All aboard the training train .... 🚂🚃

3 day training 😱. what do we need training for ?? What are they gunna ask us ??  What do we wear? Are they gunna question us on everything??  OMG .... were nervous 😫 ... 

These are the things that go through your head the days before training starts, as well as googling everything you possibly can trying to make sure your prepared for an on the spot question...... 

Day one morning arrives anyway and we set off , a little earlier than we should have and get to the Samaritans building near Sheffield at 8.50am , the course doesn't start till 9.30 🤣 (better to be early than late tho right?) We jump out the car and walk in.

Greeting us are a couple with smiley faces (who later we find out are kerri & Neil and they are brilliant 😍🤣) so we automatically feel a little better 😁. We sit down, say hello and wait for everyone else to arrive. 

By 9.30, theres now 8 or 9 couples (2 gay couples , single adopters with family members for support, straight couples AND US 😁) and where all sitting chatting between ourselves. They look a fun bunch 😁. 

The door from another room opens and in walks a smiley social worker ( we've found their really not that scary 😁) and asks us all to sign in and stick on a name badge, then we follow her into a large room with 4 large tables and we all sit down. 

Free tea & coffee and water is available all day so we all grab a drink and sit, waiting for the questions to start 😫.

HOWEVER, this isn't the case (as we found out over the 3 days ). Our 1st task is to talk to the person next to us and ask questions so we can get to know them. This is where we meet Janine & Jane ( the lovely lesbians 😍) and we feel like we've known them ages 😁. 

As the days went on we rotated around the tables getting to know all the other potential adopters 😍 ( can't remember all there names as there were so many 😣😂). And we even  had a buffet every dinner time 😍 ( the chocolate eclaires were amazing 😂) 

Over the 3 days we went over so many topics- attachment, resilience, abuse, behaviour, child development, trauma, the matching process, & therapy training as well as loads more. We won't go into detail as there is sooo much but it really does open your eyes to what the children go through and have to deal with, as well as ways to help them children and help you too 😣 and the way they explain it and do interactions with you really helps you learn and put it all into perspective..  it was amazing, heart breaking but really valuable to help you and the children as you progress.   

We also had 3 guest speakers talking about their adoption journeys which was amazing. Hearing their stories made you realise that every feeling & thoughts you've had so far are normal and it made you feel at ease, yes it's hard work and stressful at times but to see how proud and happy they were and how happy the children are made us even more determined and excited. Lee, one of the guest speakers was a same sex adopter with his husband John and we really felt connected with him as he was in our shoes before and we could relate to everything he said , he also knows Jamie & tom who we have become friends with, who do the amazing daddy & Dad blog ( link below, take a read you'll love it ) these guys are our inspiration and they have supported us from day one and we really appreciate that ( thanks guys 😍) and there also the reason we started this blog 😍.

https://www.daddyanddad.co.uk 

We really found these 3 days absolutely amazing and would advise anyone who's adopting to attend, it helps you understand so much more, and they are not there to judge you, we loved every second and would do it again if we could 😍😂.

We also want to give Jane & Janine, and kerri & Neil a mention, you guys are so lovely and you made our 3 day training even better , we know we will see you soon ( hopefully for a few drinks) and we wish you & everyone else on that course all the luck in the world 🌍😍💜.. 

Our social worker as also spoken to our chosen referees 😍 so now we are just waiting to find out what the next step is and progress onto stage 2 (eeeeeeeekkkk ) we will try and keep you all updated as soon as we can & we thank everyone for your support.. it really does mean the world to us 💜🌍💜🌍💜🌍..stay tuned for the next post 🎶🎵