Most people who reunite are thrilled for the opportunity. No one ever said reunion was a piece of cake though. If they did....they lied! Maybe I am wrong, I suppose for some people reunion could be easy; I just don't know any.

Below are my top ten ways to survive reunion:

1) Find the best adoption therapist that you can afford. If you can find one who is a triad member, so much the better. I met faithfully with an adoptee/therapist during the first year of reunion. Wow, was she helpful!

2) Take lots of long, relaxing bubble baths - preferably with snacks. Bubble baths became routine for me during that first year of reunion. My husband drew baths for me, brought snacks in and pampered me just as I needed him to. (Sorry, I do not rent him out!)

3) Research and find the best books available on reunion. Read as much as you can - but not too much. If you read too much, it may confuse you and cause your head to explode.

4) Stay away from anyone who does not support your reunion and is likely to make really stupid comments. You do not need that.

5) Find an adoption support group and attend meetings regularly. It may not feel comfortable immediately. However, give it a chance and you will be glad that you did.

6) Educate yourself at adoption conferences, retreats and other similar events.

7) Did I mention therapy? Hmmm, I had one therapist for awhile who was an adoptive parent. He was a very nice man, but he totally had no clue as to the birth parent experience. Most of the time, he had a puzzled look on his face and looked at me like I was an alien and said "Hmmm," a great deal.

8) Bubble baths, honest they are important enough to mention twice!

9) Long quiet walks. I needed to do lots of heavy duty soul searching and walking by myself was the best way.

10) Take some time off, block adoption out of your mind and do what you love most every so often. Watch a silly movie and totally escape for awhile.