How to Write a Birth Parent Resume

A resume is an important connection with the birth mother.

Couples may decide to look into adoption if they are unable to have their own children or if they have a desire to provide a better home for a child who cannot be cared for by his or her biological parents. If a couple decides to adopt, it is best to prepare a resume. This document provides the birth mother with her first impressions of the potential parents. Birth mothers have explained that resumes that are well prepared and creative demonstrate a commitment to the process of adoption (See Reference 1). This makes the resume a crucial component of the adoption process.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy decorative or colored paper
• Computer and printer
• Plastic sleeve (optional)
• Ribbon or raffia (optional)
• Stickers or borders (optional)
• Trinkets (optional)

Instructions

Fit for Adoption

1. Describe the reasons why you are interested in adoption. Adoption requires responsibility and commitment. It also requires an emotional and financial investment. Share what has brought you personally to the point of choosing adoption. Perhaps you have been trying to have your own child, but have not been successful or perhaps you are physically unable to have children. The birth mother needs to know that you have the desire to care for, protect, and provide for her child.

2. Frankly express why adoption is your avenue of choice. There may be other avenues you could have chosen such as finding a surrogate or utilizing fertilization therapy and treatment, depending on your situation. Explain why you have chosen adoption as the best for you and your family.

3. Explain why you desire to be a parent. Parenting is challenging on the very best days. In fact, it may not be for every person. Share why you want to be a parent and why it is important to you.

4. Share how you have prepared for parenthood. Describe experience that you have had interacting with children and how you feel about that. Share some of the positive experiences that you have had while caring for children.

Describing Yourself

1. Tell the potential birth mothers about your home and pets.

2. Describe the members of your immediate family and your partner or spouse. Share with the birth mother about the length of your marriage or relationship, so she will know about your level of commitment to family.

3. Include information about your hobbies and interests and how you spend your time. This will provide a picture of the activities that her child will be likely to experience. Tell about the celebrations that you observe.

4. Although there is no need to introduce all of the members of the extended family, it is is important to describe how the people around you view your choice to adopt. Describe how friends and extended family support this choice and how they will be involved in the process.

5. Describe the education you received and your plans for your child's education. This is an important issue, because education is the key to success.

Decorating the Letter

1. Once you have written the information, choose a font that is pleasing to the eye but clear and easy to read.

2. Include a picture of yourself, immediate family members, and pets. Include pictures in casual clothing, so that the birth mother will feel you are approachable and comfortable. Other pictures are also advisable, as is including captions.

3. Use ribbons, raffia, stickers, borders, trinkets or colored paper to decorate the letter. The letter should not look "over-decorated," but should look as though effort and care was taken in its preparation. It should be appealing to the eye.

4. According to "A Baby From Heaven," many birth mothers like to keep the letter from the adoptive family they have chosen. To make it last longer, the letter could be placed in a plastic sleeve.

5. Ask a friend to look the letter over to determine if there is anything you have neglected to include. Ask them to see if it would encourage a birth mother to choose your family.

Tips & Warnings

• Carefully consider whether or not you want to include your last name, city and state in the letter. If you are leaning towards a "closed" adoption, where the birth mother has no contact with you or her child, then it is best just to have your first name on the resume and not include your last name, city or state. Including that information may lead to contact, even when you have not solicited it.

References

• Creating Your Adoptive Resume.

Resources

• Choosing to Adopt.