I recently received an email from someone who asked me how I shared the news that I was adopting with my family and friends. It is a great question and something that every adopting couple or individuals must address. Keep reading for different approaches to sharing the news that you’re adopting. Once you've decided to adopt, you probably want to share the news. Do you make a big announcement, send out an email, tell a few people and let the word spread or keep it quiet until the last minute? Furthermore, how do you handle it if someone in your family is less than supportive? Keep reading for my experience and that of another adoptive parent, as well as some expert advice. My experience I can't remember exactly how we "announced" our adoption plans. In fact, I'm not even sure whether we announced them at all. We knew we were going to adopt for a long time, so when we were ready to start a family, I think we told those who were closest to us initially, then shared with others as time went on. I suppose in the end, news spread as it does when someone is expecting through pregnancy -- family shared with more family, friends with more friends. We didn't experience any stated opposition, and if anyone thought it was a "bad idea" or had any major concerns about our adoption plans, they didn’t voice them to us. I answered many questions about the process, the country and, after we received a referral, what we knew of the child that would become ours. I was very naïve about adoption in general in the beginning. I suppose I was also naïve in assuming that everyone is supportive of people who choose to adopt. Fortunately, that part was easy for us. Venicia’s experience Venicia and her husband are adoptive parents in Durham, North Carolina, who first attempted to have biological children. Early on, they only told a few people that they were trying to conceive, and those who knew were excited. As time wore on, they shared their fertility struggles with more friends and family. However, after unsuccessful fertility treatments, Venicia and her husband stopped trying and took a break. “I had always thought our family would have children by adoption at some point. I had never really communicated that to a lot of people, only because I was so focused on the biological aspect,” she says. “We researched adoption, every facet and book and blog I could get my hands on, even the not-so-cuddly ones. When we told our parents, I had already read up on how to tell them and I was ready for some backlash.” However, when Venicia shared the news, the reaction was far better than she’d anticipated. “Everyone was supportive, for the most part; there was mostly concern for funding it and the birthmother swooping in the middle of the night to ‘steal her baby back.’ So I made sure that if I was going to have a successful adoption, part of it had to be educating those around me who would be in the kiddo’s life. I started a blog and answered questions as best I could -- all for the sake of everyone traveling with us down this road.” Venicia invested time and effort into educating family and friends. “I informed people about funding options and then about adoption laws…I hashed and rehashed with my family and friends about adopting ethically, making sure no one was coerced or no baby was stolen. I think these things helped,” she says. Overall, Venicia and her husband took a very practical and straightforward approach: “We simply wanted to be honest with people. Start talking and those who care will listen…those who don’t may eventually,” she explains. “Be ready -- everyone knows something and everybody has some sort of myth or truth, but mostly it’ll be a myth. And know there are thousands of families just like yours, one click away. That's the truth.” When the excitement isn’t shared For prospective adoptive parents who are excited to share the news but are met with concern or opposition, it can be a little more difficult and most likely disappointing. When you’re so excited to begin the process of growing your family, you want others -- especially those who matter the most -- to share in that excitement. I contacted Katie Prigel Sharp, LMSW, an adoptive parent, social worker and co-owner of Heart of the Matter Seminars, and asked her about the best way to approach a situation where a family member isn't as supportive as you'd like them to be about an adoption. I learned that not all prospective adoptive couples have it quite as easy as Venicia or me. Prigel Sharp says it’s not all that uncommon to encounter family members who are reluctant, concerned or even completely negative about adoption. So that’s the good news if it happens to you: It happens to lots of people! Even better, Prigel Sharp adds that she has heard of many situations over the years where families weren’t supportive initially, but most have happy endings. “Opposing an adoption in theory is very different than rejecting an in-the-flesh child,” she notes. How to approach opposition So, what do you do when someone who matters doesn’t react how you expect? “I usually suggest that the prospective adoptive parent truly listen to their family member’s concern. Hear them out completely! Then respond to their concerns in a thoughtful, direct way,” says Prigel Sharp. “A response may be as simple as, ‘I know you love me and just want what’s best for me. I’m going to think more about what you said and would like to send you some information that might help explain more about my view.’” Don’t forget to do just that. Prigel Sharp says you should send them a few short articles or links to websites that address their concerns. That will give them the opportunity to think about the information and what it is that’s bothering them. “This is usually enough to quell most family members’ reservations." Unfortunately, there are some people who just can’t see past themselves to either behave in a way that is appropriate or to offer the support you need. “In extreme situations, where family members behave in ways that continue to be hurtful to the parents or child, it may be necessary to limit or eliminate contact,” advises Prigel Sharp. How did your family react to the news when you told tem you were adopting? If you haven’t announced it yet, do you have concerns that anyone you care about will be less than supportive? Share your experiences in the comments section below.