Here are some thoughts and suggestions regarding the creation of your resume and photo album.

Resume

Your resume is of very great importance! Typically, a birth mother will be forming her initial impressions of you from your resume. You will, therefore, want to present yourselves well. While the creation of a resume does take effort, the time, and care and concern that you invest in the preparation of the resume will come across to a birth mother. Birth mothers have related to us that resumes that are concise, well thought-out, organized, and visually “pretty”, equate to them an adoptive parent who is committed to adoption.

Suggestions

• Address your resume, “Dear Birth Mother”
• Do not date your resume
• Talk about why you wish to adopt and what it means to you
• Describe your desires to be parents in many different ways
• Talk openly about your feelings, your home, neighborhood, and pets.
• Talk briefly about your educational background and your wishes for this child’s education. The birth mother needs to know your views on education, as education is very often of major importance.
• Talk briefly about your hobbies, interests, and celebrations. You may each do this or separately talk about one another.
• Describe your family, extended families, friends, co-workers, and their support of your decision to adopt
• Stability is important to birth mothers. Mention the length of time together or time married.
• Analyze your comfort level when indicating your last name, city or state you live in.

Your choice of paper and print is very important. Please type the resume in a clear print. Attractive colored or decorative paper which is heavier than regular Xerox paper should be used, so that the page will not crumble easily. Plastic pages to protect it can be utilized as well. Many birth mothers treasure these resumes and save them over a lifetime, as they are the only tangible reminders of the adoptive couple to whom she has entrusted her child. Bind them or tie the pages together with decorative ribbon or raffia.

Decorative borders, computer artwork or stickers can enhance your resume. Many printers have color copiers and you can reproduce photos and designs easily. Be creative! Sometimes using a theme can make your resume the one that stands out.

Please include a clear, close-up picture of you. If you have other children, include them in the photo. Include pets, as they are an integral part of your life. Wearing casual clothing is sometimes more favorable, as it helps the birth mother to relate and feel comfortable about you.

Intersperse additional pictures throughout the resume. You may want to include pictures of your home, area parks, the local school, friends and relatives, special activities and sports you enjoy, Christmas morning, family reunions, birthday parties, anniversary get-togethers…have fun! You might want to consider putting captions or notes on each picture, which will help the birth mother, better know you. Tie a rattle, rocking horse, and wood trinket (i.e. Heart) dream catcher, bears, and fancy buttons, to draw attention.

At the bottom of the resume, you should list your names and sign each resume. Include “If you are interested in speaking with us, please contact “Baby from Heaven Adoptions at 1-800-364-6933”.