When you’re looking into adopting a child, the first thing you should do is figure out if adoption is really right for you, your life, and your financial situation. Adoption involves raising and loving a child that isn’t biologically yours. When you adopt a child, you become responsible for that child’s upbringing, schooling, healthcare, and legal rights. These are all decisions you need to make as an adoptive parent.
If you’ve long been interested in adoption, here’s a list of the top 10 things you need to know about the adoption process.
- You’ll Definitely Need A Lawyer
The adoption process is a serious one, and it also necessarily has a lot of legal implications. It’s highly recommended to hire an adoption lawyer to guide you through the process.
Coming into this decision may mean that your heart is a hundred percent set for adoption, but it doesn’t mean you know all the legalities involved. Having a lawyer from Kurtz & Blum, PLLC by your side can help prevent legal problems from arising in the future.
- You Need To Learn The Baby Basics
If you’re adopting a baby, you need to learn all the baby basics. That way, it’ll be easier for you to ease into parenthood once your adoptive baby is in your arms. You won’t have nine months to prepare for it happily, as a biological mother will do. On average, the adoption process runs for about six months. But these months are going to be long and busy. That maternal instinct wouldn’t kick in right away!
- You Don’t Have To Belong To A ?Traditional’ Household
One of the most common misconceptions about adoption is that you’ll need to belong to a ?traditional’ household, or the typical husband-and-wife set-up. As long as you meet the legal qualifications in your state or country to adopt, you can adopt even if you’re single, widowed, and in some cases where this kind of union is now recognized, married to the same sex.
- You Might Not Be Given Complete Information
It’s normal to want to have a lot of information about the child you’re adopting. You’d want to know everything about their family, history, and even their preferences. However, be prepared to face the reality that not all information may be given to you right away. For the protection of the children, there are certain private or sensitive information that may be withheld until you’re seriously certain about the possibility of adopting that child.
- Your Child May Want To Celebrate Two Birthdays
In cases where the biological birthday of the child is known, you may also have to prepare to celebrate or at least acknowledge two birthdays. This would include the biological one, and the day you’ve brought them home. The latter is commonly referred to as ?Adoption Day? or ?Gotcha Day?. This is a part of the overall process, and if your child acknowledges it, then don’t withhold it from them.
- You Don’t Have To Be Rich To Qualify
International adoption is expensive. The costs varies, depending on where you’re from and where you’re adopting a child from. It’s an expense you’ll have to prepare for. If you’re really determined but taken aback by the costs, there are other cheaper options such as adopting straight out of a local foster care. You don’t have to be rich to qualify as an adoptive parent.
- You’ll Be Asked A Lot Of Questions, Very Frequently
Even during the post-adoptive process, you have to be prepared to be asked a lot of questions about the adoption process. This is going to be your life forever, so you need to be ready for it. Your adoptive child will also go through a phase where they’ll ask you so many questions about it.
- You’ll Need To Have A Lot Of Patience
The adoption process can be long and stressful. There’ll be a lot of ups and downs. Above all else, you need to be patient. To keep you inspired, check out this compilation of adoption surprises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=newcGtIvSyU&ab_channel=AllThingsInternet.
- You Have To Learn To Accept Your Limits For Adoption
If you’re not ready to adopt, don’t proceed with the process. To make things easier for you and your family, start planning for the future of your child and yourself long before you actually get involved.
- You May Have To Go Through Counselling
Family therapy can be beneficial. It can help you gain a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings and help provide support to those who might be hurting in your transition. Consider how your feelings about having children can affect the adoption process itself and your life once you take your child home.
Conclusion
The most important thing is to do the best you can. The more you prepare yourself and your child for this incredible experience, the better prepared you’ll be. The adoption process is going to be a long, emotional and tiring journey. But if this is something that you’ve absolutely desired, it’s going to leave you with an incomparable joy. It’s exactly like giving birth to a child, perhaps not from your body, but out of your heart.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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