A Big No-No

This is our 3rd go-round with hosting.

It's interesting...
 in all my other blog posts, I don't think I ever mentioned the fact that we're not allowed to talk about adoption (the "A" word.)  There are several other blogging host families who have posted about it; and though it's never been an issue with either of our other hostings, I suppose I should make NHFC's policy on the matter very clear.

We're not allowed to talk about "A" directly to D & D.
We're not allowed to talk about it around D & D.
If you meet up with us at the spray park... or the zoo... or bump into us at WalMart-- you're not allowed to ask about it in front of them. (Don't even try it in pig latin, or Spanish, or French or Morse Code.)
No one is allowed to ask what kind of family they would like, or if they like it in America and would they like to stay?
The "A word" is not to be mentioned AT ALL if D & D are within a 700 yard radius.
There are to be no comments about adopting a dog or a cat from the animal shelter.

Seem like overkill?

Not really, and I'll tell you why.

A few of the nearly 200 kids that are being hosted speak English well. Some speak a little English. Most speak almost none.
That being said, there are a few words they ALL know:

McDonalds
Coca-Cola
Justin Bieber
Adoption

There are a lot of things that have to go very, very right in order for an international adoption to go forward. A large number of those things are completely out of our control.

Can you imagine the disappointment and rejection a child might feel if, through a misunderstanding or innocent question, they were inadvertently led to believe their host family wanted to adopt them... when in fact that host family had no intention of doing so?
Or, say the family did want to adopt, but maybe they find out later they don't qualify... or the child isn't legally available for adoption... or there's a family tragedy... or a divorce... or a job loss... or.....

SO MANY things can happen that could derail/postpone/modify/cancel adoption plans.

YES! We we want these children to find their forever families.
But there's a reason (several reasons, actually) why we can't talk to them about adoption.

And should we decide to pursue adoption, there are steps that will be taken to get the ball rolling.
AFTER D & D fly home.

Are we going to adopt? I don't know. It's heavier on my heart than it is Rick's.
We'll see.

But whether we do or don't... if you see us around town with a couple of extra kids in tow... don't surreptitiously waggle your eyebrows in an attempt to ask me about adoption.

I'll ignore it.
And D & D will think you have some sort of spastic twitch.