Adopt

Deciding to adopt a child is one of the biggest decisions someone or a couple can make. over 300,000 people choose to adopt every year, many for different reasons. Some people choose to adopt because of fertility problems. Others already have families but want to care for a child in need. Some people choose to adopt internationally to give a child from a developing country the opportunity at a better lifestyle. Everyone chooses to adopt out of love. Unfortunately, love isn't enough to get many couples through the adoption process.

Prospective parents need to research their options and honestly evaluate themselves by asking: Why do I want to adopt? What kind of child do I want? Do my preference align with my partner's? What kind of budget do we have? What can we offer a child in terms of financial and emotional resources? Does our lifestyle need to be adjusted for a child? Do I want to work with an agency or independently? How do I feel about raising a child that is not biologically related to me?

Those are just a few of many questions that will be asked by yourself, a counselor, friend or case worker while going through the adoption process. The difficulties of adoption, though, are only a small obstacle to the rest of you and your adoptive family's life.