Adopting With Eyes Wide Open

Source: adoptionblogs.com


Adoption can be a great and amazing way to build a family. A major concern of mine as an adoptee is that some potential adoptive parents do not research adoption before deciding to go down that road. While others believe the things they hear as gospel, without investigating on their own.

I had a friend state she would like to adopt a baby girl from China. I wondered why China? She said, “Because they do not have issues or problems and are beautiful.” Funny thing is, the few people she knows that have adopted have done so through domestic or foster care adoption.

We went on to have the conversation that Chinese infants or any other country’s infants are not exempt from developing issues or facing challenges in their lives. Believing ideas such as this can lead to heartbreak for all parties. I have been amazed concerning some of the things or ideas that people believe about adoption or different types of adoption.

I have been involved with adoption through foster care. People love to tell me why others (not necessarily themselves) do not adopt from foster care. While I do understand that adopting through foster care can be a lengthy process and there is the government red tape to deal with. What I have heard and learned about other adoptions, they also face challenges. International adoptions you have to still go through government red tape and may also be a lengthy process. I usually respond by saying, “Anything in life worth having is going to take some work. Yes, adoption is hard but as I remember it (yes, it’s been a few years) childbirth was no walk in the park.” In the end they’re both worth the wait or pain you endure.

The choice of adopting is about educating yourself about all the possibilities you may face and go in with your eyes wide open. Hearing from different people involved in adoption and learning from each member of the triad is important.