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There’s something about knowing someone is coming to inspect your house that can rattle nerves. In 2005 we were preparing for the homestudy for our 4th adoption. You’d think I’d be old hat at it, but there I was, cleaning away. Still, all would have been fine if it hadn’t been for the mold.
My 2 year old had been waking up so early in the mornings that winter that I’d turned an old quilt into a black-out shade for her room. Just before the social worker arrived, I went in to give the bedroom and pulled the blanket off the window, only to discover mold- MOLD!- growing all over the back side of the miniblind AND all along the edges of the window.
Talk about heart failure. I attacked the blind with bleach, but after half an hour my husband saw time was not on my side. He ran to Walmart, got me a new blind, and finished installing it 15 minutes before the social worker arrived. All was well, and we passed our homestudy with flying colors.
Lots of other families have anxiety over the homestudy too. People bake cookies, make tea, and make last-minute trips to Babies R Us to make sure the nursery is perfectly pulled together.
Necessary? No!
It makes good sense to vacuum the living room and wash out the kitchen sink and straighten the bedrooms. And feel free to offer the social worker a cup of tea. But don’t be surprised if she is too busy to worry about tea. She probably won’t look in in the fridge, under the beds or in any of the closets either.
Most likely your social worker will want to see the room that you plan to use for the new child, but you don’t have to have it painted or furnished. it’s no problem if you plan to fit a child into a room with a sibling or two either.
You would be wise to make sure your smoke detectors are in good working order, since some social workers test them. Also get rid of firearms or buy a gun safe if you own a weapon. Most social workers will want to know that all guns are stowed safely away from children.
Though it can be stressful to have a stranger come evaluate your house, chances are when she drives away you’ll be amazed at just how low-key the inspection actually was.
I have always cleaned like a maniac and am always surprised (ok and even a little disappointed) that the SW didn’t examine my seldom spotless house more closely. But in the end they just want to make sure that your child will be in a safe and loving home.
I actually had a SW say (she must have been sensing our nervousness – it was our very first homestudy) say to us. You won’t be perfect parents, thank goodness, because who would want to place a child with people who were perfect. I guess it was a compliment.
Then there was the time our 3 dogs (terriers) broke down the gate they were behind and all 3 landed in our SW lap at the same time. Fortunately she was a dog lover – this was our very first post placement visit.