I am so tired tonight I can hardly think. Another day spent talking to folks at the booth here at the NACAC conference in Florida. As I mentioned in this post, I am shocked and pleased at how much traffic we are receiving at our booth. I have heard social workers and agency personnel talking about what they wanted to take home to “their parents” and heard them say, “I think what they really need is the information about attachment!” YEH! I agree. I have seen folks come in the exhibit hall and make a beeline for our table to grab some literature, and then leave just as quickly … which indicates to me that someone has sent them directly to our table. Julie and I have participated in several conversations about how we might expand our reach, support our families, address the myriad of flaws in the system, and overall be more effective in assisting foster and adoptive families. Although we are beyond tired, we are happy about what we are accomplishing.


My friend Karen visited today and brought her baby, Rachel. I first met Rachel when she was only a few days old. It was hilarious to watch a hotel full of child-centered folks react to a baby in their midst. Everyone lit up. No surprise, Rachel is sure cute.


Right before we went to a networking dinner, I spoke to a mom in Illinois. Seems someone she knew had been one of those folks who made a beeline for our table, grabbed some literature and then called her and told her to call us. She did. She has a teen boy who sounds quite problematic and she is so angry that she received misinformation before she adopted him and so little solid help after the fact. It sounds as if he is headed to a residential placement. He is internationally adopted and arrived after years in an orphanage, and in addition to that trauma he has physical disabilities. She was in tears, and very glad she found us. She just wishes it had been sooner. Me too.


We head home tomorrow and have a day to attend Beth’s swim meet, followed by preparing for our own conference. Have I mentioned how tired I am already?


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