Can adoption be an alternative way to start a family? Definitely, and there are also thousands of families from all around the world who adopt children.
However, but there are certain issues that you need to seriously consider first before you actually go ahead with the adoption process.
There are many reasons why couples adopt children to start a family.
Some sad circumstances could be because the adoptive parents are unable to conceive despite trying for many years or that they have gone through a few miscarriages.
As a result, they turn to adoption.
On the other hand, there are also couples who adopt because they genuine want to provide a warm family for the needy children.
Some of these adopted children have special needs such as physical impairments or health problems.
There are even some who have gone through a period of neglect or even abuse before they were adopted so they are actually very emotionally vulnerable.
Apart from adopting from strangers within your own country or from other countries, there are also adoptions carried out by step parents or even amongst relatives.
Before you actually go through the tedious but praiseworthy process of adoption, it is important that you be prepared not only for the joys that adoption will bring but the difficulties as well.
The number of problems that you might face depends on the age of the adopted child and whether the child has gone through a period of neglect or abuse before the adoption.
It might be easier if the child is adopted at the infant stage.
Before you embark on the adoption process, you might want to think through the following questions first to test your own readiness: 1.
What is your real reason for wanting to adopt? Are you using it as a mean to save your marriage? Are you adopting because all your friends around you have children? Or are you genuinely prepared to sacrifice your time and devote lots of love to cater to the needs of your adopted child? 2.
Are you able to accept the fact that your child is not genetically related to you? Once you have gone through the whole adoption process, there would be no turning back.
Will your child's different genetic background be a hindrance to your relationship with him or her? What happens if you finally have your biological child after the adoption? Will you still be able to feel the same way towards your adopted child? 3.
The adoption process can be a very daunting one, can you handle it? The interviews during the home study can be very intimidating and the wait for the child to arrive can be very long, are you prepared for that? There are also age restrictions which may prevent you from adopting an infant or the adopted child may be from a different culture, country or race, what do you do? 4.
If you have decided to adopt a child with special needs, did you carry out the necessary research on what is expected of you in terms of care for the child? What about the medical costs involved with adopting a special need child? Will you be able to afford it since it is going to be for many years down the road? Would you consider transracial adoption? 5.
Is adoption something you really want or is it only a recent idea that you are toying with? It will be very helpful if you have the chance to speak to someone who had gone through the same adoption route and find out from them what are the problems involved.
It will get you more prepared.
The adoption process can really be a very trying one but the rewarding experience of parenting a child will definitely be something you will never forget and a decision you never regret making.
I know it is true because I have adopted a pair of twins.
However, it is definitely of utmost importance that you do not rush into it.
Spend some time considering the questions listed above and if you strongly believe that you are willing to give a lot of love and care to your little one and can go through all odds together as a family, then adoption is the right choice for you.
Learn from others who have gone through the adoption process because support is very important.