If you have decided to adopt a child, congratulations on your decision! Whatever the reason may be, it is a very bold and sensible decision to adopt a child.
Here are some of the facts that might aid you in making further decisions in this direction.
Children who need families range from newborns to teens. For whatever reason, they are unable to be raised by their biological parents, and they both need and deserve loving, committed, permanent families.
Adopting parents have found that exploring the following questions has helped them to feel more prepared for the joys and challenges of raising their adopted child.
How do I feel about not being genetically related to my child?
How do I see myself talking about adoption with my child?
How will I help my child to understand his/her "pre-placement background," when there is little information, abandonment, or a difficult history?
Am I prepared to maintain my childs positive identification with his/her origins and culture?
Am I open to dealing with birthparent issues, which are just as relevant and important in international adoption, as they are in domestic adoption?
How do I feel about meeting the specific needs my child will have in developing self-identity and esteem?
Am I willing to learn the details of daily life in the orphanage in order to provide a gradual transition for my child from that routine to a new one in my home?
How comfortable am I with the fact that children living in an orphanage are at risk for developmental delays and emotional issues?
Am I prepared to deal with the coping behaviours my child used to survive in the orphanage?
How will I deal with the adjustments my child will face when he/she enters a family like learning to accept affection and nurturing, and trusting that there will be enough food?
Am I willing to seek help for my family if adjustment is difficult? Do I attach any stigma to my child receiving specialized educational services?
If you are going to be a single parent of your adopted child, you may need to ask yourself the following questions:
Do I feel confident about being the sole decision-maker for my child?
Am I ready to ask for help? Emotional? Financial? Physical? Respite? Who among my family and friends would be there for me in a real emergency? To help with an ongoing challenge?
Have I come to terms with my decision to forego marriage as a way of becoming a parent?
Does work offer me the flexibility I will need to care for a sick child, to attend school events, and to spend as much time at home with my child as I would want to?
How will my current and future relationships be affected by the fact that I am a parent?
Your answers to these questions will not only help you decide what steps to take while adopting a child but will also make the picture of both you and your child, clear for the future.
