I’ve often been accused of being a Pollyanna (i.e. overly optimistic). However, this adoptive parent to a Russian child is WAY out there in terms of optimism. She is referring to the 10-day waiting period after the Russian judge finalizes the adoption, but before you are legally allowed to leave the country:

I am looking forward to the 10-day wait. I hopes to be able to take my new child(ren) on day excursions to help us bond. Maybe visit the beach and see those tragic seals and short-nosed dolphins. A movie. A restaurant. That worn out “amusement park.” A trip to the children’s theater or whatever show is in town. A walk on a trail. A visit to a museum, even if it just a campus exhibit. A ride on a train and then… Ice fishing. Skiing. Mushing.

Maybe I’m a minority of one, but that 10-day period was probably the most exhausting period of my life. Of course, we had two babies, not one older child, but some days we were lucky just to leave the hotel for a walk around the grounds. Ice Fishing? Hahahahahah. Good luck with that.

I think a good rule of thumb for potential adoptive parents (PAPs) is to reduce your expectations to the bare minimum, then be pleasantly surprised on the upside. UPDATE: Same advice goes for Canadians and Portlanders.