Adoption, young children and saving money

seven-day-weekend

I am also an adopted person who can speak positively of it. I always knew my parents chose to have a child and chose me (doesn't always happen with natural births).

Here's a poem:

Not flesh of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart - but in it.

- Fleur Conkling Heylinger

I personally don't think it matters where you take your little one as long as you, her mummy, are there for her and she feels secure.

But park and feeding ducks is nice!

God bless you both

Jillinoz

Just wanted to add my congratulations and my very best wishes, Ophie. I hope to be where you are in the not-too-distant future, as I am currently going through the process of adoption myself (as a single parent, too).

On the practical front, my authority encourages and facilitates social contact between adoptive parents and their parents: are there any such groups you could join locally to pick the brains of others who've been through what you are about to?

Wishing you all the luck in the world!

Violetta_2

Just wanted to add my congratulations Ophie. I understand you wanting to get out and about to show your beautiful daughter off mine was born 2 years ago and I still want to. A trip to the park is an adventure, you won't need to spend too much just a little picnic and stale bread for the ducks. Swimming is good too once she's more settled. Surestart can be good if you have 1 in the area.
Good luck and best wishes.

louidog

Ophie, many congratulations on the adoption!
We adopted our son 14 years ago now and he was a teeny weeny baby....we waited about 3 days before showing him off to anyone and that was just to our parents. We spent about a week before he arrived charging about buying all sorts of baby stuff etc and we used to laugh at the neighbours twitching curtains each day as we returned home with yet more stuff!

Sit back, relax, have lots of bonding times together but most of all....make time to enjoy the experience and remember, the best things in life are free!

Lots of hugs to you both!

katglasgow

Congratulations!Its worth seeing whats on a your local library. My library has "bounce and rhymme" and story telling sessions regularly for toddlers. they would probably be great for building language and are a fantastic way to meet other local parents! My son is nearly 4 and still enjoys singing all the songs we first learnt there!

Violetta_2

Ophie just a thought, if you haven't already got 1 get yourself a digital camera, (check other board's for offers we got a great 1 in Asda after a post on the grabbit board) you will take thousands of photo's and join the parenting clubs at Boot's Tesco etc you get more offers/vouchers/freebies etc for newborns;) (in which case DOB might be interpreted as Date of Becoming Ophies daughter)

Ophie

Thank you Violetta

I did sign up for Emma's Diary (apparently I am in my 33rd week of pregnancy!). But stupidly made the mistake of saying her 'real' age and have very limited time for other offers

I am off to Boots today to see what I can get!!

Thank you all for the responses though!!

Ophie x

lynzpower

dont forget the tesco baby & TODDLER club- she'll definately be in the right age range for that I would have thought!

HelzBelz

As another adoptee I'd just like to say congratulations and well done for adopting, and I'm sure whatever you do together even if it's just staying at home reading a story book you'll already be making a big difference to you daughters life.

se999

At that age the whole world is an adventure and everything is new.

Toddlers love action and finger rhymes.

This is a "classic":

Round And Round The Garden: Play Rhymes For Young Children
Sarah Williams

The book has diagrams with the actions, and you can get a cd too to learn the tunes.