Bringing any new baby home is challenging, but when you adopt a child from another country, the language and cultural issues make the transition period even more complicated.  As well, many older children have a harder time adjusting to their new families and cultures than an infant might, and need all the love and support that their adoptive families can offer.

Marc Lemieux and his wife Dina were ready for the challenge!  Having already adopted one child from China, they were eager to expand their family and headed back to China last spring where they completed their adoption of YaQi who was not yet four years old.

Admittedly, travelling across several time zones was extremely demanding on Marc ‘s entire family.  But thanks to the new “Dad Time” policy introduced last year by his employer, Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc., they had the advantage of an extra week together to settle back to a normal routine, get to know their new daughter and help her adapt to life with them in Canada.

Christie Digital recognizes how hard parents wrestle to find a balance between work and family responsibilities and responded with this family-friendly policy.   Since its announcement early in 2010, more than 20 young fathers have already seized the opportunity to be actively involved in helping both mom and new baby (or adopted child) transition to life at home.   Who said today’s fathers don’t give enough hands-on assistance?

As for Marc, he is convinced that this special time with his family was a key factor in helping YaQi adapt so quickly to her new life in Canada.  As for big sister Nyah, she is just excited to finally have a little sister to call her own.

- Susan Anderson, More Than Words Consulting