Providing foster care is by far the most common way to adopt children. They range in age from infant to nearly eighteen years old. Some are sweet, some not so much. Some are scared, some are defensive, and some are dangerous. Some have been taught very bad habits and had very bad examples set for them. Some are honor students are some are special needs children. Some have mental handicaps and some have physical handicaps. They all, however, are doing the best they can.
Foster parents can be instrumental in planting new ways of living lives, thereby breaking destructive, generational cycles. Something as simple as a prayer over a meal may be the first prayer a foster child has ever heard. An evening meal where the family sits together and discusses the day may be the first time a foster child has ever sat around a family table. A bedtime story while being cuddled in a rocking chair may be a seed that bears fruit when that child rocks a child of their own. Providing foster care is never easy; however, it is one of the most rewarding challenges life has to offer.
Private Adoption: A Valid Choice
Private adoption is adopting through an agency, friends, or an attorney. (It is important to do thorough research before selecting an agency or attorney to facilitate a private adoption.) Many people want to adopt an infant who looks like them, and want to be highly involved in the selection process.
Private adoption is often preferred because two things are generally feared. The first is being socially ostracized for adopting a child of a different ethnicity than their own. Hopefully, this is a trend that is wearing itself out! The other fear is that older children are "troubled." They may be.
What child who is available for adoption would not have a bit of baggage? Prospective parents should stand in the child's shoes and look around. What would be the highest priority? Security. Any family can provide the needed security for a troubled child. Adoptive parents can find support, encouragement and training by surrounding themselves with a team of mentors, doctors, therapists to help them help their new child.
Foreign Adoption Can be a Wonderful Experience for the Entire Family
Each country has its own rules, laws and expectations for American adoptive parents. Kidsave is a private organization that finds forgotten children in foreign orphanages and arranges for them to spend a summer in America, hoping to find adoptive parents. An adoption of Kidsave kids, through Worldlink, will provide the adoptive parents with a terrific support team of professionals and while in the foreign country will have a facilitator/translator with them at all times. There is even support staff available by phone to help with the transition.
When bringing internationally-adopted children home, it is important to find people nearby who speak their language. Arrange to meet with an interpreter every week so that the children can ask questions and have things explained to them. This gives the children someone that understands them, and that they can understand, even if it’s only for a few hours a week. This builds security for the children and trust between parents and their new child.
Whether the method of adoption is through foster care, a private adoption, or an international adoption, it is a very rewarding thing. Adoption comes with a unique set of challenges, but any family can overcome them.
Disclosure: The author has adopted 3 children from foster care, and 2 children from Russia via Kidsave & World Links.
Robin Egerton - Robin is new to the free-lance scene. She started her homeschooling blog in January of 2010, walking "Newbies" through the beginning ...
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