AAC Experience

An American Adoption Congress conference is not like a common, professional conference. One of the speakers described the tone. "At an AAC conference, you can grab someone in the hall and ask for a hug if you need one." (I'd had the experience earlier that day.)

This year's AAC conference, held in Sacramento, March 18 - 21, was my first. It couldn't have been of higher caliber in any way! (Ironically, it couldn't have been any more painful, either, but facing demons is like that...) Adoptees, birthmothers, clinicians, and even a few adoptive parents (wow, thank you!), attended. For a detailed outline of programming, I'll direct you to the conference program- http://americanadoptioncongress.org/pdf/AAC_2010_Conference_Program.pdf. Consider joining this invaluable organization and attending upcoming events.

I'll spend several entries reflecting on this 4 day experience.

DAY 1- My first impression, as I looked around the room during the welcome keynote, was the sudden thought, "These are all really strong people!" I felt humbled.

A few minutes passed and I heard myself saying, to me, "Joy, you're here too, you know." It were as if I heard it with my head tilted in curiosity, wondering what it could mean.