Most all the world understands the wish to have a child, to begin a family, it seems to be a basic human desire. Why then is it so difficult for society to understand when couples who want to become parents would then wish to adopt a child? How can it become so hard to understand when a child needs permanency that adoption can be an option? Why adoption? Well aren’t there many positive reasons why people would choose adoption?

When you consider all the many waiting children the world round who are desperately in need of the love and security of a family it can become easier to understand why adoption. Adopting a child who might not otherwise ever have permanency or family can be a positive thing for both parents and adoptive child. There are so many children waiting in international orphanages or in foster care right here in the U.S. that you would think people could understand why couples should be encouraged to consider adopting. All too often people are still actually discouraged from adopting these children due to beliefs that the child is better off in their own country or culture or that a foster child is too “damaged” to ever fit into a functional family. The truth be told more children are waiting for adoption than will ever find the loving home they need and more families should be told why adopting is a good idea.

Many Argue that the adoption of newborn infants from voluntary placements by their birthparents should never happen and should be discouraged in all cases. The opinion is that all children fare much better being raised with their family of birth. Why adoption for these children who are not orphans or in foster care? Even if keeping a child in the family of origin (if possible) is the first best option, there will still always be those who will need to transition to another permanent family. Birthparents will still choose adoption for various reasons, non of which can be judged by those of us who do not personally know them. Working to make this type of adoption more ethical is a must and questioning “why adoption” in general happens does nothing toward that end.

There will always be people who will have the desire to parent, and children for whom moving to another permanent family is the decided goal. Bringing together children in need of placement and families who desire to raise children is the best reason to answer “why adoption”. Children need family, parents who have the ability to meet their needs at the time they are needed. People who have the love to share and the desire to parent should be encouraged to do so. If adoption is discouraged or questioned then children will suffer, families will suffer.

Why adoption? Perhaps because when the world is not a perfect place and there are needs to be met, finding ways to meet those needs becomes the first priority. Adoption can be one of those ways.

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Adoption Decisions: International Adoption

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