Any tips on how to handle meeting my adopted grandson, for the first time, since he was born?

Corn is not dog food! No wheat!

Get to the meeting spot early (If it's not your house or his house). That way you can "get settled" and feel more in control.

Cry now.
Force yourself to let all the tension, emotion, and wildness out now, so your calmer when you see the child.

grammafluffy

I have 2 adopted grandsons. They were almost three and almost 5 when they were adopted. When I met them, I just said hello and hugged them, then let them take it from there. All kids think we are crazy when we get emotional. Be yourself. You will be so amused by him that you will forget to be the emotional grandma. He'll warm up to you quickly if you just relax.

Lori A

Been there too. Just go with the flow. It's better to let them lead.

Congrats and good luck

cantstopLinnyG

Congrats!! Im sure you are thrilled. I really dont have enough info to answer you correctly, though. Do you have a good relationship with his adoptive parents? Will the meeting be at their home or in a neutral location? I would say to find out what he likes, and bring him a small gift to "break the ice"..
Very exciting! Im an adoptee from the "closed era", so I always love hearing stories like this!

sizesmith

Just take your time. The fact that you're meeting for the first time since he's been big enough to remember is not relavent to him being adopted. He's a normal, going to react so many different ways 2 year old.

My son is 18 months old, and I've worked in a daycare with 10-2 year olds in the same room. I always meet the new ones by going in, holding my hand out, and smiling, and soft voiced. Use patience, and although I know you want to grab him and hug him, you'll end up getting a lot more hugs in the long run with patience. Before the first day is out, you'll probably have him running to you.

My mom always tries to hold her hands out as if to pick him up, and if he shakes his head no, she says, "Well you don't have to." and waits about 10 minutes, and does it again. I've noticed a pattern of when she wears bright colors (like I wear a lot-red, royal blue-yellow-green), then he goes to her faster than if she's in a khaki outfit. Also, as grandmas do, bribery goes a long way with a 2 year old, and a noisy little toy in your hands can be the trick. Maybe "The Nanny" wouldn't approve, but it's always worked in our family, and most of us turned out pretty good.

Good luck, and enjoy!

wider scope

What's to be scared of? Love for a child is always evident before the child's eyes. Just be yourself.

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