting the nursery ready. (It's still not all the way ready!) Many families have completed their nursery even before the homestudy!

As expectant parents, we are preparing for our child. Most parents typically don't wait until they're in labor to start setting up the crib and buying diapers! It seems like we're doing the LEAST idiotic thing: Preparing.

The adoption agency has already expressed to us that we are expected to have at least the necessities for our child: a place to sleep, a carseat, diapers, formula, etc. We need to show that we are prepared to meet this child's needs. Otherwise, they won't place a child in our home! Even after we bring our baby home, the caseworker still has to do postplacement visits, to make sure everything is okay.

It seems like anyone (especially a mom!) would realize that it will be wonderful to have a place to put the baby to sleep, without having to try setting up the crib that night! It's all ready.

Yes, we may have months to wait, but realistically, a call could come at anytime. Plus, by setting up the crib, we created more room, not less. We had been constantly tripping over all the pieces and parts that were waiting to be put together. Now it looks more like a home, and less like a storage unit!