Sweet Husband and I were driving around last night when I saw a lady I had seen before with her 3 children. I said to Sweet Husband how adorable African children are, and remarked that I would adopt one. He brought up a very good point. Why don't we adopt the children in our own country before looking elsewhere? We are so focused on helping other countries and making ourselves look like heroes that we overlook the needs of our own country.
I'm not familiar with the adoption process or the requirements, but it should be a requirement to adopt in your own country before any other. I know it's all the rage to adopt from other countries, we see it all the time in the media, Angelina Jolie(although I do love her tattoo for her children), and Sandra Bullock. A child isn't a fashion statement. I don't doubt that people who adopt a child from a different race or country love those children. But it's become a much too popular thing to do.
We aren't done having children, and if we don't have a boy in the future we might think about adoption.
If you or anyone else are thinking about adoption please help your own country first! There are so many children in need right in front of our eyes, we are just too blinded by what the rest of the world is doing.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you know anyone who has adopted or have you adopted? I would love to hear your thoughts and stories.
EDIT:
I've been corrected, Sandra Bullock adopted within the country.
Also it was pointed out to me that this post may sound hurtful to some, and that is certainly not my intention. I just wanted to point out something that I think many people don't really think about when it comes to adoption. I just think we should help our own Country first and foremost.
I'm so glad I received the feedback I did. I didn't realize there were so many people who have adopted around me to give me some good insight into the process(including my mom and uncle which I only learned a few years ago) I want to thank you, for your feedback and just say keep doing what you're doing!
6 lovely comments:
My eldest daughter is adopted - she is also biologically our niece, so adopting her was a no-brainer... but I'm in agreement with Sweet Husband - if you have love in your heart for adoption look both to within your own community for children in need, and also consider adopting an older child who needs a loving home! It may be more challenging, but also very rewarding!
We have adopted two little girls through foster care. I wish the simple answer to why people adopt from other countries, but it really is more than just wanting to be like famous people or as a fashion statement. One of the biggest reasons that people adopt from overseas is that they are guaranteed a child, for the most part. Adoption through foster care is a gamble, you can have a baby and bond with the, only to have them returned to their biological parents. Also, there are a lot of misbeliefs about adoption. For one a lot of people are afraid that if they adopt in the US the biological parents can fight for their children back. It is extremely rare, however if it does happen the media sensationalizes it, making it seem common. People just don't want to take the risk, so they choose overseas adoption. We chose domestic foster adoption due to the cost (practically nothing) and we felt like that was where the Lord was calling us to adopt. We believe that people are called to adoption all over the world to cover all the bases. That doesn't mean I don't get a little miffed when people chose overseas over foster adoption, or even infant adoption in the US. But I understand their choice.
We are in the process of adopting 2 African American children through foster adoption. It has been a long emotional rollercoaster, but I have a friend who recently adopted her 3rd child from China and they too have an emotional roller coaster, just of a different sort. We really wanted to reach out to those who are forgotten, so to speak in our own community, and that is why we chose foster. We actually didn't start fostering with the intention of adoption (We have 2 older boys who are 11 and 13 and were WELL out of the baby stage if you know what I mean!), but we are following God's plan, and these two babies were placed in our home and we feel absolutely head over heals for them. It is far more rewarding than anything I ever imagined, but it is also more challenging than I imagined too. A lot of the foster-adopt babies come with their own little kinks so to speak...
Thanks for linking up with Meet Me Monday. I'm your newest follower. Hope to see you next Monday.
http://www.inspiringyou2save.com
I have a friend who is looking into adoption. What an incredible gift to be able to give a child a family. I'm your newest follower from Fun Follow Friday! I'd love for you to check out my blog and follow back!
Andrea
http://365daysoflifebehindthelens.blogspot.com/
I also wanted to point out, because the way it's worded I wasn't sure if you know - Sandra Bullock did adopt domestically. She did the process just as any other American would have had to and waited over 3 years to be chosen by a birth parent. I would urge you to research adoption and form your views based on facts, not on what is seen in the media. A lot of what you wrote here could potentially be very hurtful to adoptive families and most of it is not true for adoptive parents who are not celebrities.
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